The Anderson University football team captured a 55-27 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) victory against Manchester University at Macholtz Stadium. With the victory, The Bronze Ball returns to Anderson for the first time since claiming a 37-34 overtime win on Nov. 13, 2010.
"The team played well on both sides of the ball," Coach Steve Rock said. "The offense did a great job of taking what the defense gave them early on in the game. It's a lot of fun to play with a lead, our first time this season to do so."
Anderson (1-2, 1-2) established great field position following a 25-yard interception return by Sean McSmith (Griffith, Ind./Griffith). On the third play of the drive, Tyson Harley (New Palestine, Ind./New Palestine) connected with James Tucker (Brookville, Ind./Franklin County) for a 22-yard touchdown to put the Ravens on the board. Harley put Anderson ahead 14-0 after keeping the ball himself for a 12-yard rushing touchdown. As the Spartans began the next drive, they immediately turned the ball over as Jawan Coney (Hammond, Ind./Morton) forced and recovered a fumble. Anderson immediately capitalized as Harley delivered a 24-yard touchdown pass to Noah Frazier (Lapel, Ind./Lapel) on the first play of the drive to take a 21-0 lead. With under two minutes left in the first quarter, the Spartans turned the ball over for the third time in the quarter as Joe Derrick (Fort Wayne, Ind./Luers) picked off a pass.
Manchester finished the game with five turnovers.
"The defense came out confident in their game plan and played on fire, especially in the first and third quarters. I'm very proud of the way this unit is coming together. Creating multiple turnovers is huge for us and we did just that. It's exciting to see guys get better each week understanding their assignments, working to eliminate mistakes and pushing themselves to play physically."
The Ravens took a 28-0 lead after Reggie Lipscomb (Indianapolis, Ind./Pike) carried in a 10-yard touchdown run. Kreevon Maple (Eustis, Fla./First Academy of Leesburg) then took an interception back 27 yards. During the second quarter, the Spartans came up with four defensive stops and chipped away at the deficit to 28-13 at halftime.
After being stopped on the final four drives in the half, the Ravens responded by outscoring the Spartans 20-0 in the third quarter.
"I was pleased with the way the offense responded after a few stalled drives. Everyone stayed positive with each other and showed maturity and confidence in their teammates as the next series came around."
Anderson opened the second half with a 16-play drive that ended with a five-yard touchdown pass from Harley to Zac Tallent (Lakeland, Fla./George Jenkins). The drive took 7 minutes, 4 seconds. A three-yard touchdown run from Lipscomb put Anderson ahead 41-13. Maple recorded his second interception of the day, this time taking it back 32 yards. Anderson responded by scoring on the very next play. Lipscomb used his elusiveness to score on a 29-yard reception from Harley. Anderson maintained possession for nine minutes of the third quarter.
"Scoring 20 points in the third quarter while eating up the clock with a seven-minute drive was key in closing out the game."
Manchester found the scoreboard in the fourth quarter to cut its deficit to 28. The Ravens then found the end zone again as Harley delivered his fifth passing touchdown of the day, this time to Alex Barnett (McCordsville, Ind./Mount Vernon). Manchester added another touchdown before the game ended.
Harley threw for 379 yards and five touchdowns. The sophomore from New Palestine also rushed for 22 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 401 total yards and six total touchdowns. Harley completed 32-of-43 (74.4 percent) passes.
Lipscomb rushed for 80 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries for an average of 3.8 yards per carry. He also tallied eight receptions, 93 receiving yards and a reception touchdown. On the day, Lipscomb finished with 173 all-purpose yards and three all-purpose touchdowns.
Five different Ravens, including Lipscomb, caught touchdowns. Tucker produced nine receptions, 125 receiving yards and a reception touchdown. Tallent notched five receptions, 57 receiving yards and a reception touchdown. Barnett provided five receptions, 50 receiving yards and a reception touchdown. Frazier finished with a reception touchdown, two receptions and 29 receiving yards.
Maple intercepted two passes and racked up 59 interception return yards. The senior from Eustis, Fla. turned in nine tackles, the second-highest tackle total for the Ravens for the day. Maple also recorded a sack.
Juancarlos Ramirez (Marion, Ind./Marion) paced the Ravens with 10 tackles. Dean Foundos (Highland, Ind./Highland) and Ross Watson (Wabash, Ind./Northfield) contributed six tackles apiece while Sam Feola (Ridgeville, Ind./Monroe Central) added five tackles.
Coney recorded a forced fumble and a fumble recovery while Feola also put together a forced fumble. McSmith picked off a pass and returned it 25 yards.
Anderson finished the day with six sacks. Tristan Chambers (Fort Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) notched 1.5 sacks for a total loss of 10 yards. Malandric Skipper-Blair (Anderson, Ind./Anderson Preparatory Academy) posted a sack for a loss of 10. Maple, Watson and Coney each contributed sacks while Lane Cardemon (Muncie, Ind./Delta) added a half-sack.
Coney recorded two tackles for losses. Watson, Austin Weiland (La Porte, Ind./New Prairie), Braden Mikel (Wakarusa, Ind./NorthWood) and Hayden Lee (Cedarville, Ohio/Cedarville) each contributed quarterback hurries.
Bryce Williams (Fort Branch, Ind./Gibson Southern) converted 7-of-8 (87.5 percent) extra-point attempts. Barnett also provided a 36-yard kickoff return.
Prior to the game, Anderson recognized seniors Barnett, Skipper-Blair and Maple.
Barnett is a three-time all-conference selection and garnered second-team all-HCAC honors as a sophomore. The senior from McCordsville has produced 111 receptions, 1,610 receiving yards and 14 reception touchdowns in his career. Barnett has also tallied 533 kick return yards.
Skipper-Blair has recorded 67 tackles in his career. The senior from Anderson had also put together two fumble recoveries, a fumble forced, four sacks, seven tackles for losses and two pass breakups.
Maple has twice received all-HCAC Honorable Mention. He has picked off nine passes in his career and totaled 136 interception return yards. Maple has also produced 14 pass breakups, a fumble-recovery touchdown, a fumble forced, 124 tackles, a sack and 4.5 tackles for losses.
"I have to mention the three seniors who all contributed big time [on Saturday]. Malandric had multiple tackles, Kreevon came up with two interceptions and Alex had multiple catches and a touchdown."
Anderson battles Defiance College (1-3, 1-3) in HCAC action on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Defiance, Ohio.
"We talked all week as a team about playing disciplined football and we did that [on Saturday]. I'm confident that after a much-needed win, we will continue to play that way."