WESTMINSTER, Md. – Senior Kyle Wigley (Medford, N.J./Shawnee) busted loose for a 60-yard touchdown run to kick off a 35-0 run and help the Gettysburg College football team remain unbeaten with a 45-17 victory at McDaniel College Saturday afternoon.
Gettysburg (5-0, 4-0 CC) remained tied atop the Centennial Conference standings with Johns Hopkins University (5-0, 4-0 CC) heading into the conference-wide bye week.
Wigley carried the ball 26 times for a career-high 184 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bullets. He also became just the eighth Gettysburg player to reach 2,000 career rushing yards and finished the game holding down the eighth spot on the program's all-time list with 2,188 yards.
Despite its winless record, McDaniel (0-5, 0-4 CC) kept things close throughout most of the opening half. The Bullets recorded the game's first 10 points with senior Robby Fay (New Providence, N.J./New Providence) kicking a 21-yard field goal and Wigley adding a seven-yard run to the end zone in the first quarter.
Senior Brian Calatozzo (Sewell, N.J./St. Augustine Prep) picked off a pass in McDaniel territory, but Gettysburg was unable to convert on the turnover as the visitors gave up the ball on a fumble. The hosts came right back down the field and came up with their first points on a 35-yard field goal by Mike Casper.
The Bullets compiled only 42 yards on the next four possessions before McDaniel came up with a game-tying score as Matty Callahan tossed a 45-yard strike to Tayahd Campbell with 2:41 left in the second quarter. The touchdown ignited the Bullets as a 15-yard pass from senior Sam McDermott (Newtown, Pa./Notre Dame (N.J.)) to senior Kevin McCarthy (Yardley, Pa./Notre Dame) was followed by Wigley's longest run since a career-long 63-yard scamper against Susquehanna in 2013. The Bullets walked into halftime holding a 17-10 lead.
Gettysburg scored touchdowns on four of the first five possessions of the second half, while also forcing McDaniel into a pair of turnovers. McCarthy grabbed a 21-yard pass from McDermott early in the third quarter and senior Paul Lowry (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) carried the ball into the end zone for his first touchdown of the year. Calatozzo added his league-best fifth interception later in the quarter as the Bullets cruised into the final period holding a 31-10 lead.
Junior Jordan Kelso (Cookstown, N.J./Bordentown Regional) hauled in his Centennial-leading sixth touchdown reception to start the fourth quarter. Lowry added his second rushing score to make it 45-10 with 6:24 remaining.
Five Bullets recorded 40 or more rushing yards as the ground attack piled up 381 yards. Lowry finished with 45 and McDermott totaled 41. Sophomore Ryan Thompson (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills) and senior James O'Rourke (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) each added 40 rushing yards.
McDermott finished 13-of-17 for 171 yards and a pair of touchdowns. McCarthy reeled in four passes for 55 yards, while Kelso grabbed three passes for 51 yards.
Junior Chris Miller (Manasquan, N.J./Manasquan) posted 10 tackles and sophomore Frank Olmo (Eatontown, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) added nine stops. Sophomore Joey DeCristofaro (East Windsor, N.J./Hightstown) tallied six tackles and one sack.
Callahan finished 21-of-32 for 230 yards for McDaniel. Matt Cathey posted 88 yards on 16 carries, while Campbell finished with 74 yards on 20 carries. Mike Oliveto led the way with a game-high 101 receiving yards on eight catches.
Gettysburg will host Muhlenberg College (3-2, 2-2 CC) on Homecoming Oct. 17 at 1 p.m.