The Ohio State Club Football team has not played a home game since Nov. 2, 2019. That is set to change on Sunday, as the Buckeyes are scheduled to play host to George Mason.
Ohio State collected its first win of the season on Oct. 2 with a 49-0 victory over Oakland University, a rematch of the 2019 NCFA National Championship Game, to move to 1-2 on the season. The Buckeyes took on a pair of NCAA Div. III JV programs before entering league play against the Golden Grizzlies.
George Mason comes to Columbus with a 2-1 record, having most recently defeated Catholic University (JV) 33-12. The Patriots opened their season with a 20-6 loss to Williamson Tech (NJCAA) before rebounding to defeat Maryland Prep, 20-18.
The Patriots are led by former Div. I (FCS) quarterback Chase Soper, who transferred in from James Madison University during the offseason. Soper is the reigning NCFA Offensive Player of the Week after going 22-for-28 passing for 209 yards and three touchdowns against Catholic (JV). He also was effective on the ground as well as he carried the ball six times for 54 yards and one score. Soper leads an explosive offense that also features multi-purpose athlete Adam Abu-Jamous as a receiver and running back. Defensively, George Mason is led by freshman defensive end Gabriel Gibson. The 6’1, 250-pound defender features a lethal pass rush and run-stopping ability.
On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes are coming off of their best performance of the year. The 49 points scored against Oakland are tied for the third-best scoring output in program history, despite a running clock for the majority of the second half. The shutout was the third in two years by the Buckeye defense, which forced six turnovers in the win over Oakland.
Ohio State’s offense is led by quarterback Kellyn Gerenstein, who has completed 34-of-72 passes on the season for 651 yards and five touchdowns to five interceptions. Eighteen of those completions have gone to receiver Casey Scroggins, who leads the NCFA in receptions and receiving yards (407) through three games. On the ground, running back Jalen Haley is coming off of the third-best rushing performance in program history after carrying 14 times for 145 yards and two scores against Oakland. On the season, Haley has accumulated 238 rushing yards on 34 carries.
Defensively, the Buckeyes have collected 10 sacks through three games and forced seven turnovers. Linebacker Colby Stahl leads Ohio State in total tackles, with 21 through three contests, 10 of which came against the Golden Grizzlies. Fellow linebacker Hunter St. Andre is second on the team in tackles with 19.
The matchup is set to be the fifth between the two programs, with Ohio State holding a 4-0 lead in the series. The two teams last met in 2017, with the Buckeyes holding on to a 38-34 win in the NCFA Kickoff event.
Kickoff against George Mason is set for Noon EST on Sunday at Lincoln Tower Park.
Ohio State Club Football 