HIRAM, Ohio -- The Hiram College football team scored the final 12 points of the game to post a come-from-behind 32-31 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday during Homecoming festivities.
With Hiram (1-5, 1-4 NCAC) trailing 31-20 in the fourth, junior Sam Conway (Wickliffe, Ohio/Wickliffe) began the comeback by converting a 23-yard field goal, capping off a 12-play, 44-yard drive that took 5:14 off the clock.
The Terriers forced a Battling Bishop (2-4, 2-3 NCAC) turnover on the next possession, but a 32-yard field goal by Conway was deflected at the line.
OWU took over and faced a third and 12 in their own territory. Battling Bishop quarterback Dominick Orsini dropped back to pass and was intercepted by senior Ronnie Jones (Aurora, Ohio/Roosevelt). Jones took off across the field and sprinted into the endzone on a 49-yard return.
Hiram's ensuing two-point conversion attempt was no good, allowing Ohio Wesleyan to hold a 31-29 lead with 3:22 left to play.
The Terrier defense held strong and was able to force a punt, giving the ball to the offense at the Hiram 43 yardline with 51 seconds to play.
Junior quarterback Nic Paolo (Chardon, Ohio/Harding) hit senior Britton Lewis (Tampa, Fla./Paul R. Wharton) for a key 52-yard pass play to bring the Terriers to to the Ohio Wesleyan five.
Three plays later, Conway hit a 22-yard field goal with eight seconds left and a last ditch effort by the Battling Bishops failed, giving Hiram the dramatic 32-31 victory.
Hiram took the lad at the 9:33 mark of the first quarter when Paolo, who was making his first collegiate start, hit sophomore Akili Tate (Los Angeles, Calif./Junipero Serra) for a 88-yard touchdown pass. The scoring strike was the longest pass play in Hiram football history.
The Terriers expanded their lead to 14-0 in the second quarter when sophomore Danny Robinson (Labelle, Fla./Labelle) plowed into the endzone from three yards out with 10:06 to play on the half.
But Ohio Wesleyan answered with 17 straight second quarter points to take a 17-14 lead into halftime.
The Terriers tied the game at the 10:19 mark of the third quarter, with Conway converting from 24-yards out.
But OWU answered on its ensuing drive, driving 40 yards on eight plays to retake a 24-17 lead.
Hiram got another field goal from Conway, this time from 18-yards out, to trim the Battling Bishop lead to 24-20 with 1:50 left in the third.
Ohio Wesleyan then made it 31-20, with a nine-yard touchdown run from Orsini with 14:24 left in the game. But from there it was all Hiram, as they reeled off 12 unanswered points for the win.
Paolo finished the game 19-of-30 for 288 yards and a touchdown.
Lewis finished with five catches for 90 yards, both of which are new season bests. Tate added a career-high 95 yards on three receptions, with a touchdown.
On the ground Robinson had 46 yards rushing and score, while junior Austin Woodall (Cleveland, Ohio/Lutheran East) finished with 31.
Defensively, junior Kyle Burchett (Fairport Harbor, Ohio/Harding) had 10.5 tackles and a forced fumble. Jones finished with 5.5 tackles and the interception for a touchdown.
Conway converted on four field goals, which was tied the single game program record.
Orsini led the OWU offensive attack with 223 yards passing and 59 yards rushing.
Hiram will return to action on October 24, when they host Wittenberg in another conference matchup at 1 p.m.