LOUISVILLE, KY — In a game filled with mistakes and penalties, Bellarmine made fewer errors and their defense stood tall en route to a 36-26 win over the Walsh University (Ohio) Cavaliers on Saturday evening on the campus of St. Xavier High School.  With the win, the Knights push their record to 5-0 on the season.

The Knights got off to an excellent start in all phases, forcing a three-and-out on Walsh's first drive.  A roughing the kicker penalty kept the ensuing Knights drive going and Bellarmine made the Cavaliers pay two plays later with a Luke Worley 50-yard touchdown pass to Derrik Gant.

After another Walsh three-and-out, Bellarmine found themselves faced with a 4th and 8 at the Walsh 39.  Worley hit Gant for a 19-yard pass and a facemask penalty on the tackle brought the Knights to the 10.  Two plays later, Rick Langarica punched it in from five yards out to give Bellarmine a 14-0 lead.  

After the two teams exchanged three-and-outs, Walsh blocked a punt which gave the Cavaliers possession at the Knights' 22 yard line.  Bellarmine's defense stood up, forcing yet another three-and-out that was punctuated by a Michael Miller sack as the first quarter expired.  A botched snap on Walsh's subsequent punt resulted in Bellarmine taking possession at the Cavaliers' 27 yard line.  The Knights drove to the 11, but a Matthew Smith fumble was returned 88 yards for a Walsh touchdown to make it 14-7.

The mistakes on offense continued to mount for Bellarmine as a Worley interception on the next drive gave Walsh possession at the Knights' 42.  Once again the defense stood up, forcing another three-and-out.  However, Worley was picked off again two plays into the next possession giving Walsh the ball at the Bellarmine 28.  The Knights' defense again stood tall, aided by a personal foul penalty, as Walsh was pushed back to the 39 and forced to punt again.  

The Knights once more could not get anything going on offense, and Walsh was able to block another punt to take possession at the Bellarmine 3.  After two false start penalties, the Cavaliers scored on a 4th down play to tie it up at 14.  Walsh had a chance to drive to take the lead going into the half, but a Devan Hendricks interception kept the score knotted up going into the locker room.

The offense got things going again in the third quarter, as Worley hit Gant for 31 yards.  This would lead to a 3-yard Gant TD run to put Bellarmine back up 21-14.  Walsh responded with their best drive of the evening, aided by two big Bellarmine penalties which culminated in a Keion Hawkins-Simm touchdown run to make it 21-20.  On the extra point attempt, Vernon Duncan blocked it and Cross Licht took it back the other way for a Knights two-point conversion to make it 23-20.

The two teams exchanged three-and-outs to fill out the rest of the third quarter.  Bellarmine gained possession at the Walsh 30 after a Cavalier punt traveled only 21 yards.  A 13 yard Tyler Smith run and a 13-yard pass from Worley to Shannon Tonge followed by an offsides call on Walsh set the Knights up at the 1.  Hendricks pounded it in, and Bellarmine went up 29-20 following a missed PAT.

Walsh was forced to punt once more and the next drive was the Tonge show, as he caught a 24 yard pass to get Bellarmine out of a 2nd and 17 following a holding penalty, and then Worley found him for a 23-yard TD pass to make it 36-20 with 8:40 to play.

The Knights again forced a Cavalier punt and began to kill clock before a Langarica fumble was taken 47 yards back the other way to bring Walsh back to within 36-26 with just over five minutes remaining.  The Knights intercepted the subsequent two-point conversion attempt and recovered the ensuing onside kick and were able to milk the clock down before a punt downed at the Walsh 1 with a minute and a half left all but sealed it.

Bellarmine outgained Walsh in total yardage 277-129.  The Knights lost the turnover battled 4-1, but their defense and 15 Cavalier penalties for 126 yards proved to be the difference in the ballgame.

Gant had four catches for 94 yards and a touchdown to lead all receivers.  He also had a touchdown on the ground.  Tonge totaled three catches for 60 yards, all of which were on the fourth quarter drive that put Bellarmine up by 16.  Langarica led the Knights on the ground with nine carries for 31 yards and a touchdown.  

Caiden Mellecker came up big on special teams, pinning Walsh inside their own five on two occasions.

Up next, the Knights will host Fontbonne University on Senior Day next Saturday, October 28 on the campus of St. Xavier High School.  Kickoff is scheduled for 1 PM.