BANGOR, Maine - The Husson University Eagles (4-2, 1-1 CCC Football) fell to Endicott College (6-1, 3-0 CCC Football), 24-17, on Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) action at the Dr. John W. Winkin Sports Complex.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The game remained scoreless until the 8:41 mark of the first quarter when Aaron Paradis booted a 28-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 3-0 advantage.
The Endicott defense forced the Eagles to punt from their own 25-yard line with 1:05 remaining in the opening quarter, the Gulls then marched down the field for score from their own 41-yard line when Tyler Bridge ran across the goal line two minutes and four seconds into the second stanza. The five yard touchdown run ended a seven play, 59-yard drive putting the Gulls up 7-3.
Husson responded quickly to retake the lead six minutes later when Garrett Poussard powered himself into the endzone off a fourth and goal play the capped a 14 play, 75-yard drive that began on the Eagle 25-yard line.
Endicott once again zoomed down the gridiron for a score when Mike Ingraffia connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Geoffrey Ingrando with 1:56 remaining in the first half. After the Eagles turned the ball over on their own 39-yard line with 50 seconds left in the half, the Gulls attempted a 56-yard field goal but David Redmond blocked it to send the game into break with Endicott leading by four.
The Gulls furthered their lead just six minutes into the third, scoring after five plays, 19-yard drive off the foot of Ryan Smith who kicked a 33-yard field goal. The Eagles took only two plays to tie the game at 17 after Smith's pushed Endicott lead to seven when Nic Visser found Tyler Halls, who then scampered down the sidelines 73 yards for the game tying score.
Tied 17-17 late in the third quarter, Shane Aylward went untouched into the end zone for a 16-yard TD to give Endicott a 24-17 advantage with 15-seconds on the clock.
The Eagles had one final chance in the closing minutes of the game to tie the game up after the Husson defense forced Endicott to turn the ball over on downs but Husson turned the ball over deep in Endicott territory. Endicott then ran out the clock for the victory.
FOR HUSSON:
- Poussard carried the ball 18 times for 59 yards with a score.
- Visser completed 14-of-33 pass attempts for 225 yards with one touchdown pass. He also rushed the ball four times for 42 yards.
- Halls finished the game with 119 yards off three catches with a one touchdown catch.
- Kaleb Caron finished the game a game-high and career-high 17 tackles (nine solo, eight assisted, 1.5 TFL) with a sack.
- Tucker Buzzell registered ten tackles (five solo, five assisted) with a press backup.
- Frank Curran had nine tackles (five solo, four assisted, 2.5 TFL) with a sack and a quarterback hurry.
FOR ENDICOTT:
- Bridge rushed 27 times for 100-yards with a score.
- Ingraffia completed 18-of-27 pass attempts for 164 yards with two touchdown pass. He also rushed the ball 11 times for 21 yards.
- Aylward caught nine passes for 72 yards with a score.
- Tim Russell had 13 total tackles (nine solo, four assisted, 1.5 TFL) with an interception.
- Sam Opont recorded ten tackles (three solo, seven assisted, 1.0 TFL.
NEXT!
Husson travels to the University of New England next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.