Ohio Dominican's Reisert Ties NAIA Career Touchdown Record With Three TD Strikes

	Cris Reisert has 113 career TD passes, which is tied for the all-time NAIA national record

Nov. 3, 2008

Story courtesy of Ohio Dominican Sports Information

CANTON, Ohio – The NAIA No. 25 ranked Ohio Dominican Panthers (5-3, 3-2) kept its playoff hopes alive, with a 24-22 Mid-States Football Association (MSFA) win over Walsh (Ohio) University (2-7, 0-4) at Fawcett Stadium on Saturday (Nov. 1). ODU held on to a 24-22 victory thanks to three touchdown passes from quarterback Cris Reisert.

With the three touchdown strikes Reisert, a 6-foot-2 senior from Cincinnati, Ohio, tied the NAIA’s career record for TD passes with 113. Reisert matched Marc Weekly of Pacific Lutheran mark of 113 touchdown passes set from 1990-1993.

Walsh opened the scoring when Brian Williams returned a blocked field goal 68 yards for a score at the 4:22 mark of the first quarter. Eric Buchanan's extra point gave the Cavaliers the early 7-0 lead. ODU marched back down the field and tied the game on the next possession, when wide receiver Heath Killilea (Gahanna, OH) caught a three-yard pass from Reisert with 1:44 to play in the opening quarter. Mitch Croy’s (Ottawa, OH) PAT tied the game at 7-7.

Walsh's Buchanan then kicked back-to-back field goals (39, 47 yds.) to put Walsh up 13-7, with 5:31 to play in the second period. ODU's Mitch Croy answered with a 21-yard field goal, as the Panthers trailed 13-10 at halftime.

On the first possession of the third quarter, ODU took its first lead of the game when Reisert hit Justin Campbell (Laurel, MD) for a 21-yard score, the quarterbacks second touchdown toss of the day. Croy's PAT gave ODU a 17-13 lead. Walsh trimmed the lead to 17-16 early in the fourth quarter (14:04), on Buchanan's third field goal of the game from 42 yards out. The Panthers answered at the 12:43 mark in five plays, as Steven Williams (Landover, MD) caught a 10-yard scoring strike from Reisert, to give ODU a 24-16 lead, and tie the record. Walsh would rally, as Jeff Tallman scored on a one-yard plunge with 7:40 to play to pull the Cavs to within two points at 24-22. Walsh’s quarterback Jim Shiplett's two-point conversion run failed as last weeks NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Michael Wright (Rockville, MD) came up from his cornerback position to stop the two-point try, leaving the score 24-22.

Walsh would force ODU to a three and out on their next possession, but was also forced to punt on their next possession, as ODU then ran out the clock for the win.

ODU’s Mike Noffsinger (West Branch, MI) had another big day as he ran for 120 yards on 20 carriers for his second straight game with over 100-yards on the ground. Reisert was 28-for-44 for 275 yards and three touchdowns, while Brandon Robinson (Eaton, OH) again led the Panthers in receiving with nine catches for 76 yards. Walsh’s Jeff Tallman ran for a game-high 142 yards.

The Panthers will return to action next Saturday as they face former MSFA – Mideast rival Urbana University at Panther Field. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. You can hear all the exciting action on WUCO (1270 AM) or log on to pressboxproductions.net. The Panthers pre-game show starts at noon.