For the third time in two years, Ohio State Club Football is set to clash with George Mason University, once again with a chance at a championship on the line.
The No. 1 ranked Buckeyes and the No. 4 ranked Patriots will meet for the seventh time in series history on Saturday on the campus of George Mason University in the NCFA Playoffs, with the right to play for the 2022 NCFA National Championship on the line.
Despite being the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, Ohio State will be playing a true-road game, as George Mason was selected as the host school for the 2022 playoffs. The Buckeyes have played at George Mason’s RAC Field once in series history, a 29-14 Ohio State victory in 2013.
The Patriots earned the No. 4 seed in the NCFA Playoffs as the highest ranked non-conference champion, after losing their conference championship 45-14 to Sacred Heart University, which earned the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. SHU is scheduled to take on No. 2 Gordon State in the second NCFA Playoff game.
Ohio State and George Mason met twice in 2021, with the Buckeyes coming away with wins in both contests. OSU needed a late field goal to win the first contest, 29-28, in the regular season before the two teams met again in the 2021 NCFA National Championship Game, where the Buckeyes were able to come away with a 42-27 victory.
This season, Ohio State enters the matchup with George Mason at 8-0 and champions of the Great Lakes Conference. The Patriots come in at 5-2 and runners up in the North Atlantic Conference, with both losses coming at the hands of Sacred Heart.
The Buckeyes and Patriots bear multiple similarities to the 2021 versions of their respective teams, as both return multiple star players in 2022. Ohio State quarterback Kellyn Gerenstein, in his final year as a Buckeye, has put together one of the best seasons in NCFA history, accounting for 28 total touchdowns to just one interception. The Buckeye signal caller has completed 61-of-101 passes for 1,039 yards and 20 touchdowns and has rushed 43 times for 547 yards and eight scores. His top receiver from a year ago also returns, as Casey Scroggins has hauled in 41 passes for 556 yards and a league-leading 12 touchdowns.
On the other side of the ball, George Mason returns the reigning NCFA Defensive Player of the Year in Gabriel Gibson. Gibson has tallied a whopping 13.5 sacks on the season, has forced three fumbles and recovered four. Two-way star Curtis Brooks also returns for the Patriots. Brooks leads the Patriots in receiving with 37 catches for 599 yards and eight scores, while also hauling in a pair of interceptions on defense.
While returning stars from 2021 anchor the success of both teams, Ohio State and George Mason also boast impressive newcomers.
George Mason features a new signal caller, as Cole Jasmin has replaced Chase Soper at quarterback after Soper transferred to FCS Wofford in the offseason. In 2022, the 6-foot-5 Jasmin has completed 120-of-200 passes for 1,476 yards and 16 touchdowns to 10 interceptions. He has also rushed for three scores on the ground. Running backs Elijah Cyler and Anthony Walker have also impressed, combining for six touchdowns between them.
On Ohio State’s side, wide receivers Abdou Keita and Praise Olatoke have combined for 31 receptions, 797 yards and 11 touchdowns while returning starter at running back Jalen Haley is coming off of his best game of the season. Haley carried 18 times for 129 yards and a score in a 59-21 win over Michigan State on Sunday, running behind an offensive line that returns 4-of-5 starters from 2021.
Scroggins and linebacker Colby Stahl return for Ohio State to anchor a defense that forced three interceptions in the last matchup between the two programs. In addition to his stellar offensive numbers, Scroggins leads the NCFA in interceptions with six, while also collecting 22 tackles and a forced fumble this season. Stahl has collected 37 stops on the year, trailing only fellow linebacker Lance Wickham (42) and safety Christian Allen (40).
Meanwhile, Ohio State’s offense has operated at a historic pace in 2022, much like George Mason’s did in 2021. The Buckeyes are averaging 51.5 points per game this season, while the Patriots averaged 43.5 a season ago. However, George Mason has not lost a game at RAC Field since the 2021 season opener and the Buckeyes have yet to travel out of state in 2022 after an originally scheduled trip to Loyola (Chicago) was forfeited.
The winner between Ohio State and George Mason will face the winner of the Gordon State vs. Sacred Heart matchup on December 3 in Waynesburg, PA for the national championship.
Kickoff between the Buckeyes and Patriots is set for 2 p.m. EST and will be followed by the Gordon State vs. Sacred Heart matchup at 6 p.m. Admission will be $10 for all non-student attendees. A comprehensive visitors guide can be found here, which includes directions, parking, and other helpful information.
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