ACFC Week 2 Summaries
MISCUES COST SEA GULLS
IN 24-17 LOSS AT NC WESLEYAN
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The Salisbury University football team had its chance to tie the game in the final stages of its contest against North Carolina Wesleyan College but the Sea Gulls were unable to do so and would ultimately fall to the Bishops, 24-17, on Saturday afternoon. The maroon and gold were victimized in the game by three turnovers, two of which were fumbles.
Salisbury (1-1), which is ranked No. 24 in the D3football.com poll, trailed North Carolina Wesleyan (1-1) by only one touchdown in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. SU appeared to be on the verge of tying the game after the Sea Gulls used seven consecutive rushes and a 15-yard personal foul penalty by North Carolina Wesleyan to march the ball down to the Bulldog five yard line. On first down and goal, junior slotback Warren Anderson (Vienna, Va.) rushed the ball to the one yard line before fumbling the ball, which NCWC would recover. The fumble proved to be the seventh of the game for SU.
For the second consecutive game, the Salisbury rushing attack was anchored by senior quarterback Bobby Sheahin (Brookeville, Md.), who ran for a team-high 88 yards on 17 carries. Sheahin proved to be equally effective through the air as he threw for 74 yards. SU ended up with 292 yards of total offense, 123 of which was derived on the ground.
The SU defense was propelled by senior defensive back Brandon Hudson (Delmar, Md.), who registered a game-high nine tackles. Senior defensive end Paul Cynewski (Moorestown, N.J.) had six tackles and one sack while sophomore defensive back Ricky Cassidy (Edgewater, Md.), junior defensive lineman Chris Ross (Damascus, Md.), and sophomore linebacker Matt Leon (Hillsborough, N.J.) each contributed with five tackles.
SU jumped out to an early 7-0 lead on its second possession of the game behind a 7 play, 85 yard drive that was capped by an 8-yard touchdown scramble by Sheahin. Sheahin was masterful on the drive as he contributed 75 yards altogether, 48 of which were on the ground.
The lead did not last for long as the Bishops used a field goal by Kevin Quicker and a 1-yard touchdown run by Bo Jordan to score on two of their next three possessions to take a 10-7 lead with four minutes remaining in the half. On the ensuing possession, SU used a 27-yard strike from Sheahin to senior wideout D.J. Nelson (Mullica Hill, N.J.) and a 14-yard rush from Sheahin to set up a 37-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Tommy Kowalick (Sterling, Va.). The field goal would prove to be the final tally of the first half as the two teams went into the intermission knotted up at 10 apiece.
The Bishops regained control of the lead when they opened up the second half with two consecutive touchdowns to make the score 24-10.
The lead did not appear to phase the Sea Gulls. After a failed SU offensive drive, senior defensive back Darryl Jones (Fruitland, Md.) recovered a Dewey Gatling fumble and scrambled with the ball for five yards to the NCWC 5 yard line. On the first play of the drive, senior slotback William Midgette (Salisbury, Md.) bulled in from 23 yards out to bring the game within one score, 24-17, with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Salisbury defense put together a fine stand to begin the final frame as the unit used two sacks by Ross and junior defensive lineman Riley Fritts (Columbia, Md.) to pin the Bishops back to their own 10 yard line. The stand would set SU up for its final chance at scoring, which would ultimately end with Anderson's fumble.
NCWC was led offensively by Jordan, who threw for a game-high 222 yards and one score. The Bishops were also aided by Bryan Haywood (66 yards rushing, one touchdown) and Gatling (five receptions, 49 yards). The Bishops had six players collect at least five tackles including Quentin Pope, who had a game-high nine tackles.
Salisbury will travel to Newport News, Va., next Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.) to face nationally ranked Christopher Newport University in a key non-conference game. The Sea Gulls have won the past two decisions between the two teams including last year's 38-21 decision over the Captains at Sea Gull Stadium.
BUILDERS STUMBLE AT UVA WISE FALLING 48-0
WISE, Va. - The Apprentice School finished off its season opening road swing with its second loss to a nationally-ranked opponent as NAIA 21st-ranked UVA Wise shutout the Builders 48-0 at Carl Smith Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Highland Cavaliers scored on their opening three possessions as Hakeem Abdul-Saboor scored on a one-yard and a 12-yard run along with catching a 58 yard pass from Brad Robbins which put them up 21-0 with 1:53 left in the first.
Apprentice School had a chance midway in the second quarter to crack the scoreboard after an Anthony Duckworth 25-yard punt return gave the Builders possession on the Wise 11. Phil Caralla connected with Teo Ellis on a 10-yard pass play down to the one, but on a third down the Builders fumbled the chance away.
The hosts took advantage and marched on a 98-yard scoring drive which started three straight touchdowns to close the second quarter. A pair of Robbins to Jason Lovett touchdown passes sandwiched a one-yard run from Jyron Barclay giving UVA Wise (1-2) a 41-0 halftime advantage.
Lovett caught his third touchdown pass of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter on a 58-yard strike from Hunter Hoke for the eventual final margin of 48-0.
The Builders return to action in the home opener next Saturday at 1 pm against George Mason University.
WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON PASSES BY FROSTBURG STATE 34-12
FROSTBURG, Md. - Gino Rometo threw for three touchdowns, including two in the second quarter, to guide No. 10 Washington & Jefferson past Frostburg State, 34-12, in non-conference action on a chilly Saturday evening.
The President's (2-0) scored on four of five possessions through
the middle part of the contest to break open a slim lead over the
Bobcats (0-2). W&J scored two touchdowns in the second quarter
and two more in the third to break open a 7-2 ballgame. Rometo
found Zach DeCicco for a seven-yard score (5:55) and connected with
Craig Besong on a six-yard strike with just 1:26 to go in the
opening half to take a 21-5 lead into the break.
FSU (0-2) got on the board with a safety early in the second
quarter. On fourth and sixth, the ball was snapped over the head of
W&J's punter Joe Kelly who recovered it in the endzone for a
safety. Freshman Zachary Beukers (Frederick, Md./Frederick) later
kicked a 25-yard field goal with 3:28 showing in the second.
The third quarter saw three-straight touchdown drives, including
two from W&J. Washington & Jefferson opened the second half
scoring with a seven-play 60-yard drive that was capped by a
Terrance McAllister five-yard touchdown run as the visitors moved
ahead to 27-5.
Frostburg State found the endzone for the only time in the game
when freshman quarterback Phoenix Butler-Poole (Silver Spring,
Md./Springbrook) plunged in from a yard out, capping an 11-play
80-yard drive, with 6:39 left in the third.
However, Washington & Jefferson extended its lead to 34-12 when
Rometo tossed his final touchdown of the ballgame, this time a
32-yarder to Craig Besong with 2:57 left in the third.
The Presidents racked up 413 yards in total offense, including 215
on the ground as seven different players carried the ball. Derek
Taylor led the way with 92 yards on 17 carries. Rometo made the
difference as he threw for 174 yards on 17-of-31 completions and
those three TDs. Besong led all receivers with eight receptions for
90 yards and two scores.
In his second collegiate start, Butler-Poole tossed for 166 yards
on 11-of-26 attempts with two interceptions while junior tailback
Anthony King (Germantown, Md./Northwest) ran for 75 yards on 16
carries. Senior triple threat Avery Willie (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen)
led all players with a 151 all-purpose yards. He caught four passes
for 57 yards, returned four kicks for 87 yards and one punt for
seven yards.
Defensively, sophomore defensive back Jim Lohr (Bowie,
Md./Archbishop Spalding) led all players with 10 tackles, 1.0 TFL
and a first quarter interception. Ryan Breen led the Presidents
with seven tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
Frostburg State returns to action next Saturday when it travels to
SUNY Brockport at 1:00 pm.
WESLEY RUSHES PAST CRUSADERS 28-3
Tigerville, S.C. - Wesley College's Aaron Jackson (New Brunswick, N.J./North Brunswick) and Shane McSweeny (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) combined for over 200 yards rushing and the Wolverine defense did the rest in a 28-3 win at NCAA Division II North Greenville.
The Crusaders (0-3) opened the scoring with a field goal with 9:33 left in the first, but McSweeny ran for 10 yards to open a Wolverine (2-0) drive. On the next play, McSweeny ran up the middle and cut back, made a man miss on a 34-yard touchdown run to give Wesley a 7-3 lead after the first quarter.
Wesley capped the half by going 90 yards in 40 seconds to take a 14-3 lead into the intermission. McSweeny hooked up with Sean McAndrew (Lanoka Harbor, N.J./Lacey Township) on consecutive plays of 20 and 28 yards, then tossed up a jump ball for Ellis Krout (Dallas, Texas/Roosevelt). The 6-4 receiver pulled it down for a 24-yard score.
The tandem of McSweeny and Jackson combined to split the work on the next scoring drive. McSweeny rushed right for 23 yards, before Jackson finished off the drive with a two-yard run to cap a 10-play drive for a 21-3 lead after the third quarter.
McSweeny found the end zone for the second time on the evening with a seven yard score to finish a 12-play, 75-yard drive.
Aaron Benson (Swarthmore, Pa./Strath Haven) iced the win with a late interception for the second straight week.
McSweeny passed for 219 yards in the game and rushed for 77 more. The junior quarterback also accounted for three scores, running for two and passing for another.
Jackson had 134 yards on 18 carries and scored once. Krout led the receiving corps with five catches for 55 yards. C.J. Bacote (Burlington, N.J./Lenape Regional) had four grabs for 54 yards and McAndrew added three for 59 yards.
Defensively, Mike Asiedu (Yonkers, N.Y./Gorton) led Wesley with 10 tackles, including two for loss. The linebacker also forced a fumble and recovered a fumble. Marcus Wilson (Pennsauken, N.J./Camden Catholic) added six tackles and Reggie Millner (Camden, Del./Caesar Rodney) forced a fumble.
Wesley outgained the Crusaders 444-225 and held a 28-10 advantage in first downs.
For North Greenville, quarterback Aaron Siegler rushed for 80 yards on six carries. Siegler did not play on passing downs, however. That specialty went to Richard Harb, who finished just 9-of-25 for 77 yards.
Andre Bernardi displayed the ability that has made him a Division II All-American, making 11 tackles, 4.5 for loss and had 2.5 sacks.
Through two games played, Wesley has allowed just three total points.
The Wolverines travel to Delaware Valley on September 19.
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