Box Score

WESTMINSTER, Md. – For the third time in four weeks, the Gettysburg College football team had a game decided in the final minute, and for the second time the Bullets came out on top, defeating McDaniel College 44-37 at Scott S. Bair Stadim on Saturday.

Senior cornerback Tyler Fasanella forced a fumble and recovered the loose ball at the Bullet-28 with 23 seconds left, and Gettysburg (3-2, 3-1 CC) was able to run out the rest of the clock as the Bullets reversed their fortunes against the Green Terror. In each of the last two seasons, McDaniel won on the game's final play, including a triple-overtime affair last year.

In a game that featured over 1,100 yards of offense, sophomore receiver Aden Twer recorded just the second 200-yard game in school history, hauling in seven passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns, including a go-ahead 33-yard TD catch with 1:50 remaining. It was the second time this season that Twer posted the second-highest receiving yardage total in school history, as he also had 179 yards and the game-winning catch as time expired in a 40-34 win over Ursinus in Week Two.

The Bullets finished with two different 100-yard rushers in addition to a pair of 100-yard receivers as they piled up 676 yards of offense, the most since a 687-yard game in a 59-14 win over Juniata College in 2009.

Senior quarterback Kyle Whitmoyer rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns and also passed for a 185 yards while becoming the 13th quarterback in school history to throw for over 2,000 career yards. Junior tailback Ted Delia posted his third-straight 100-yard game, rushing for 109 yards on 21 carries, while freshman wing Freddy Caruso caught five passes for a season-high 133 yards.

Whitmoyer and junior Kody Smith shared time at quarterback, and Smith finished with 229 yards and two touchdowns on 9-of-17 passing.

Gettysburg extended their Centennial Conference-record streaks of scoring 30 or more points to eight and 40 or more to six, dating back to last season.

Sophomore receiver Nick O'Melia made eight catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns for McDaniel (1-4, 1-3 CC) IIwhile freshman Nick Valori passed for 329 yards and three TDs. Sophomore tailback Joe Rollins ran for 145 yards and a pair of scores on 34 rushes.

Junior linebacker Larry DelViscio and senior safety Peter Hak had 10 tackles apiece for the Bullets while junior defensive lineman Joe Ventresca finished with a career-high 3.0 sacks.

Smith and Twer combined for nearly all of Gettysburg's yards on its game-winning drive. With the game tied 37-all, the Bullets took over on their own 20 with 2:37 left. Smith immediately went to Twer, who made a 41-yard grab deep down the right sideline. After a six-yard carry by Caruso, Smith went long for Twer down the left sideline, and despite defensive holding, Twer shook himself free to make the go-ahead grab. Senior Rob Pennella added his fifth extra point of the game to make it 44-37.

McDaniel refused to go quietly, however, and converted a fourth-and-14 when Valori hit O'Melia with a 15-yard completion the Terror-46. Two plays later, Valori connected with Matt Emerson for a 22-yard pickup, but that's where Fasanella put his helmet on the ball and recovered the pigskin. The officials then huddled to discuss the ruling play and moments later confirmed the ball came out before Emerson hit the ground.

After the defenses forced punts on the game's first two possessions, the offenses kicked into gear, scoring on the next six drives. The Bullets commenced the scoring with an efficient seven-play, 96-yard drive that lasted just 1:36. A 34-yard catch-and-run from Twer set up his team at the McDaniel-19 before Delia put the Bullets on the doorstep with a 19-yard carry. Whitmoyer then ran in untouched from 1 yard out on play action with 9:53 left in the first quarter.

McDaniel got on the scoreboard with a 36-yard field goal from Jake Nichols before the Bullets answered with a three-pointer of their own, as Pennella drilled through a career-longer 37-yarder with 2:24 to go in the opening quarter.

A 64-yard return from Donny Sherman on the ensuing kickoff set up the Green Terror at the Gettysburg-24. After a 23-yard pass, Rollins pulled McDaniel even with a 1-yard run with 2:08 showing.

The Bullets went on to score on the second play of their next drive, with Smith hitting Twer in stride down the right sideline for a 53-yard touchdown pass as Gettysburg went in front 17-10 with 1:23 to go in the opening stanza.

The quick-striking assault continued when O'Melia hauled in a 54-yard TD catch to cap a three-play, 70-yard McDaniel scoring drive and make it a 17-17 nine seconds into the second quarter. But that's when defense took over, producing six consecutive punts followed by a pair of interceptions.

Senior linebacker Marc Graziano halted a McDaniel drive late in the half with his second career interception, stepping in front of a Valero pass at the Bullet-39. But the Green Terror returned the favor when Tim McLister picked off a Whitmoyer pass at the goal line and returned it to the McDaniel-17 with 1:49 left. The Terror would run off the rest of the rest of the clock as the two teams headed for the locker rooms tied at 17.

Receiving the possession to start the second half, McDaniel wasted little time before taking its first lead of the game, needing just 1:29 to go 56 yards for a touchdown. Tight end Woody Butler caught a pass down the middle of the field and ran to it to the Bullet-1, and Rollins scored on the next play to make it 24-17 with 13:24 on the clock.

Gettysburg came right back with a 10-play, 50-yard drive, capped by a 9-yard run from Whitmoyer. On third-and-goal, Whitmoyer dropped back and surveyed the scene before tucking it in for a 9-yard run with 9:50 left in the third quarter.

The Bullets then forced a punt before driving all the way to the Terror-1. However, for the second time Gettysburg came up empty. Smith was unable to corral a high snap, which was picked up by Michael Cousar at the goal line. Cousar raced to the Bullet-19 before being dragged down by freshman tailback Nick Ulassin, but an illegal block brought the ball back to the McDaniel-46. On the next play, O'Melia got behind the secondary for a 56-yard touchdown catch. However, Nichols' extra point was blocked by Ventresca, making it 30-24 in favor of the hosts with 3:28 left in the third quarter.

The Bullets answered by going 89 yards in nine plays, with senior wing John Pesce making an 18-yard touchdown reception from Smith, just staying inside the left side of the end zone. Pennella's extra point put Gettysburg back in front, 31-30, with 23 seconds to go in the quarter.

The teams exchanged punts before the Bullets came up with a big stop early in the fourth quarter, as Ventresca and junior defensive end Ben Zepnick converged for a sack on fourth down with 9:12 left.

Whitmoyer extended Gettysburg's lead with his third touchdown, finding room up the middle of the field and sprinting in for a 47-yard romp. However, the Bullets were unable to get the snap down on the extra point and it was 37-30 with 8:03 to go.

McDaniel pulled even on O'Melia's third TD reception, this from 36 yards out, and Nichols' point-after tied it with 6:38 remaining. The Terror forced the Bullets to go three-and-out, but Graziano ended McDaniel's ensuing drive when he came up with a tackle in the backfield on third-and-nine, forcing a punt before Gettysburg's game-winning drive.

Gettysburg takes its bye week before it returns to action Oct. 15, when it hosts Muhlenberg College at 1 p.m.