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FOOTBALL FAMILY FALLS TO VISITING SPRINGFIELD 42-15
The Mount Ida College football family snapped a two game winning streak against visiting non-conference Springfield College by a score of 42-15 on a blustery Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. Mustang senior wide receiver Kyle Watkins (New Haven, CT/James Hillhouse) was the bright spot for the hosts today breaking the career touchdowns record (33) with an amazing TD catch towards the end of the first quarter. Mount Ida football falls to 3-4 overall, 3-1 in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) play and hold second place in the ECFC standings. The Pride improve to 5-1, 1-1 in the Empire Eight conference.
The score did not reflect the solid defensive play by the Mustangs who created six Springfield turnovers (five fumbles recovered, one interception). Unfortunately for the hosts, they did not take advantage on any of their takeaways due to spotty offensive play. Springfield, who leads the nation's average in rushing yards per game (384.80), continued their solid ground attack racking up 395 yards rushing on the day total. Mustang sophomore running back Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) was stalemated by the Pride held under 100 yards rushing for the second time (98) since their season opener against Bridgewater State College (66). It was also only the second time this year that Bunch has been denied a touchdown (Norwich, Springfield).
Springfield struck first on a four play, 31 yard drive punching in a one yard touchdown run by senior halfback Baldwin Cunningham (Machester, CT/East Hartford) with 12:25 showing on the clock in the beginning of the first quarter. After the successful PAT attempt by Pride place kicker Giuliano Pizzo (Methuen, MA/Methuen) the visitors took the 7-0 advantage.
After a fumble by the Mustangs and a turnover on downs by the Pride, Mount Ida found the end zone on Watkins first touchdown of the contest on a nine play, 71 yard drive. Freshman Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) launched a 16 yard touchdown strike to Watkins, his first TD of two during the game, tip-toeing the line and diving into the pile on for six. The Mustangs converted a botched snap two-point conversion that was rushed in by freshman holder Matt Valentini (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson Twp.) making it 8-7 in favor of the hosts with 1:42 in go in the first quarter.
The turning point of the contest offensively came after a stalemated second quarter that saw no points on either side until there was 10 seconds remaining before the end of the first half. With 1:46 to go before the break, Springfield converted a nine play, 67 yard drive with a three yard touchdown strike by freshman halfback Joel Altavesta (Tewksbury, MA/Tewksbury) for the 13-8 lead. Pride sophomore quarterback Josh Carter (Marlborough, MA/Marlborough) scrambled in the two point conversion taking a 15-8 advantage into halftime.
After an opening punt by the Mustangs, Springfield converted a three play, 23 yard drive on their opening drive of the second half. Carter scampered in the end zone on a 10 yard rush for the score, his first touchdown run of three during the contest. Following a successful PAT attempt, the Pride took the outright 22-8 advantage.
Mount Ida answered immediately on the ensuing kick return by Watkins on an 85 yard strike keeping pace with the visitors pulling with one score trailing 22-15 with 12:02 remaining in the third quarter of play.
The Pride went on to score the next 21 points of the contest with no answer from the Mustangs. It started with a two play, 60 yard drive that was capped off on a 47 yard scamper by Springfield quarterback Carter for his second score on the day. The Pride started to pull away after this score leading 29-15 with 11:36 to go in the third stanza.
The visitors struck again toward the end of the third quarter on another touchdown run by Carter, his third on the day, coming on a five play, 77 yard drive that was finished off by a Carter one yard quarterback sneak for six. After the PAT, the Pride commanded a 36-15 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
After the exchanging of interceptions, the Mustangs would not go away continuing the play hard, recovering two fumbles in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately they could not convert either attempt handing the ball back to the Pride for their final touchdown of the contest on a two yard TD strike on a seven play, 42 yard drive with 2:12 remaining in the game. After the Mustangs blocked the PAT attempt, Springfield eventually rode out the final ticks for the 42-15 victory, their fifth of the season.
Mustang QB Drosendahl was average going 11-22 for 133 yards passing and a touchdown throw and one pick. Carter was huge for the Pride down the stretch of the game with three touchdown runs and 181 yards on the ground. He didn't throw the ball much going 3-8 with 68 yards passing and an interception.
Two Springfield rushers ran for over 100 yards, including Carter who went for 181 and three TD's and Cunningham who notched 114 yards rushing and a TD.
Both defensives enjoyed solid outings with Mustang junior safety Julien Baptiste (Greenlawn, NY/Elwood-John Glenn) tallying 10.5 tackles (10 solo, .5 assist) with a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a pick. Freshman Eli Shuler (Northford, CT/North Branford) notched 7.5 tackles (seven solo, one assist) while senior David Green (Homewood, AL/Homewood), sophomore Shareff Champlain (Lisbon, CT/Briarwood College), and freshmen Michael Brockenberry (West Haven, CT/West Haven) and Joel Sanchez (Orlando, FL/Freedom) each recorded a fumble recovery.
The Pride saw some outstanding individual performances on defense as well with senior Ken Goodwin (Foxboro, MA/Foxboro) notched 10.5 tackles, a forced fumble, an interception, and four tackles for a total loss of 11 yards. Freshman Matthew Pieterse (Springfield, MA/Northfield Mt. Hermon) and senior Cody Flanigan (Auburn, NY/Union Springs) combined for 15 tackles (7.5 each) and added a Flanigan sack for a seven yard loss.
The Mustangs will head to ECFC member Maritime College (SUNY) this coming Saturday in a crucial conference match-up starting at 1:00 p.m.
