Callahan sets all-time mark as Wesley holds on at Hopkins

Despite throwing three interceptions in the first quarter, Joe Callahan overcame his early struggles to account for 5 touchdowns, including his 50th passing touchdown of the year, and set the NCAA record for most passing yards in a single season, as Wesley defeated Johns Hopkins 42-37 to advance to the Division III quarterfinals.

Trailing 10-7 halfway thru the second quarter, Callahan had a one yard touchdown run, before finding Alex Kemp 40 yards down the sideline to give Wesley a convincing 21-10 lead into the locker room.

After JHU QB Jon Germano found Evan Adamo for a 22 yard touchdown to cut the Wesley lead to 21-17, Callahan responded with his 50th touchdown of the season, finding Kyle George on the edge of the endzone, to bring the lead back up to 11. A three yard Jamar Baynard touchdown would push Wesley’s lead to 35-17 with 1:56 left in the third quarter.

Wesley appeared to let their foot off the gas a little bit, with a couple of missed opportunities for stops on defense, allowing Hopkins pull the score to 42-37 with just over eight minutes remaining. Wesley would respond with a drive to chew clock, but receiver Bryce Shade would fumble at the 3 yard line going in, giving the Blue Jays a final chance on offense. On fourth and three, in the shadows of their own endzone at the 13 yard line, Wesley would hold Hopkins behind the line and force a turnover on downs.

Wesley (11-1) will travel to Alliance, Ohio to take on Mount Union. The Purple Raiders have knocked the Wolverines out of the D3 playoffs the last two years.