Ursinus posts historic win over Johns Hopkins, 21-17

COLLEGEVILLE, PA. » The streak is over. For the Ursinus College football team, it’s still very much alive.

Sophomore Thomas Garlick scored on an electrifying 8-yard scamper with 20.1 seconds left to give the Bears a 21-17 victory over No. 8 Johns Hopkins, ending the Blue Jays’ 45game winning streak and 40-game run in Centennial Conference play. Now, it’s Ursinus in the driver’s seat.

The Bears (5-0, 4-0) matched their best start in program history with a wildly entertaining triumph that made them the story of the day in Division III and is sure to see them earn more votes in the next AFCA Coaches’ Poll.

Garlick’s remarkable individual effort goes down as the winning play, but there were many to be had in a heavyweight showdown that ended in the Blue Jays’ first loss since a 14-12 setback against Franklin & Marshall in 2012.

Trailing 17-14 after a 1-yard plunge by Johns Hopkins quarterback David Tammaro with 5:20 to play, Garlick and the Bears put together a 13-play, 74yard drive that takes its place in the pantheon of top moments in the program’s 125-year history. Backed up with a 3rd-and-15 from the Ursinus 32, the sophomore signal-caller fired a bullet to junior tight end Thomas Cardozo right at the sticks, and a 15-yard personal foul moved the ball up to the Blue Jays’ 37.

Sophomore Stacey Gardner converted a 3rd-and-2 from the 29, and just did enough to pick up a 3rdand-1 at the 11-yard line before a short carry and incomplete pass set up a 3rdand-7 from just inside the 8. Looking for a receiver, and with the pocket collapsing around him, Garlick took off up the middle and veered off to his left into open space and the end zone, sending a capacity crowd into a frenzy.

Garlick finished 11-of-22 for 247 yards and a touchdown while also rushing 20 times for 104 yards — the second time in his career that he has gained 100 with both his arm and his legs. Fortino, fresh off a twogame absence due to injury, caught three passes for 111 yards, with Gerhartz adding a career-high 93 with the help of a 59-yarder early in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore Jacob McCain was a force on the defensive end again, racking up 13 tackles and adding an interception — his second in as many games and the first thrown by Tammaro this season. Thomas had a sack and two tackles for loss in addition to a pass break-up, while senior Heath Hidlay added eight tackles and classmate Jamie Casseus produced three critical pass break-ups.

Tammaro was 20-of-41 for 258 yards and a touchdown, while Ryan Cary rushed 24 times for 97 yards.

Now tied for first place with Franklin and Marshall, the Bears head to Muhlenberg next Saturday, October 7.