......Saturday October 11, l998...Repository sports staff report NORTH CANTON -- Walsh University football coach Jim Dennison announced Friday that senior tailback Damont Skanes and senior defensive back Don Patterson have been placed on indefinite suspension for a violation of team policy. The loss of Skanes means the Cavaliers will be without one of the top NAIA running backs in the nation. The 5-foot-10, 178-pound tailback is seventh in the nation in rushing at 150.4 yards per game. Patterson started at cornerback for Walsh. The 6-foot, 170-pounder was a quarterback as a freshman, but was switched to the secondary later that year. The suspensions begin today when Walsh plays host to Urbana at Fawcett Stadium.

......Saturday October 11, l998... Walsh loses top rusher to disciplinary measure Skanes is suspended indefinitely, as is Patterson BY JOHN SEABURN Beacon Journal staff writer Two Walsh University football players, one an NAIA All-American running back, were handed indefinite suspensions on the eve of today's game with Urbana at Fawcett Stadium. Senior tailback Damont Skanes, Walsh's leading rusher this season and the school's record-holder in every rushing category, and senior defensive back Don Patterson were suspended by Walsh head coach Jim Dennison for ``violations of team policy.'' The loss of Skanes for disciplinary reasons is expected to be as costly for the Cavs as it is surprising for followers of Walsh football. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder out of Cleveland Heights High was the team's leader in rushing (752 yards) and rushing attempts (130), and was tied with fellow tailback Ron Messer for the team scoring lead with 42 points. One of Walsh's four team captains, Skanes averaged 5.8 yards a carry. He also had three pass receptions for 47 yards. Skanes had also assumed a prominent role in campus and community affairs. The NAIA's lone representative and spokesperson for the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance, Skanes had filmed a public service announcement that was being shown this season during network telecasts of football games. Patterson, a 6-foot, 170-pound senior defensive back who played scholastically at East Cleveland Shaw High, was the team interceptions leader with three. Walsh, 12th in the latest NAIA national poll, had climbed to fourth last week before suffering a 17-14 loss at Tiffin. Kickoff for today's MidStates Football Association game is set for 11 a.m. WCER (900-AM) will carry the game

Walsh backups help key overtime victory By MARK CRAIG Repository sports writer CANTON -- Dan Herbert is a third-stringer. Chad Wise is fourth string. They are freshmen at Walsh University. Together, they weigh about the same as Cavaliers right tackle Bob Sullivan. On a normal Saturday, Dan and Chad are supposed to be those little guys who wave towels at the end of the bench. But Saturday was far from normal for a Walsh team in turmoil. And Dan and Chad were anything but little as they combined for 164 yards rushing on 42 carries and all four Walsh touchdowns in a 27-21 overtime win over Urbana University in front of 2,822 fans at Fawcett Stadium. "Nothing is ever easy," said Walsh coach Jim Dennison, whose team is 5-1, 1-1 in the Mid-States Football Association. "But I think the job Dan and Chad did says a little about our football program." It says Walsh is deep enough to overcome the indefinite suspension of star senior tailback Damont Skanes and an ankle injury to his senior backup, Ron Messer. It says that two little freshmen can replace two seniors who had combined for an average of 196 yards rushing and three touchdowns per game this season. And we're talking about two young replacements who had a combined 20 yards on six carries and no TDs in the first five games. Herbert, a 5-foot-9, 159-pounder from Wadsworth, got his first collegiate start Saturday and ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner around right end from three yards out. Wise, a 6-0, 167-pound Lake High grad, played every other series, carried the ball 18 times and added 70 yards. His only touchdown gave Walsh a 21-0 lead with 7:50 left in the second quarter. But what should have been a rout turned into a game as Urbana (2-4, 0-3) produced 323 total yards, including 202 rushing, and 21 points after halftime. The Blue Knights dominated the second half and could have won the game in regulation if they hadn't botched two makeable field goal attempts in the final three minutes. Holder Ace Jones bobbled the snap and had to abort a 36-yard attempt. Then, with 16 seconds left, Walsh defensive end Bryan Register blocked a 35-yard attempt as the Cavs avoided another last-second defeat similar to last week's 17-14 loss at Tiffin. Urbana got the first possession in overtime, but quarterback Frank Carrico was intercepted by defensive back Brian Farrar. Then Walsh's offense finally regrouped after a horrible second half that saw it gain just 85 yards and turn the ball over three times. Herbert ran the ball on all six of Walsh's overtime plays before diving inside the right pylon for the victory. "I knew (Messer) was out, but then coach told me (Friday) I was starting," Herbert said. "It's been kind of a strange week." Dennison had an idea Herbert could handle the job. After all, Herbert was a 2,000-yard rusher for a Wadsworth team coached by Dennison's son, Greg. "This was a big win for us because it certainly hasn't been an easy week by any means," Dennison said. "The fact that we won despite all the turmoil says a lot about the team we have." Skanes, who leads the MSFA in rushing (150.4), and starting cornerback Don Patterson were suspended Friday for violating team rules. They aren't in trouble with the police, but Dennison said they probably won't play next week against St. Francis. "I really don't want to talk about them," Dennison said. Messer will return to the starting lineup next week. But for at least one Saturday afternoon, the spotlight was on Dan and Chad. "Let's talk about Dan and Chad," Dennison smiled. "Those guys are the ones who came through for us today."

FIRST QUARTER
WALSH..Herbert 12 run (Hutchinson kick), 10:16
WALSH..Herbert 2 run (Hutchinson kick), 2:40


SECOND QUARTER
WALSH..Wise 1 run (Hutchinson kick),7:50



THIRD QUARTER
URBANA..Carrico 1 run (Titus kick), 6:29
URBANA..Carrico 1 run (Titus kick), 4:53
FOURTH QUARTER
URBANA..Miranda 8 pass from Carrico (Titus kick), 8:16


OVERTIME
WALSH..Herbert 3 run


A--2,822

RECORDS:URBANA 2-4; WALSH 5-1

---

....from the Akron Beacon Journal, Sunday October 18, 1998... Walsh 44, St. Francis 41 -- Former Barberton quarterback Matt Jenson threw a 25-yard TD pass in the second overtime to lead the Cavaliers to victory. Jenson had thrown three TD passes and ran for a TD as the visiting Cavaliers (6-1, 2-1 Mid-State Football Association) rallied from a 31-14 third-quarter deficit to take a 38-31 lead late in the fourth quarter. St. Francis (1-5, 0-3) tied the game with a late TD. Neither team scored in the first overtime.

---

....from the Canton Repository, Tuesday October 20, 1998....
...Walsh QB Jenson wins award ...FINDLAY, Ohio -- Matt Jenson of Walsh, Lenny West of Urbana, Andrew McFedries of St. Ambrose and Rudy Vugteveen of Taylor have been named players of the week in the Mid-States Football Association. Jenson, who received offensive honors in the Mideast League, threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score in Walsh's 44-41 win over St. Francis in double overtime Saturday...........

---

....from the Canton Repository, Thursday October 22, 1998....
Beating adversity Walsh takes 6-1 mark into Saturday's game despite problems on and off playing field By MIKE POPOVICH Repository sports writer NORTH CANTON -- The Walsh University football team has tackled adversity head on over the past couple of weeks. And the Cavaliers, barely showing a scratch, still have come out winners. Walsh has survived through the suspensions of two starters, the team's first loss of the season on a last-second field goal and two grueling overtime wins. The Cavs have earned the 6-1 record they will take into Saturday's game against 3-3 Malone at Fawcett Stadium. "I think we have developed an identity and a personality," Walsh head coach Jim Dennison said. "Right now, we are where we should be as far as the mental part of the game and the physical part of the game. "I'm real happy with the development. It takes a pretty good football team to come back from a 17-point deficit in the third quarter, go ahead, then have to win the game on the last play after falling behind again." That is what Walsh did in last week's 44-41 double-overtime win at Saint Francis (Ind.). Quarterback Matt Jenson helped rally the Cavs from a 31-14 deficit with a 17-yard touchdown run and an 18-yard TD pass to Jason Cunningham. After Saint Francis' Joe Klimaski kicked a 27-yard field goal in the second overtime, Jenson threw a game-winning 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Josh Wehring. Jenson ended the day 14-for-25 for 245 yards and threw a school-record four touchdown passes. He was named the Mideast League Offensive Player of the Week in the Mid-States Football Association. "Matt has been pretty good all year and especially good the last two weeks," Dennison said. "He is hitting for more than 50 percent of his passes. And he is hitting play action, drop back and sprint out (passes)." Tailback Damont Skanes and cornerback Don Patterson were suspended on Oct. 9 for violating team rules and have missed the last two games. The suspensions will continue this week. The loss of Skanes, a first-team NAIA All-American, and senior tailback Ron Messer to an ankle injury meant more carries for freshmen tailbacks Dan Herbert and Chad Wise. They were featured runners in similar tailback-oriented offenses while in high school. Herbert played for Dennison's son Greg at Wadsworth and rushed for almost 2,000 yards his senior year. He has rushed for 213 yards on 55 carries and has scored four touchdowns in his last two games. Wise, a former first-team All-Stark County pick from Lake, has rushed for 142 yards on 34 carries and has scored one TD over the last two weeks. "It's not a surprise," Dennison said. "Both of those guys have run our plays for years. And Ron Messer also has helped them every step of the way with advice. "They have taken the bull by the horns. They have not played like rookies. They have played like veterans." Messer is expected to be back in the starting lineup on Saturday when the Cavs face another big challenge. It is a Malone team which, like Walsh, is trying to stay within reach of first place in the Mideast League. "Our young men know the importance of the Malone game," Dennison said. "And we know what to expect from them. They're a well-coached unit and a hard-nosed bunch. Regardless of what the records are or where we are in the season, it will be like a playoff atmosphere." This week Malone vs. Walsh When: Saturday, 1 p.m. Where: Fawcett Stadium Radio: WCER-AM 900, WHLO-AM 640

---

WALSH 44, ST. FRANCIS 41 (2 overtimes)

ST. FRANCIS	7	17	7	7	0	3	41
WALSH	7	17	7	7	0	6	44

(THE SCORING BY QUARTERS IS INCORRECT....dave s)
FIRST QUARTER
WALSH..Winphrie 19 pass from Jenson (Hutchinson kick)
ST. FRANCIS..Dutcher 26 pass from Hibbeln (Klimaski kick)


SECOND QUARTER
WALSH..Winphrie 25 pass from Jenson (Hutchinson kick)
WALSH..Jenson 17 run (Hutchinson kick)
WALSH..FG Hutchinson 25
ST. FRANCIS..Dutcher 12 pass from Hibbeln (kick failed)
ST. FRANCIS..FG Klimaski 21
ST. FRANCIS..Ponder 35 pass from Hibbeln (James run)


THIRD QUARTER
WALSH..Cunningham 18 pass from Jenson (Hutchinson kick)
ST. FRANCIS..James 1 run (klimaski kick)
FOURTH QUARTER
WALSH..Herbert 1 run (Hutchinson kick)
ST. FRANCIS..James 2 run (Klimaski kick)


1st overtime
NO SCORING


2nd overtime
WALSH..WEHRING 25 PASS FROM JENSON (no kick attempted)
ST. FRANCIS..FG Klimaski 27





A--2,000

RECORDS:ST. FRANCIS 1-5 (0-3 mid-states) ; WALSH 6-1 (2-1 mid-states)

	ST. FRANCIS	WALSH
first downs	20	24
rushes-yards	37-271	68-257
passing	261	245
return yards	112	216
comp-att-int	15-31-3	14-25-0
punts-avg	5-38	3-40.3
fumbles-lost	0-0	2-2
penalties-yards	?	?
time of possession	21.00	39.00

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS FOR WALSH UNIVERSITY

RUSHING

SKANES	did not play
MESSER	12-37
WISE	16-72
WINPHRIE	0
JENSON	5-16
MAURER	0
HERBERT	31-119
PULLEN	0
SPILLAR	4-13
GOLDYN	0
KUSMITS	0
LESZYNSKI	0

PASSING

JENSON	14-25-245-2
PULLEN	0
HATCH	0

RECEIVING

SPILLAR	0
STEINER	1-12
ULRICH	0
MESSER	0
CUNNINGHAM	5-87
WINPHRIE	5-78
SKANES	0
KOVACH	1-9
WEHRING	2-59

---

"box scores" compiled from information contained in the "Canton Repository" newspaper

---

---

---

PLEASE CLICK ON THE SPINNING FOOTBALL TO BE TAKEN TO THE 3rd, "MORE" PREVIOUS GAMES PAGE

---

---