Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
History was made on Saturday afternoon at Caparso Field as the Keystone College football program held off host Anna Maria College for a thrilling 41-39 victory - marking the first win in the program's two-year NCAA status.
The Giants (1-6, 1-2 ECFC) entered the contest on a 16-game losing streak but that streak is now snapped as Keystone held off a surging comeback from the Amcats (3-3, 1-2 ECFC).
Saturday's contest featured 948 yards of total offense, as Keystone tallied 231 rushing yards and 243 passing yards. Both teams finished with 474 yards.
Mujaheed Muhammad (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) continued his hot streak, with a game-high 125 yards on 22 carries, scoring two touchdowns - giving him 14 career TDs. Muhammad rattled off a 52-yard score in the third to hand Keystone a 34-19 lead and also enjoyed a 20-yard TD in the second.
Keystone jumped out to a 3-0 lead thanks to a 19-yard field goal by Josue Hernandez (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) in the first. Hernandez finished the day 2-of-2 on field goals and 5-of-5 on extra point tries.
After trailing 7-6, the Giants tallied a pair of touchdowns to close the first half - Muhammad's 20-yard score and a 30-yard TD pass from Tom Roach (Burlington City, N.J./Burlington City) to Jorden Cook (New Paltz, N.Y./New Paltz) as Keystone claimed a 20-7 lead at intermission.
Following an AMC TD, Jayson Nami (Freehold Township, N.J./Freehold Township) took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to the house to give Keystone 27-13 cushion at 12:17 in the third quarter.
However, Anna Maria stormed back in the second half, and came within two, 34-32, with over nine minutes to play. Keystone reclaimed the lead, 41-32, thanks to a 19-yard TD catch by Javier Tazza (Burlington City, N.J./Burlington City) with a little over two minutes in regulation.
The Amcats scored with 58 ticks left to get within two again, but Keystone held on for its first-ever win.
Roach finished the day 15-of-25 for 243 yards and two TDs. Christian Manzolillo (Lebanon, Pa./Lebanon) and Kevin Lewis (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) combined for 16 carries and 98 yards.
Tazza and Chanz Stevens (Leesport, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) both hauled in three catches, combining for 90 yards. Richie Crews (Cuddebackville, N.Y./Port Jervis) and Da'Jaun Vales (Magnolia, N.J./Sterling) combined for four receptions and 79 yards.
Defensively, Sean Pettway (Ellenville, N.Y./Ellenville) totaled eight tackles and one pass breakup while Ali Mendoza (Hoboken, N.J./Hoboken) notched seven stops. Carlos Perez (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Sean Tocci (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) both enjoyed sacks. Zalyn Smith (Irvington, N.J./Alif Muhammad Nia) registered an interception.
For Anna Maria, Alex Cohen contributed five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing).
Keystone will return back home next Saturday, Oct. 22, hosting Castleton University (3-4, 2-1 ECFC) at 12 p.m. for Faculty + Staff Appreciation. Anna Maria heads to Gallaudet University on Oct. 29th following their bye week.