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| Randolph-Macon managed just 87 yards after halftime at Johns Hopkins. Johns Hopkins athletics photo |
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| Robert Sihlanick put Western New England up 10 points in the fourth quarter with a strip-sack and a fumble return for a touchdown. Western New England athletics photo by Matland Photo |
Mount Union's title defense remained alive, while Alfred survived, Western New England won a shootout and Johns Hopkins rolled in Saturday's first-round action in the Alfred bracket.
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Alfred avoided becoming the first top seed in its quadrant to lose a first-round game since 2007 by holding on to beat Bridgewater State, 33-27, in overtime. Tyler Johnson's 2-yard run was the winning score for the Saxons, who improved to 11-0 and host Western New England next weekend.
The Saxons trailed 24-17 at the start of the fourth quarter, and twice drove into the red zone, but still trailed 24-20 after they missed a 32-yard field goal with eight minutes left. The Saxons took the lead with 3:45 left when Johnson picked up a dropped snap and threw the go-ahead touchdown pass.
From there, Bridgewater State had two possessions, and sent it into overtime when Russ Bolarinho, whose PAT in overtime last week gave the Bears the MASCAC automatic bid, made a 44-yard field goal in the rain. The Saxons will face Western New England, as Dante Aiken ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, both of them in the last 3:30 to seal the game in a 44-27 win vs. Husson. It was the Golden Bears' 16th consecutive home victory as Western New England reached 11 wins for the first time in the history of the program.
On the other side of the bracket, Mount Union got its machine revved up in the second half and scored the final three touchdowns of the game for a 38-21 win at Hobart. Dom Davis was 20-for-29 passing for 321 yards and a touchdown for the Purple Raiders, who won a playoff game for the 22nd consecutive season. Shane Sweeney was 29-for-57 passing for 291 yards and three scores for the Statesmen, but was picked off twice, on back-to-back fourth-quarter possessions with the score 31-21.
Johns Hopkins jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and was never challenged as the Blue Jays rolled past Randolph-Macon 42-21. Jonathan Germano threw for 418 yards and four touchdowns, including 11 catches for 222 yards by Luke McFadden. Johns Hopkins will host Mount Union in a second round game next week. It's the third consecutive season that Johns Hopkins has advanced to the second round. The win was the 200th career victory for Blue Jays coach Jim Margraff, who ranks sixth among active Division III football coaches.