MOUNT IDA FALLS IN HOME OPENER 34-25 TO BEARS

Saturday, September 4, 2010(Newton, Massachusetts) - Mount Ida College sophomore quarterback Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) went 17-23 through the air with three touchdown passes but it wasn't enough to surpass visiting non-conference Bridgewater State University falling 34-25 in the home opener of the 2010 season on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts.  The Mustangs fall to 0-1 while the Bears start their year perfect at 1-0.  

Bridgewater State Consensus Draft Services (CDS) pre-season All-American selection, senior running back Justin Fuller (Berkley, MA/Somerset), had a huge start to the 2010 season with 117 yards on the ground, three rushing scores, and another through the air.  Fuller's battery mate, first year quarterback Mike McCarthy (Edgartown, MA/Martha's Vineyard), also enjoyed a solid individual performance in his first outing at the collegiate level out-rushing Fuller with 143 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.  McCarthy went 6-13 through the air with his lone TD pass to Fuller. 

Mount Ida CDS pre-season All-American selection, junior running back Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F. T. Maloney), went for 77 yards rushing and one touchdown on 18 carries. 

After a very tight start to the first quarter, the Mustangs set the pace scoring first on a nine play, 50 yard drive that was capped off on a 10 yard touchdown pass from Drosendahl to junior wide out Nick Lynch (Hampton Bays, NY/Hampton Bays) for the 7-0 advantage with 1:38 to go in the stanza. 

On the ensuing possession, the Bears marched down the field on an 11 play, 56 yard drive that finished on Fuller's first score of the day knotting the digits up at 7-7 with 10:24 remaining in the second quarter. 

Immediately following the BSU touchdown on the proceeding kick off, The Mustangs tried to lateral the ball to Bunch for some added yards to start the drive.  Unfortunately for Mount Ida, Bunch attempted a costly lateral towards the sideline that was ultimately fumbled at the Mustang 32 yard line.  Although the visitors had outstanding field position, the Mount Ida defense stuffed the Bears forcing a punt.

Two possessions later, Bridgewater State collected the ball on their own 20 driving 80 yards downfield and converting an eight yard touchdown pass from McCarthy to Fuller for the 14-7 advantage following the point after attempt (PAT) with seconds remaining in the first half. 

Mount Ida gained some momentum midway through the third quarter on a six play, 58 yard drive that ended with Drosendahl hooking up with Lynch for the second time on the day with 5:38 to go in the stanza.  Unfortunately some of the excitement was flattened after the Mustangs missed a costly PAT making it 14-13 in favor of the Bears.

On the ensuing Bridgewater State possession, the Bears converted a nine play, 78 yard drive that finished with Fuller scampering in the end zone on a 13 yard score making it 21-13 with 34 seconds to go in the third stanza. 

Mount Ida followed with Bunch's first touchdown of the season punching in a two yard run after an eight play, 72 yard drive with 11:18 to go in the final quarter.  The two point conversion for the tie attempt failed on an incomplete pass by Drosendahl making it 21-19 Bears.

BSU would score on their next two consecutive possessions, the first off an 11 yard run by McCarthy for his first touchdown, and then another on Fuller's fourth overall score for the day to take a commanding 34-19 lead with 3:21 to go in the game.

Mount Ida desperately tried to mount a comeback running the hurry-up offense scoring quickly on a five play, 61 yard drive capped off with a 16 yard TD catch by senior Paul Shaughnessy (Malden, MA/Northeast Metro Regional) from Drosendahl cutting the lead to 34-25 after another botched PAT.

A failed onside kick attempt solidified the 34-25 Bears victory good for their first win of the season. 

Along with Drosendahl and Bunch, Lynch had a solid outing with eight catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns.  Shaughnessy pitched in five catches for 61 yards and a TD while sophomore Matthew Valentini (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Jefferson TWP.) added two catches for 39 yards.

The Mustang defensive did all they could to keep their team in the game with a couple of big stops early in the game unfortunately they ran out of gas towards the end of the game.  Four Mount Ida players recorded sack with senior's Kyle Lawson (Middlesex, VT/U-32), Josh Bond (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady), junior Sean Simmons (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen), and sophomore Michael Brockenberry (West Haven, CT/West Haven) all cashing in. 

The Mustangs will get on the road this week to face a another tough New England Football Conference (NEFC) opponent in Plymouth State University with kick-off slated for 1:00 p.m. in Plymouth, New Hampshire.