Football defeats Quincy, wins seventh straight
The University of Indianapolis football team extended its winning streak to seven-straight games on Saturday, Nov. 9, defeating the Quincy University Hawks at home 33-7.
The Greyhounds’ victory provided them with a share of the 2013 Great Lakes Valley Conference championship for the second year in a row, after the Truman State University Bulldogs fell to the Saint Joseph’s College Pumas 6-3.
The victory over the Hawks was also a historical win for senior running back Klay Fiechter, who added another pair of long-standing records to his resume. One of the records claimed by Fiechter was the all-time leader in rushing yards, which was originally held by Dick Nalley (1973-76), who held the record with 3,559 yards. Fiechter is now the sole owner of that record, along with the record for total touchdowns by a Greyhound, held by Dick Nyers (1952-55), with 43.
Following the victory, Fiechter said he was honored once again to be mentioned with all the previous record holders. Fiechter attributed his records to his offensive line and receivers, who created the holes for him to run through during his career.
“It was exciting, but at the same time we were in a dog fight all the way through the four quarters of the game,” Fiechter said. “I was more focused on that, more focused on getting the win, and I’m glad we did that tonight.”
In the first half, the Hawks came out swinging early with a 79-yard opening drive that resulted in a quarterback sneak into the end zone for the first score of the game. Nearly two minutes later, a 44-yard touchdown run by Fiechter knotted up the game at seven apiece.
At the end of the first quarter, following a 42-yard punt by junior kicker Scott Miller that pinned the Hawks at their own one-yard line, senior linebacker Todd Hacker tackled Quincy redshirt freshman running back Jared King in the Hawks’ end zone, claiming the safety for UIndy. After a scoreless second quarter, the Greyhounds went into the half up 9-7 over the Hawks.
After halftime, the Greyhounds began to pull away from the Hawks on the scoreboard. In the third quarter, the Hounds found the end zone twice, with a two-yard touchdown run by Fiechter and another through the air with a 15-yard touchdown pass from redshirt sophomore quarterback Connor Barthel to freshman wide receiver Kevin Teglia.
In the fourth quarter, after Miller tacked on a 17-yard field goal to make the score 26-7, redshirt junior running back Matt Ripp took off on the opening play of one of UIndy’s following drives for an 89-yard rushing touchdown with 6:35 remaining. The touchdown increased UIndy’s lead 33-7, which would remain unchanged as the Greyhounds sealed the win.
After claiming a share of the conference championship for the second year in a row, Head Football Coach Bob Bartolomeo said doing so felt great, but that the team has something else on its mind.
“Our goal is to win next week and get in the playoffs,” Bartolomeo said. “That’s what we have been shooting for all year. And so that goal hasn’t changed.”
The Greyhounds will be back in Key Stadium this Saturday, Nov. 16, when they will host Truman State. The Bulldogs will come into the game looking to steal a share of the conference title if they can knock off the Hounds. However, if UIndy wins, it will be crowned sole possessor of the title for the second consecutive year. Kickoff is set to take place at 4 p.m.
