Box Score RICHMOND, Ind. — The Earlham College football team honored its seniors on Saturday, but the end result on Homecoming Weekend wasn't what anyone wanted.

"It's been extremely tough," Earlham Head Coach Gerry Keesling said, after the Quakers fell 54-6 to the College of Mount St. Joseph in a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference contest at Darrell Beane Stadium.

"I feel for this football team," Keesling added. "Especially for the seniors, who want nothing more than to be victorious. We missed some plays and had some opportunities."

After falling behind 7-0, the Quakers were able to respond late in the opening period. Woody Earls (New Lebanon, OH, Dixie) scored on a 10-yard pass from James Mees (North Ridgeville, OH, North Ridgeville) to make it 7-6. The Quakers missed the extra point following the play.

From that point, the Lions (4-3, 3-3) scored 28 points in the second quarter to build a 35-6 lead at intermission.

During the stretch, the Quakers had the ball six times, but could not get their offense on track.

"We can come up with all of the excuses in the world, but we need to get the ball in the end zone," Keesling said.
 
In the third quarter, the Quakers had a 6-play, 74-yard drive that was stopped on the Mount St. Joseph 23-yard line. A 65-yard pass from Mees to Kyle Ripperger (Richmond, IN, Richmond) highlighted the series.

"That was a nice big play and we kind of stalled after that," Keesling said. "We've just got to play and continue to work hard."

Mees ended the afternoon by completing 9-of-25 passes for 170 yards and one score. Ripperger had three receptions for 82 yards.

Defensively, Dan Kelich (Elwood, IN, Elwood) topped the Quakers with 13 tackles and Aaron Barth (Springfield, OH, Springfield Shawnee) finished with six.

Ripperger and Kelich along with Austin Manahan (Orlando, FL, University), Ben Randall (Milford, OH, Milford), Nick Cummings (Rolling Prairie, IN, New Prairie), Bryant Foreman (Mechanicsburg, OH, Northeastern), Lenden Bowsman (New Castle, IN, New Castle), Andrew Roembke (Indianapolis, IN, Lawrence North), Wes Bowling (Fortville, IN, Mt. Vernon) and Chad Wertman (Holland, IN, Southridge) were the seniors who were honored at halftime as they played the final home game of their careers.

Earlham (0-8, 0-6) is idle next week before returning to action at Franklin College on Saturday, Nov. 6. The HCAC game starts at 1:30 p.m.

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