SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Western New England University football team wrapped up its regular season schedule with a 45-14, Senior Day victory over Husson University on Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Football action at Golden Bear Stadium.
Top Performers
Senior quarterback Alec Coleman (Arlington, Mass.) did a little bit of everything for the Golden Bears on offense with a four-touchdown performance. Coleman completed 12-of-17 pass attempts for 191 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 42 yards and two scores, and hauling in his first career TD reception.
Senior running back Jamyre Soberanis (Dorchester, Mass.) compiled 105 yards on 19 attempts (5.5 avg.) and junior wide receiver Steven Fedorchak (Guilderland, N.Y.) made a game-high eight receptions for 120 yards.
Junior safety Aaron Lamar (North Conway, N.H.) paced the Golden Bears defensively with a team-high nine tackles.
Husson was led by senior running back Keyshaun Robinson (Brooklyn, N.Y.), who carried the ball 21 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. Robinson also recorded four catches for 63 yards.
Eagles freshman linebacker Tucker Buzzell (Lovell, Maine) made a game-high 12 tackles, including one for a loss of three yards.
Game Review
After punting on their first possession of the game, the Golden Bears opened the scoring at the 8:28 mark of the first quarter when Coleman threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Matt Eylander (Grantham, N.H.).
The Western New England defense then forced a Husson three-and-out, and Coleman found Fedorchak three times for 56 yards on the Golden Bears' ensuing possession before scoring on a two-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 late in the first quarter.
The Eagles drove deep into Western New England territory on their next drive, but came up empty as senior quarterback David Morrison (Ashland, Mass.) was intercepted by Golden Bears' sophomore defensive back Jerry Woodard (Windsor, Conn.) in the end zone.
Husson got on the board with an 11-yard touchdown run by Robinson early in the second period, but Western New England quickly responded with a seven-play, 53-yard scoring drive that culminated in a 26-yard touchdown run by Coleman.
Trailing 21-7 at that point, Husson again advanced deep into Western New England territory with a 10-play, 81-yard drive. The Eagles went for it on 4th and goal from the WNE six-yard line, and Lamar came up with a big stop at the three-yard line to get the Golden Bears the ball back.
Western New England proceeded to march 97 yards over ten plays, capping the drive with a trick play that saw junior receiver Adam Razza (Watertown, Conn.) complete a 13-yard touchdown pass to Coleman.
Husson was able to cut into its deficit before the break as Morrison found junior tight end Aidan Hogan (Morgan, Vt.) for a 26-yard touchdown with 27 seconds on the clock.
Western New England outscored Husson 10-0 in the third quarter to increase its lead to 38-14. Senior running back Peter Hoff (Shelton, Conn.) found the end zone on a 16-yard rush at the 10:51 mark, before senior kicker Kieran Lombard (Dover, N.H.) converted a 28-yard field goal attempt with 3:09 remaining in the period.
A fourth quarter rushing touchdown by freshman EJ Dudley (Meriden, Conn.) capped the scoring in the contest as the Golden Bears extended their final margin of victory to 31.
Notes
• Western New England improved to 4-0 all-time against Husson.
• The Golden Bears outgained the Eagles 542-295. WNE picked up 322 yards through the air and 220 on the ground.
• Western New England converted on 8-of-13 (62%) third down opportunities while limiting Husson to just one third down conversion in 12 attempts (8%).
Up Next
Western New England (9-1, 7-0 CCC Football) will make its fifth consecutive and sixth overall appearance in the NCAA Division III Tournament next Saturday (11/23). The Golden Bears will find out their first round opponent on Sunday night during the NCAA Selection Show at 5:30 p.m. Husson's season comes to a close at 4-6 (4-3 CCC Football).