Ohio Northern blanks Bavarian All-Stars 77-0

May 27, 2007

By Tim Glon

FURSTENFELDBRUCK, Germany -- The Ohio Northern football team had no trouble in its first taste of international competition Sunday afternoon, blasting a team of Bavarian All-Stars 77-0 in game one of the Bavarian Classic.

The second game of the day featured the host club, the Fursty Razorbacks, against Luther (Iowa).

Northern dominated its game from the onset, leading 35-0 after one period and 63-0 at halftime.

The third quarter consisted of just 11 plays as a running clock was used, and the game was called one play into the fourth period. The quarters were only 12 minutes long, as per German rule.

Ben Wittwer and R.J. Meadows had outstanding days on offense for the Polar Bears.

Wittwer scored touchdowns on all three of his touches, including a 90-yard return of the opening kickoff for a quick 6-0 lead.

He then caught a 25-yard pass from Jeff Panktratz on ONU's first possession, then returned a punt 31 yards for a score and a 28-0 lead late in the first period.

Meadows rushed six times for 81 yards and TD runs of 35 and 4 yards. His 35-yard scamper made it 22-0 with 4:20 left in the opening period.

Chane Porter returned an interception 23 yards for a score on the final play of the first period.

Northern intercepted five passes and returned four of them for scores in the game.

Adam Bogner banged in from 17 yards out with 8:37 left in the half to put the Polar Bears up 42-0.

Josh Lokai-Owens then blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for another score and a 49-0 lead with 5:46 left in the half.

Meadows scored from 4 yards out with 37 seconds left in the half and Brock England ended the half with a 29-yard interception return for a score as time expired.

ONU did not run an offensive play the rest of the game, but did score third-quarter TDs on interception returns by Cullen Rasmussen (40 yards) and Brandon Walker (27 yards).

The game was called after Bavarian quarterback Julian Englberg injured his shoulder on the first play of the fourth period.

In the game, ONU held Bavaria to minus-54 yards of total offense, including minus-50 on 16 rushing attempts.

Northern gained 145 yards on just 11 plays, seven of which went for TDs (two were called back due to penalties).

Porter had four tackles, two passes broken up and his interception and Lokai-Owens had four tackles and a half sack to go with his blocked punt to lead the Polar Bear defense.

Northern will wrap up its week in Germany with a sightseeing tour of Heidelberg on Monday before flying back to the United States on Tuesday.