Sept. 1, 2007

Box Score

HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, VA - Johns Hopkins senior Patrick Kay blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt on the final play of the game - the Blue Jays' second blocked kick of the game - to seal a stunning 17-16 come-from behind victory over host Hampden-Sydney in the season-opener for both teams Saturday afternoon. The win is the third straight for the Blue Jays dating back to last season and the seventh straight in a road-opener for Hopkins.

Johns Hopkins, which trailed three times during the game only to fight back and tie or take the lead each time, put together its best drive of the game when it counted most, in the last six minutes. The Blue Jays put together a 14-play, 65-yard drive that started with 5:58 remaining and ended with junior Greg Chimera's one-yard touchdown run with 1:34 to play. The Blue Jays converted twice on third down and once on fourth down to keep the drive alive. Freshman Tucker Michels came up with four of his team-high eight receptions and sophomore quarterback Michael Murray was 6-of-8 on what proved to be the game-winning drive. Freshman Alex Lachman drilled the extra-point off the left upright and through for what would be the decisive point. Still, Hampden-Sydney had just over 90 seconds and two timeouts to work its way into position to win.

The Tigers quickly worked their way into position to win the game as they returned a squib kick to the Blue Jay 41-yard line and needed just one play to move to the Blue Jay 23. A rush and a pass netted just two yards and sophomore Corey Sedlar was sacked on third down by sophomore Colin Wixted at the Blue Jay 30 with 6.8 seconds remaining. After Johns Hopkins head coach Jim Margraff used his second timeout to try and ice Hampden-Sydney's T.C. Stevens, Kay came up the middle and snuffed the low line drive and time expired as the teams scrambled for the loose ball at midfield.

The Blue Jays needed a game-winning drive and the game-saving blocked field goal after Hampden-Sydney converted its third interception of the game into a 17-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter. Senior wide receiver Michael Brooks beat his defender on an inside slant on third-and-goal from the Blue Jay 10 to break a 10-10 tie with 13:09 remaining, but senior Scott Meyers split a pair of blockers and blocked the extra point to leave the door open for the Blue Jays, who won for the ninth time in their last 11 season-openers.

In a first half during which the Blue Jays appeared in complete control, Hopkins found itself behind at the half after a late second-quarter touchdown gave the Tigers a 10-7 halftime lead. Sedlar's perfect lob to senior wide receiver Drew Smith in the corner of the end zone capped a quick, three-play, 40-yard drive with 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the Tigers the three-point lead. Hopkins led 7-3 and had possession deep in its own end of the field with less than two minutes to play, but the Tiger defense forced a punt and Sedlar hit Smith to finish the first-half scoring.

The Blue Jays had great field position early in the game as their first two drives moved past midfield, but neither resulted in points and Hampden-Sydney turned its second interception of Blue Jay quarterback Michael Murray into the first points of the game late in the first quarter. After freshman William Riggenbach intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to the Blue Jays 34-yard line, the Tigers moved to the JHU 25 before the drive stalled. A 42-yard T.C. Stevens field goal polished off the drive after the Blue Jay defense forced the Tigers into a fourth-and-long at the 25-yard line.

After controlling the first 20 minutes of the game, the Blue Jays pieced together a nine-play, 60-yard touchdown drive that gave them a 7-3 lead with just under four minutes remaining in the first half. A trio of third-down conversions and three completions from Murray to sophomore wide receiver Alex Quermorllue fueled the drive, which was polished off with a nine-yard touchdown run up the middle by senior Phil Roberts.

The 7-3 lead held last just over three minutes until Smith scored late in the first half. The Blue Jays drew even late in the third quarter as Lachman drilled a 43-yard field goal to complete a 10-play, 57-yard drive with 3:21 remaining in the third. The teams then traded the two touchdowns in the final quarter with the missed extra point and blocked field goal ultimately providing the difference.

Roberts rushed 18 times for a game-high 18 yards and Murray was 22-of-33 for 134 yards. Sophomore Andrew Kase added 50 yards on the ground as the Blue Jays held a 175-12 advantage in net rushing yards. Hopkins held the ball for 37:20 and outgained Hampden-Sydney 309-182.

Smith has 11 receptions for 137 yards and the one touchdown and Sedlar threw for 170 yards in the loss, but the Blue Jay defense came up with several big plays when they needed them and held the Tigers to just the 12 rushing yards on 27 attempts.

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