Football team claims 35-31 victory on Parent and Family Weekend

Cheered on by the crowd celebrating the first Parent and Family Weekend since the Covid-19 pandemic, BW earned a comeback win on the back of a pair of explosive fourth-quarter touchdown passes.

Senior+wide+receiver+Darius+Stokes+hauls+in+the+games+winning+score%2C+a+75-yard+touchdown+pass+thrown+by+junior+Joey+Marousek.+Photo+courtesy+of+University+Relations

Dustin Johnson

Senior wide receiver Darius Stokes hauls in the game’s winning score, a 75-yard touchdown pass thrown by junior Joey Marousek. Photo courtesy of University Relations

The Baldwin Wallace football team returned to Berea on Sept. 24, taking a 35-31 win over Ohio Northern University in their first home game of the season.

Taking the field during BW’s Parent and Family Weekend, the Yellow Jackets came back from a 14-point deficit late in the game.

The win improved the team’s record to 2-2 overall and 2-1 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.

BW started off strong when sophomore defensive back Alden Steele returned a fumble for a touchdown during the opening kickoff. Following this, the Ohio Northern Polar Bears would put up 21 unanswered points and went into halftime leading 21-14.

The third quarter saw the Yellow Jackets let up another touchdown but quickly answer back with one of their own. Heading into the final frame, BW was down 28-21 and in need of a comeback to take the victory.

In the fourth quarter the crowd was brought to their feet with cheers after the Yellow Jackets scored two passing touchdowns of 75 or more yards.

The first touchdown came from junior quarterback Joey Marousek to first-year wide receiver Tim Conwell for an 84-yard touchdown reception, the first of Conwell’s career. Just a few minutes later, Marousek threw a 75-yarder to Darious Stokes.

On the backs of these two explosive plays, the Yellow Jackets outscored Ohio Northern by a 14-3 margin in the fourth quarter.

Marousek finished the day completing 8 of his 21 passes for 245 yards, three touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.

Parents, families and students filled George Finnie Stadium for the Parent and Family Weekend festivities including a halftime performance from BW’s Marching Band. The band performed a medley of songs including Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright.”

This year, was the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that BW celebrated Parent and Family weekend. The BW football game was only one of many events that took place during the action-packed festivity.

Other events that took place for the Parent and Family weekend included trivia, a paint-and-sip event and a tailgating party before the football game which featured the marching band, food, dancing and T-shirt cannons.

The BW Yellow Jackets will compete in their next home game on Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m. against Muskingum University. The matchup with the Fighting Muskies will mark the OAC’s Hall of Fame Game and 44th Annual Lee Tressel Shrine Classic.