MUSTANGS TALLY THIRD WIN OF SEASON, Offensive Line Plays Stellar Game

The Mount Ida College Football team hosted fellow Division III Independent Gallaudet University this Saturday on a rainy day winning by a score of 28-14. The Mustangs would pick up win number three besting their record to 3-6 while the Bison dropped to 3-4.

The visitors got on the board first with a 35 yard pass from quarterback Fletch Kuehne (Austin, TX/Model Scondary School f/t deaf) to junior wide out Kevin Alley (Lebanon/Salem, OR/Lebanon High School) on an eight play drive that went for 80 yards with 1:36 left in the first quarter. This would give the Bison the 7-0 lead going into the second quarter.

The Mustangs had trouble putting something together in the first stanza but came ready to play in the second. Quarterback P.J. Matthews (Baltimore, MD/Patterson) continued to make things happen with a seven play 81 yard drive with 13:02 left in the half, pounding it in himself on the QB sneak from seven yards out to knot the score at 7-7.

Matthews would show off his arm with 4:44 left in the second quarter on a pass to freshman Paul Shaughnessy (Malden, MA/Northeast Regional) from 28 yards out. The Mustangs would have their second successful drive of the day going seven plays for 81 yards taking the lead, 14-7.

The third quarter was stagnant the whole way through with the score the same as it was at the end of the half. Finally, with 14:33 left to go in the game, Matthews hooked up with Kyle Watkins (New Haven,CT/James Hillhouse) on a 21 yard pass making it 21-7. The senior quarterback would continue to show his skills, especially when his offensive line was outstanding all day giving him the time he needed to find the open man.

The Mustangs would add another with 5:25 left in the fourth quarter on a nine yard run by freshman Andre Nelson (Norwalk, CT/Trinity Catholic) putting it out of reach for the Bison. It was another successful drive for Matthews and his teammates going nine plays for 54 yards. Nelson and Shaughnessy tallied their first touchdowns of the season during this contest.

The Bison would add to their score with a minute left in regulation on a four yard run by Dan Alexander (Phoenix, AZ/Rebels Groves High School) on a three play drive for 46 yards making the score 28-14 in favor of the Mustangs to give them the victory.

Matthews would go 12-18 for 178 yards with no picks on the day with one rushing touchdown and two passing. Watkins had another big one to add to his jacket of accomplishments at MIC with 106 yards receiving and one TD.

Mount Ida would use four tailbacks during this game giving Nelson, Marc Skehan (Irvington, NY/Irvington), Joe Berger (Washington Depot, CT/Canterbury), and Shane Gardner (Sunrise, FL/Northeast High School) touches combining for 261 yards total. The defense had an outstanding day with three interceptions by Mike Epps (Englewood, NJ/Dwight Morrow), Jordan Edinger (Key Largo, FL/Coral Shores), and John Totaro (Tenafly, NJ/Worcester Polytech). The key to today’s success was a solid offensive line that looked at its best all season.

Mount Ida Football will host its final game of the season this upcoming weekend against Morrisville State, November 3 starting at 12:00 noon.