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HOBART, Ind. – The 2019 season is officially in the books for Great Midwest Athletic Conference football programs as Ohio Dominican was edged in the America’s Crossroads Bowl on Saturday vs. No. 23 Truman State, 21-7.
It was a windy December day, but tolerable as fans from both sides came out to Brickyard Stadium in support of their respective programs.
After some team-uniting ancillary events with community service to the city of Hobart, a Christmas tree lighting downtown and a bowl game banquet, at the end of the day, it was just time to put on the pads and play some football.
The pregame festivities included the National Anthem belted by Jim Cornelison, a famed singer in the Chicago area who performs for the NHL Blackhawk games, the Indy 500 and other sporting events.
There was also a helicopter flyover above the stadium and on Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, two veterans served as honorary captains during the coin toss for each side.
The Panthers showed themselves well representing the Great Midwest against the nationally ranked Bulldogs from the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Ohio Dominican would finish the season with a 7-3 overall record under head coach Kelly Cummings and his staff.
Notably, senior linebacker Camren Moore went out on a high note in his final game by receiving America’s Crossroads Bowl Defensive MVP honors. Moore led all players with 16 tackles and forced a pair of turnovers with an interception and a forced fumble.
The ODU playmaker also set a new career record in the program’s history with tackles, racking up 299 for the black and gold.
The America’s Crossroads Bowl Offensive MVP award went to Truman State RB Jordan Salima, who gained 117 yards on 30 carries with a pair of touchdowns. The senior also had four catches for 20 yards in the receiving game.
Truman State ate up clock with over 10 minutes and converted multiple third downs on the opening drive of the game, but the Ohio Dominican defense held strong in the red zone as the Bulldogs mustered a field goal.
After punting on their first two possessions, the Panthers engineered a nice 13-play scoring drive culminating with an 8-yard keeper by QB Jake Woycke. Woycke was making his first career start under center in the absence of starter Evan Ernst, who was on the sideline with a boot on his left leg.
Woycke, a redshirt freshman, battled the December cold and some windy conditions in his first start and the Panthers had 169 yards of total offense.
EJ Colson was tasked going up against a near top 25 rushing defense and Truman State routinely stacked eight in the box to try and stop the run. Colson would finish with 59 yards on 23 carries.
Two-time Great Midwest Special Teams Player of the Year Logen Neidhardt boomed a 73-yard punt, the longest distance officially in conference history. Neidhardt bested 72-yard kicks by Tiffin’s David Orlando and Hillsdale’s Jack Shannon, both in 2018, as he pinned the Bulldogs at their 1-yard line.