Week 11 Summaries
Sea Gulls claim fourth straight Regents Cup
ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The No. 13 Salisbury University football team wrapped up its regular season with a 35-14 win over in-state rival Frostburg State University in the ninth annual Regents Cup played at Navy-Marines Corps Memorial Stadium in front of a crowd of 2,462 on Saturday afternoon.
Salisbury (9-1, 3-1 ACFC) threw for a season-high 179 yards and scored twice through the air as the Sea Gulls claimed their fourth straight win in the series. Junior receiver Kevin Tillage hauled in two passes for 115 yards and accounted for both touchdowns as he was named the Mike McGlinchey Most Outstanding Player.
The 35 points scored by the Sea Gulls was enough to break the school record for points in a regular season which was set in 2005. The maroon and gold have scored 418 points this year, three more than the previous mark of 415.
SU ran for 269 yards as they were led by senior David Leonard who made his first start of the year at superback. Leonard ran for a team-high 70 yards on 14 carries. Junior quarterback Ronnie Curley added 59 yards on the ground and one score and was 5-of-6 passing for 179 yards and two touchdown passes.
Frostburg State (2-7, 0-4 ACFC) scored the game's first touchdown on its opening possession as it traveled 75 yards on 14 plays which was capped by a Shanorm Young three-yard run. Young earned the McGlinchey MOP award for the Bobcats as he finished with 94 yards on 21 carries and one touchdown.
Salisbury answered as it rolled off 35 unanswered points over the next four quarters. Curley called his own number from the 1-yard line to cut the Bobcat lead to 7-6 with 2:10 to play in the first quarter as the point after attempt failed. He then found Tillage on a play-action pass from 36 yards out to make the score 13-7 with 12:15 to play in the first half.
Sophomore Valdase Morris scored his eighth rushing touchdown of the year with 1:43 to play in the second quarter to push the SU lead to 20-7 as the team teams went into halftime.
The Sea Gulls and Bobcats combined to fumble four times in the third quarter as SU lost two fumbles and Frostburg State gave away one.
Junior Jarrell Chandler had a game-high three forced fumbles and finished with four tackles for loss. Chandler accounted for one of the forced fumbles in the third quarter.
Sophomore Darryl Jones set up Salisbury's next touchdown as he intercepted Andre Dixon's pass on the 4-yard line and returned it to the 21-yard line to give the ball to the offense.
Dixon finished the game 13-of-26 for 139 yards and two interceptions.
Curley needed only one play to find Tillage as the two hooked up for a 79-yard score to give SU a 28-7 lead with 13:52 to play in the game. Senior Jamar Garner rounded out the scoring as he went into the end zone untouched at the 4:52 mark of the fourth quarter to put the maroon and gold up 35-7.
The Bobcats tacked on a late score as Dixon ran one in from two yards outs to make the final score 35-14.
Senior Chris Loveland led the Sea Gull defense with nine total tackles and junior Matthew Bookard had a team-high two sacks. Sophomore Reggie Gooch had four pass breakups while Jones and sophomore Antione Cuff had the two SU interceptions.
The Sea Gulls will now await a possible Pool B or Pool C berth into the NCAA Division III playoffs which will be announced Sunday, November 11, at 11:30 a.m. on ESPNU and http://www.acfcfootball.com/admin/content/edit/www.ncaasports.com.
Records Fall As Wesley Blasts Morrisville St. 71-27
HAMILTON, N.Y. - Wesley set school records with 710 total yards and eight rushing touchdowns as the Wolverines broke open a tied game midway through the second quarter to cruise past Morrisville State, 71-27.
Wesley (9-1) also tied the school record with 10 touchdowns in the contest and the team's 710 yards were also an Atlantic Central Football Conference record.
Alpha Koroma ran for three scores, but no other player scored on the ground more than once, as six different Wolverine runners found paydirt. The senior captain's third score was the exclamation point for the Wesley offense, a 70-yard jaunt for the Wolverines' final score.
The game did not start as the lopsided affair it evolved into. The game was tied at 20-20 before the Wolverines scored three times in the final 6:43 of the second quarter to take a 41-20 lead into the break and never looked back.
Morrisville State (3-7) took the opening kickoff and marched 73 yards on just five plays and barely over a minute, culminating in a Billy Poling touchdown pass to Zach Whittaker for 23 yards. Bryan Robinson blocked the extra point, but Morrisville State led 6-0 just over a minute into the contest.
A 39-yard kick return on Wesley's first possession set up a touchdown. The Mustang defense had no answer for Mike Pennewell, who ran for 100 yards for the eight straight game, on the drive, as the sophomore tailback seven times on the 10-play drive, including a one-yard touchdown run to finish things off as the Wolverines claimed the lead, 7-6.
After Wesley forced the Mustangs to punt, Jason Schatz threw his first intereption in four games on third and seven, as the Mustangs took over inside Wolverine territory.
The Wesley defense forced a 34-yard field goal attempt, which Derek Mulson pulled ide left to keep things 7-6 in favor of Wesley.
Pennewell carried four times on Wesley's six-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, including a 31-yard run before Koroma scored for the first time from 10 yards out to extend the lead to 13-6. Wesley elected to go for two, but after a Blair Newman rush failed, the visitors were given another chance after a penalty on Morrisville State. They elected to kick, but it was no good, leaving Wesley up a touchdown.
The Wolverines again forced a punt, but Mulson's 46-yarder put Wesley deep in its own territory. The Morrisville defense forced a three and out and the Mustangs' Nick Savignano blocked the punt attempt. Jonathan Guy fell on the ball in the end zone and after the extra point it was tied at 13-13.
The tie lasted exactly 14 seconds, however. That's how long it took Larry Beavers run 78 yards on an end around. It was Wesley's longest run of the 2007 season as Wesley quickly went back ahead 20-13.
Morrisville answered back quickly to again tie the score at 20-20. Brandon Tape put the Mustangs at the Wesley 21 after a 55 yard kick return. A penalty and a 16-yard pass from Poling to Eddie Hull set up a two-yard run by Poling into the end zone.
Wesley's next possession ended in a punt, but this time Jesse Volk pinned the Mustangs at their own seven. After a three and out and a punt of only 24 yards, the Wolverine offense took over at the Morrisville State 36. Aaron Jackson covered all 36 yards on five carries, scoring from the one to give the Wolverines a 27-20 lead.
Chet Turner then came up with his school record tying sixth interception of 2007 to give Wesley the ball at the Wesley 34. After the Wolverines gave up a rare sack, Shatz hit Michael Clarke for a 73 yard score, avoiding more pressure from the Mustang defense.
Morrisville State moved into Wesley territory on its next possession, but Ahmad Brooks fumbled and Jamal Williams dove on the ball for the Wolverines. On the first play of the drive, Schatz connected with Koroma for 42 yards to move to the Mustang 17. Three plays later, Koroma scored from the one and Wesley took a 41-20 lead into the half.
On the opening possession of the second half, Schatz completed a 11-play, 83-yard drive with a bootleg score from the five to put the Wolverines ahead by four touchdowns, 48-20.
After a three and out and a 63-yard punt into the end zone, Wesley went 80 yards on 13 plays. Newman scored his first receiving touchdown of the year with an 18-yard grab to put Wolverines on top, 54-20, with 3:35 left in the third quarter.
The second string entered on Wesley's next offensive series, but went 50 yards on 14 plays to give Collin Blugis a 30-yard field goal attempt, which he made, to put Wesley ahead 57-20.
Newman's 45-yard punt return put Wesley on the Morrisville State 16, and two plays later Eric Lowry ran it in from the 12 for a 64-20 advantage.
Morriville State broke through to end Wesley's run of 44 unanswered points on its next possession as backup quarterback Darnell Murphy ran it in on fourth and goal from the one to cut it to 64-27 with 5:12 to go.
After Koroma carried for a negative four yards on first and second down, he went off for his 70 yard run score, bouncing an inside run to the outside for a 71-27 lead.
"I tired to stay inside," Koroma said after the game. "But it was clogged up and I shrugged off one tackler. I got outside and it was one-on-one. We always say that as a back, all four of us, Mike, Aaron and Gene, too, that if it's one-on-one no one is going to bring us down."
Head Coach Mike Drass was pleased with the way his team performed in the second half after letting the Mustangs hang around through much of the first two quarters. "In the second half, the offensive played very well. And the defense came out in the third quarter and did a good job. We've got four guys who can carry the ball at any time and do a good job. I'm really proud of the way they ran today."
In addition to Koroma's three rushing scores, Pennewell, Beavers, Jackson, Schatz, and Lowry also scored rushing touchdowns. "If you look at our running back situation," Drass observed when told five different running backs scored on the afternoon, "I think its the strongest group we've ever had."
Clarke and Newman caught touchdown passes as eight different players accounted for Wesley's 10 scores.
Pennewell rushed 18 times for 136 yards in the contest. Koroma rushed for exactly 100 yards on 14 carries. As a team, the Wolverines racked up 408 yards on the ground, just three short of the school record of 411 set earlier this year against Frostburg State.
Schatz completed 15-of-25 passes for 263 yards and a pair of scores. Clarke had three catches for 103 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season. Sean Matthews led Wesley with six tackles, including two for loss. Robinson had three TFL among his five stops, in addition to his blocked kick.
No player rushed for more than 21 yards for Morriville and Poling was held to just 12-of-29 passing for one score and one interception. Luis Diaz led all players with five receptions, but tight end only covered 38 yards on the day.
Wesley now awaits word on a potential NCAA Playoff bid. The selection show airs on ESPNU at 11:30 AM on Sunday, November 11.
Notes: With his three scores, Koroma tied for eighth place all-time at Wesley with 17 rushing TDs...Clarke moved into second place at Wesley with 2,205 career receiving yards, just 43 short of Duane Martin's record set from 1993-1997. Clarke also extended his receiving TD mark 27...Robinson ran his career tackle total to 331, moving up to seventh at Wesley. He also extended his career TFL record to 89.5.
Golden Eagles Finish Season in Dominant Fashion
Seven Different Players Score Touchdowns in 55-13 win
Senior Matt McCormick (Peru, NY/Peru) rushed for a career-high 226 yards, threw for 96 yards and scored three total touchdowns leading the SUNY Brockport Football team to a convincing 55-13 victory over non-conference opponent Buffalo State at Coyer Field on Saturday in Buffalo, NY.
The Golden Eagles won the I-90 Bowl Trophy for the fourth consecutive season between the two schools, and has beaten the Bengals eight straight times dating back to 1999.
McCormick scored on a 20-yard run, a one-yard run, and threw an 81-yard touchdown pass to senior Mike Maciejewski (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga).
With the touchdowns, McCormick set the single-season record for touchdowns scored with 13 and in points with 78 points. He is also the first Brockport rusher to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since 2002 when Adam Webster ran for 1,553 yards.
Brockport (5-5 overall) started quickly after holding the Bengals on their first possession. McCormick found Maciejewski for the 81-yard touchdown pass on Brockport's first offensive play from scrimmage giving the Golden Eagles an early 7-0 lead with 12 and a half minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Six minutes later, the Brockport offense was at it again. This time, the Golden Eagles strung together a 10-play, 71-yard drive capped off with McCormick's 20-yard touchdown run extending the lead to 14-0.
In the second quarter, the Bengals recovered a McCormick fumble and put together a seven-play, 40-yard drive ending in a two-yard touchdown pass cutting the Brockport lead to 14-6 with 13 minutes to play in the half. The extra point was blocked.
In the same quarter, Brockport was able to push the lead back to two touchdowns when junior Mark Wolfe (Brockport, NY/Brockport) took a misdirection handoff and scampered around the end for a 22-yard touchdown run for a 21-6 lead with less than six minutes to go. Buffalo State (2-8 overall) added a later touchdown on an eight yard pass from quarterback Dan Aquilio to Greg Meyer cutting the lead to 21-13 at the half.
Garet Lynch (Valley Stream, NY/Springfield Gardens) scored on a five-yard touchdown run finishing off a four-play, 70-yard drive to open the third quarter for a 28-13 lead. Lynch ended with 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
Only three minutes later, off a Buffalo State turnover, McCormick went over 1,000 rushing yards on the season on the 45-yard drive resulting in a one-yard touchdown run by the running back pushing the Brockport lead to 35-13. The touchdown set the school record for points and touchdowns in a season. The Golden Eagle defense forced five turnovers, including four interceptions.
With two and a half minutes to play in the third quarter, Maciejewski caught his second touchdown pass of the game when Jake DerCola (Clyde,NY/Clyde-Savannah) found the senior for a 14-yard touchdown pushing the lead to 41-13. DerCola finished 6-7 passing for 80 yards and two touchdowns for the Golden Eagles.
In the fourth quarter, senior Gary Bohl (Slingerlands, NY/Guilderland) pushed his way into the endzone from one-yard out extending the lead to 48-13, early in the quarter. Four minutes later, the Golden Eagles tacked on one more score when Mike Smith (Webster, NY/Webster Schroeder) caught a 31-yard pass from DerCola for a 55-13 final score. The 55 points was the most Brockport has scored in a game since 1981 when the Golden Eagles defeated Brooklyn College 70-8.
Offensively, McCormick totaled 322 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Golden Eagles. Maciejewski caught four passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Wolfe finished with 56 yards on four carries and a touchdown. The Golden Eagles compiled 519 total yards compared to the Bengals 236 yards.
Defensively, senior Dale Buck made 10 tackles, three for a loss, two pass break-ups, and had one fumble recovery and junior Jarrett Woodfork (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Ludden) registered 10 tackles and had an interception for the Golden Eagles.
Builders Fall 61-55 In Four Overtimes To Chowan
NEWPORT NEWS, VA. - It was the best of halves, and the worst of halves for the Apprentice School football team on Saturday in the 58th annual Oyster Bowl.
After racing out to a 28-0 halftime advantage, the Builders saw Chowan quarterback Josh Floyd throw for 248 yards and run for 79 more as the Hawks rallied and pulled out a 61-55 victory in four overtimes.
The Builders started quickly picking off a Floyd pass on Chowan's first series as Ronald Blount stepped in front of a pass at the Chowan 40. Eight plays later, senior quarterback Kyle Franklin found his scoring partner Travis Reid on a 15-yard scoring pass for a 7-0 lead with 11:07 left in the first. Franklin capped off an eight-play scoring drive later in the period on a seven-yard run to close out the first quarter with a 14-0 lead.
Reid finished the day with a career-high 12 catches for 170 yards and three touchdowns. He became the first receiver in the 87-year history of Apprentice School football to record over 1,000 yards in receptions ending with 1,049. His 104.9 yards per game average also sets an Atlantic Central Football Conference record and his 12 catches are a school record for most in a game.
In the second quarter the Builders put up two touchdowns in the span of 42 seconds. Following a Chowan punt, the Builders went on an eight-play, 62-yard drive with senior Earnest Nimmo finishing it off for a 21-0 lead with 13:47 left in the half. Two plays later, senior Quentin Forbes returned an interception 42 yards for a 28-0 lead.
The Builders defense was very stingy in the first half holding Chowan to 14 yards of offense. In the second half, Floyd would have no more of that.
After Chowan's offense struggled for most of the third quarter, he connected with Louis Willians on an 80-yard scoring strike to put the Hawks on the board with 2:54 left in the third quarter.
In the fourth, Floyd had a hand in all four Chowan scores. He ran two in from the one and three-yardlines, while connecting with Williams on a 46-yard strike and with C'Darris Wright on an 11-yard pass. The connection with Wright with 19 seconds left brought the Hawks back to a 35-all tie and forced overtime.
The overtime saw Chowan get the ball first and Floyd punched one in from the four-yardline, only to be answered by a Sam Arnold one-yard run. The teams traded touchdowns in the next two overtimes, before Floyd found James Fox on a 12-yard pass to take a 61-55 lead.
Chowan forced the Builders into a fourth down from the seven, but Franklin pass to Reid was broken up by Aaron Hawkins for the win.
Floyd was named the MVP of the game as he accounted for seven touchdowns. Franklin was 24-of-41 for a career-high 292 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He ends his career with a streak of 230 straight passes without an interception.
