By Tim Glon
he Ohio Northern football team opened its 2013 season with a convincing 55-0 victory over Alfred State (N.Y.) Saturday afternoon at Ada War Memorial Stadium.
The Polar Bears (1-0) got a punt return for a touchdown and two interception returns for scores in the first half and led 28-0 at halftime.
Northern's defense was dominant, holding the Pioneers (0-1) to just 140 yards of total offense, including just five through the air.
Sophomore William Bodden ran 12 times for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns and sophomore Justin Magazine ran five times for 61 yards and a score to lead the ONU offense.
Freshman linebacker Cody Cox had nine tackles, including three for loss, and senior cornerback Ryan Reid had three tackles and two interceptions to lead the Northern defense.
Bodden got the Polar Bears on the board with a 24-yard run to cap an 11-play, 80-yard drive to make it 7-0 with 4:10 left in the first period.
After a three-and-out by the Pioneers, senior Ryan Malone returned a punt 61 yards for a score and Northern led 14-0 with 2:32 left in the opening period.
The defense gave the Polar Bears some breathing room with a pair of pick-6s before halftime.
First, Reid returned an interception 35 yards for a score and a 21-0 lead with 9:46 left in the half.
On ASC's ensuing possession, junior defensive end Adam Best intercepted a screen pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown and Northern led 28-0 with 6:54 left in the half.
"The punt return and the two pick-sixes were huge plays, obviously," ONU head coach Dean Paul said. "I think we wore them down as the day went on and our offense got going in the second half, but that could have been a 7-0 game at halftime if not for our guys stepping up and making those big plays."
The ONU offense took over after intermission, as ONU would score on four consecutive possession in the second half.
Bodden ran in from 22 yards out with 6:18 left in the third period to make it 35-0.
Magazine broke through for a 47-yard run on ONU's ensuing possession, extending the lead to 41-0 with 1:48 left in the third.
Sophomore quarterback Connor Devine came off the bench and snuck in from two yards out with 12:31 left in the game to make it 48-0.
he then threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to freshman Matt Craven with 3:42 left to cap the scoring.
Rasheed Williams ran 23 times for 55 yards and Gregory Hampton ran 10 times for 40 yards for ASC. Hampton was limited by intense pressure from the defensive line and finished the day 3-for-16 for five yards with three interceptions.
Junior Patrick Angle completed 4-of-14 passes for 40 yards and ran eight times for 21 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter with a minor injury.
Northern out-gained ASC 341-140 in total offense.
The Polar Bears will return to action Sept. 21 at No. 14-ranked Heidelberg to kick off the Ohio Athletic Conference portion of their schedule.
