Sun, Nov 08 2009
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Published November 15, 2008 06:01 pm - GROVE CITY — The 2008 season started distinctly dissimilar for the Grove City and Thiel college football teams. Grove City College retains Mercer County Cup with 20-14 win over Thiel By Ed Farrell
Herald Assistant Sports Editor GROVE CITY — The 2008 season started distinctly dissimilar for the Grove City and Thiel college football teams. While the Wolverines won 4 of their first 6, the Tomcats were taken to task 5 consecutive times before beating Bethany in quadruple-overtime. But after both dropped 2 of their last 3 entering the silver anniversary of the Mercer County Cup contest at Robert E. Thorn Field Saturday afternoon, Thiel taskmaster Jack Leipheimer and his coaching counterpart Chris Smith cast caution to the wind — as well as the rain that increased in intensity as the contest continued. So it was only appropos with the Wolverines leading 20-14 in the waning seconds, the game ended at Grove City’s 16-yard line with Thiel attempting to take back the cup. Sans times-out, when Willie Bova attempted to spike the ball to stop the clock with 2 ticks to play, instead he was whistled for a fumble, garnering the Grovers the game. By virtue of the victory Grove City (3-3 Presidents’ Athletic Conference, 6-4 overall) copped the cup for the 16th time since its 1984 inception. “It’s great! It’s a special cup, special game, a rivalry to both teams ... maybe a little moreso to me because I started the cup,” admitted a smiling Smith, GCC’s all-time winningest coach who just completed his 25th campaign. “I love it!” echoed Leipheimer, who like Smith played in the game while a Thiel student-athlete. “When you have something like the Mercer County Cup to play for, regardless of what the teams’ records are each year this game’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be one in which both teams come to play, and I think that’s what you look for.” GCC sophomore Craig Bicehouse (Slippery Rock High) booted a pair of field goals, including an insurance 29-yarder with 1:35 remaining, giving the Grovers that 20-14 lead. Thiel (1-5, 2-8) subsequently drove 45 yards in 9 plays before Bova bobbled the snap at the buzzer. “There was, I guess, a bobbled snap, or whatever, and it was a live ball, and so he didn’t have time to pick it up and spike it. ... It was a good call, and I don’t have any problem with that,” Leipheimer allowed. Thiel’s twosome of Bova and Brendan Taylor twice torched the Wolverines’ secondary, including a 51-yard scoring strike less than 3 minutes into the 2nd half, a touchdown that narrowed the Tomcats’ deficit to 17-14. And it was indicative of how both Leipheimer and Smith chose to eschew the close-to-the-vest play-calling that sometimes has characterized the series. To illustrate, the Tomcats commenced the contest with Bova bombing a 52-yard pass to Taylor on the game’s initial play from scrimmage. A 5-play drive culminated in Brice Mertiff’s 3-yard 4th-down plunge and the first of a pair of John Madeline PATs. “When you’re two-and-seven going into it, you’ve gotta do whatever you got to do to win, and we played to win; we didn’t play not to lose ... so we just went out and attacked,” Leipheimer related. And not to be outdone, Smith responded in kind with a little of his own tactical trickery. 
More from the Sports section
Wilmington beats Meadville to capture District 10 Class AA crown in girls volleyball PIAA Cross Country Championships: Moroco leads local contingent Football: Farrell goes 10-0 in regular season with win over Kennedy Sharon edges Hickory, 14-7, in key Region 3-AA clash Roundup: Mercer beats Lakeview; Greenville, GC, Sharpsville, WM and Wilmington win |
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