Ohio Northern junior quarterback Will Freed connected with junior receiver Caleb Saalfeld for a 12-yard pass-and-run TD in the 2nd overtime, and the Polar Bears' defense stopped the final OT possession of the Blue Streaks to come away with a 27-20, 2OT victory in JCU's Don Shula Stadium.

In the 1st OT, JCU took a 20-13 lead when sophomore QB Anthony Moeglin threw a perfect fade route to the back right corner of the end zone to senior standout receiver Brian Kornowski.

"The offensive line played well and the receivers did their job but I missed too many opportunities," Moeglin said. "Ohio Northern is a good team. Defensively, they apply a lot of pressure," Moeglin added.

Ohio Northern tied the game at 20-20 on three plays with its 1 st OT possession. Freed hit sophomore Rodney Holmes wIth a TD pass over the middle on 3 RD and 7 from the 12.

Ohio Northern took the game's opening kickoff 65 yards in 10 plays for a 7-0 lead just 3:08 into the first quarter. Star sophomore running back Christiaan Williams toted the balls four times for 36 yards, and junior quarterback Will Freed connected with freshman tight end Ryan Rockwell for the final 18 yards.

Williams lived up to his hype, rushing 31 times for 212 yards, including 156 yards in the first half behind a strong offensive line. The powerful runner now has 1,085 rushing yards in six games. He has amassed 706 all-purpose yards in the last two games including a school-record 407 rushing yards last week at home vs Capital.

The Polar Bears added a 29-yard Chase Watson field goal with 3:58 to play in the 1 st quarter. That drive covered 62 yards in 11 plays.

The Blue Streaks fought back from a 10-0 deficit in the second quarter when Matt Danko kicked two field goals to come within four at halftime, 10-6. The junior placekicker connected on kicks of 39 and 41 yards. The second three-pointer capped a 55-yard drive in 6 plays, highlighted by senior running back Ro Golphin's 48-yard sprint down the right sideline. Golphin gained 130 rushing yards in 15 carries.

"We wanted to run and impose our will, but we didn't play well enough in the end to get it done," Golphin stated.

In the 2nd half, Watson added a 28-yard field goal to extend the ONU lead to 13-6, but JCU tied the game with 6:31 to play in regulation when Golphin capped an impressive 87-yard, 14-play drive, smashing in from the ONU 2-yardline.

The JCU defense – led by junior lineman Adam Thompson's 11 tackles—played well, especially in the 2 nd half. "We adjusted our line play in the 2nd half and took away a lot of the outside running game," Thompson noted. "But we had too many mental errors."

ONU ran 82 plays for 531 yards while JCU only ran 63 plays for 292 yards in total offense. The Polar Bears managed 33 first downs; JCU 14.

"We held pretty good in the red zone for the most part," Head Coach Rick Finotti commented. "Williams is a big, strong back. I'm proud of the way our guys adjusted. It takes a series or two to adjust to a runner like Williams," Finotti added.

"You have to credit the ONU defense; they covered our guys up and put pressure on our quarterback. The OAC is a tough conference; (ONU) Coach Paul and his guys do a good job," Finotti claimed.

Kornowski entered the game ranked 2nd in OAC receptions with 33 (6.6 rpg). He caught 7 passes for 60 yards and a TD.

For the third straight year, and the seventh time in the last 10 games against ONU, the visiting team won the game.

JCU stands 3-3 overall, 3-2 in the OAC. ONU improves to 4-2 overall, 3-2 in the conference.

Next week, the Blue Streaks travel to Capital for 1:30 kickoff.