DANBURY, CT (Oct. 13) — Freshman running back Emmanuel Johnson (Staten Island, NY) pushed across the goal line with 36 seconds remaining to lift visiting Morrisville State to a 34-33 come-from-behind victory over Western Connecticut State University on Homecoming at The WAC on Saturday.
The Mustangs, 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference trailed for the first 50:27 of the game until junior wide receiver A. J. Latta (Middletown, NY) caught a nine-yard pass from Jory Tanner (Adams, NY). That gave Morrisville its first lead of the afternoon, 28-27.
That go-ahead drive was set up when freshman Connor Falguerra (Milford, CT) fumbled a Juan Rios (Grahamsville, NY) punt at midfield.
Four plays earlier, the Colonials were marching toward the Mustangs' end zone but Tecumseh Champlain (Norwich, CT) fumbled the ball at the five yard line resulting in a Morrisville touchback when Austin Erlwein (Jeffersonville, NY) recovered the loose ball.
With 3:43 remaining in the game, the Colonials went back up 33-28 following a two-yard run from leading rusher Octavius McKoy (Stratford, CT) capping off a 13-play 65-yard drive. Confusion with the play clock, rushed Will Arndt's (Newtown, CT) two-point attempt into a fumble.
Western, 0-6 overall and 0-5 in the league, built a 13-point lead with 4:27 remaining in the third quarter following a 16-yard scoring strike from Arndt to Stephen DeJournett (Akron, OH), giving the Colonials a 27-14 lead.
Morrisville did not pack it in though and came right back with a four-play, 65-yard drive 58-second dirve capped off by a 54-yard pass completion from Tanner to Robert Clarke (New York, NY) with 3:29 left in the third stanza.
Western still had a chance to capture its first win in its last 27 games and the crowd of 777 encouraged it on for the final possession. Three straight incomplete passes by Arndt turned the ball over to the Mustangs for a final kneel down.
Johnson and Earl Snead (Wappingers Falls, NY) mustered the bulk of the Mustangs work load on the ground collecting 72 and 67 yards, respectively on 14 and 17 carries. Snead's 14-yard touchdown catch from Tanner at the 5:20 mark of the first quarter, evened the score at 7-7.
Tanner completed 24 of 39 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns while Latta was his top target with eight catches for 71 yards.
McKoy scored a pair of touchdowns for the Colonials. His first was a four-yard dash to give Western a 20-14 lead with 57 seconds left before intermission. He finished the day with 60 yards on 19 carries.
Arndt completed 17 of 34 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns. His primary target was Connor Falaguerra who hauled down six passes for a game-high 107 yards and two scores.
Defensively, Tyrell Ballard (Bridgeport, CT) collected a game-high 12 tackles for the Colonials while Mike Lacaria (Watertown, CT) and Corey Lawlor (Danbury, CT) each registered nine take downs.
Morrisville was led by Jack Glen's (Syracuse, NY) six tackles and six others tallied four tackles for the winners.
Western travels to The College at Brockport next Saturday for a 1 pm meeting with the Golden Eagles.
Scoring Summary (Final)
2012 Western Connecticut Football
Morrisville State vs Western Connecticut (Oct 13, 2012 at Danbury, Conn.)
Morrisville State (1-5,1-3) vs. Western Connecticut (0-6,0-5)
Date: Oct 13, 2012 Site: Danbury, Conn. Stadium: The WAC
Attendance: 777
Score by Quarters........... 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. Score
Morrisville State........... 7.. 7.. 7.. 13. 34
Western Connecticut......... 7.. 13. 7.. 6.. 33
Team Qtr Time Scoring play Conversion Plays-Yards
WCSU 1st 12:19 Connor Falguerra 9 yd pass from Will Arndt Tommy Bruder kick
MORR 1st 05:20 Earl Snead 81 yd pass from Jory Tanner Zach Drake kick
MORR 2nd 10:59 Earl Snead 7 yd run Zach Drake kick
WCSU 2nd 09:34 Connor Falguerra 16 yd pass from Will Arndt Tommy Bruder kick
WCSU 2nd 00:57 Octavius McKoy 4 yd run Tommy Bruder kick failed
WCSU 3rd 04:27 Stephen DeJournett 16 yd pass from Will Arndt Tommy Bruder kick
MORR 3rd 03:29 Robert Clarke 54 yd pass from Jory Tanner Zach Drake kick
MORR 4th 09:33 AJ Latta 9 yd pass from Jory Tanner Zach Drake kick
WCSU 4th 03:43 Octavius McKoy 2 yd run Will Arndt rush fumbld
MORR 4th 00:36 Emmanuel Johnson 1 yd run Jory Tanner pass failed
Kickoff time: 12:00 pm End of Game: 2:50 pm Total elapsed time: 2:50
Officials: Referee: M. Zyglis; Umpire: J. Friers; Linesman: M. David;
Line judge: D. Coughlin; Back judge: M. Doughty; Field judge: J. Huber;
Side judge: E. Lewis; Scorer: Scott Ames;
Temperature: 55 Wind: W10 mph Weather: sunny and cool