MUSTANGS WIN FIRST GAME OF SEASON, Mustangs Pull Off Victory In Overtime

The 2007 Mount Ida College football team completed an overtime win this Saturday at Maritime College (SUNY) winning 44-38 in a tough game that went back and fourth through every aspect on the field.

The game started off in favor of Maritime pounding in a seven yard touchdown run by tailback Robert Nichols on a 12 play drive tallying 70 yards. Ida would come right back with a drive of there own, nine plays adding 49 yards. In the beginning of the second quarter, P.J. Matthews (Baltimore, MD/Patterson) handed the ball the freshman Joe Berger (Washington Depot, CT/Canterbury) who barreled in his first touchdown of the season that would include two on the day. Kicker Bobby Cordosa (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) could not convert the PAT.

Maritime would then get a safety on MIC after they were backed up in their own end zone making the score 9-6 in favor of the Privateers. They would then tack on another TD on a 22 yard pass that converted to give Maritime the lead 16-7.

The Mustangs would then go on a tear reeling off the next 32 unanswered points on a conjunction of offense. Mark Skehan (Irvington, NY/Irvington) would weave his way in the end zone on a 15 yard run. Kyle Watkins (New Haven, CT/New Haven) caught a 29 yard throw by Matthews.

In the beginning of the third quarter, freshman Steven Harris (Plantation, FL/Plantation) would line up in the backfield different from his original spot at wide receiver to break out for a 28 yard run. Lastly, MIC would finish their unanswered streak of points with Joe Berger’s second touchdown of the game on a six yard run. When all was said a done, the Mustangs would lead the game towards the end of the third quarter 38-16.

The Privateers would add a score before the fourth quarter converting a fumble that was recovered and run in to make the score 38-23. There were 11 fumbles combined in this game eight by Maritime and three by Mount Ida.

The Mustangs would start to lose steam giving up 15 points on a combined 23 plays, to tie the game at 38 sending the teams into overtime for the first time this season on both sides of the ball.. MIC would win the coin toss in four plays, quarterback P.J. Matthews would send his team to the promise land running in a two yarder for the TD and the game winner.

When Maritime got their chance, quarterback Michael Smooke would fumble and freshman linebacker Louis Faiola (Cranston, RI/Cranston West) would recover to give the Mustangs their first win of the season. Mount Ida racked up 379 yards of offense, 193 on the ground and and 183 through the air by a great passing game by standout P.J. Matthews.

Turnovers hurt the Maritime offense, who fumbled the ball 8 times, 6 of which resulted in a turnover. The team ran for 255 yards, and passed for 123, on 75 total offensive plays.

Mount Ida will play Becker College this weekend on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. start.