Football trounces Gettysburg 14-7

A week after dropping its first game of the season, the Johns Hopkins football team recovered by winning a closely fought game at Gettysburg 14-7. The defense, which had allowed 50 points against Bridgewater, regained its vitality, allowing only 128 yards of total offense. Hopkins improves to 3-1, 2-0 in conference, while Gettysburg drops to 2-3 and 0-2 in conference play, losing their homecoming game.

Senior quarterback Rob Heleniak connected on two first-half touchdowns that stood as the only Hopkins' points in the game. The first touchdown came late in the first quarter with a five-yard pass from Heleniak to senior wide receiver Zach Baylin.

Neither team was able to score again until Heleniak once again connected for a 19-yard pass, this time to freshman wide receiver Brian Wolcott for Wolcott's first career touchdown.

"It ended being a bigger play than I thought, I didn't know at the half-time that it would be the game winning touchdown," said Wolcott. "Rob threw up a perfect ball and I just went and got it."

Gettysburg did not put any points on the board until two-thirds of the way into the third quarter on a one-yard running play. The play came after a 59-yard drive by the Bullets, Gettysburg's longest drive of the day.

However, Gettysburg would never again see the end zone as the Hopkins defense kicked into action. The Blue Jays would keep their lead all the way to the fourth quarter. But, with less than three minutes remaining in the game, Gettysburg blocked a Blue Jay punt and recovered the ball on the Blue Jays 28-yard line.

The Blue Jays defense would not be scored on, getting a sack and forcing a turnover on downs. The Blue Jays went on to win the game 14-7.

Turnovers, which were an issue in the Blue Jays' previous loss against Bridgewater, plagued the Jays once again against Gettysburg.

The Jays, as they did last week, turned the ball over five times on four interceptions and one fumble. However the strong defensive performance helped negate the high number of turnovers. With ten turnovers in the last two games, making fewer turnovers will be a big part of the Jays' game plan.

Baylin who has been chasing a number of receiving records for Hopkins this year, etched his name in the record books for punt return yardage on Saturday.

With a 76-yard return performance, Baylin makes himself the career punt return leader for the Blue Jays with 491 career return yards.

Sophomore nose guard Paul Smith received Centennial Conference Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors, owing to his 11-tackle, three-sack performance against Gettysburg.

Defense was once again a key to the Blue Jays' game. Save the Bridgewater game, the defense has held three of its first four opponents to 16 total points combined. Gettysburg came up with only 96 yards rushing and 40 yards in receiving against the brick wall that was the Jays defense. Two of the Jays defensive players have already been named to conference player of the week honors.

The Blue Jays passing game was solid as it accounted for all of Hopkins scoring. Heleniak was 17-31 for 208 yards. Baylin added six receptions for 83 yards.

When asked what they needed to do better to win the next game, Wolcott, who caught the winning pass against the Bullets said that they needed to take care of the ball and limit turnovers.

The Blue Jays continue their conference campaign next week against Ursinus as they return to Homewood Field. Ursinus comes into the game 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference.