Bangor, ME - Husson football picked up its first win of the 2013 season Saturday, notably at home in front of a supportive crowd of over 1,000, against Alfred State of New York. The Eagles scored a touchdown in the second and fourth quarters to earn the hard-fought 13-0 victory.
The Eagles got on the board first in the second quarter after both teams paired for five first quarter punts and two fumbles. Husson took over with 11:11 to go in the second and handed the ball off to Ryan Dorso twice for seven yards. Kyle McKinnon then took a handoff for four more yards and a first down. Quarterback Ryan Stroud next hooked up with Josiah Hartley for ten yards, to set up the Eagles with another first down at the Alfred 24. Stroud handed off once again to McKinnon on the next play and the first-year tailback ran into the endzone for a touchdown. Reece Attard tacked on the extra point and Husson led 7-0.
Both teams struggled on offense for the rest of the half, as Alfred tried a 44 yard field goal with one second left via Keegan Phalen, which was well short.
The Green and Gold took to the locker room at the half leading 7-0.
The third quarter was much of the same for both squads. Alfred and Husson both were forced to punt on their first drives and after another struggle on offense for Alfred in their second drive of the half, Greg Hampton's pass was intercepted by Dom Mowrer at the Husson 37.
Husson managed to move to the Alfred 32 on the ensuing drive and Attard entered the game again with 1:25 to go in the third, this time to try a 49 yard field goal. The Pioneers jumped the Eagle line and blocked Attard's kick, giving the ball back to Alfred at the end of the third.
The defensive stop of the day came early in the fourth after the Pioneers used four plays to matriculate to the Husson 19 to cap the third frame. Rasheed Williams ran for 15 yards on the next play giving Alfred another first down at the Husson four. Williams took the ball on consecutive plays following the first down for a total of one yard and proceeded to call timeout. After the timeout the Pioneers were flagged for a false start, pushing them back to the Husson eight and were then called for encroachment. On the third straight third down play, Williams ran for no gain, followed by a Hampton incomplete pass on fourth and goal from the eight to give the ball back to the Eagles and securing the 7-0 lead for the moment.
The Eagles turned over on downs the next drive and on Alfred's first play from scrimmage at their own 41, Dileel Bartley coughed up the ball after a four yard run caused by Husson's James York. Stephen Colvin of the Eagles scooped up the loose ball and scampered 12 yards to the Pioneer 33.
Husson would capitalize on the miscue, rushing the ball seven times for three first downs. Stroud then held on for a quarterback keeper, scoring from eight yards out. Attard's extra point try was wide right, but the Eagles led 13-0 with 6:21 left in the game.
Defensively the Eagles were led by Stephan Dance with 12 total tackles 1.5 for a loss of seven yards, and helped on a sack for a loss of six yards. Ellis Throckmorton added eight total tackles of his own, 2.5 of which for a loss of 11 yards and a sack for minus three. Ernest Wiggins (eight total tackles) and James York (two tackles) both had forced fumbles on the day.
Rasheed Williams had most of the offensive highlights for the Pioneers, rushing the ball 23 times for 115 yards, his longest for 52.
Game Notes:
- Husson picked up its first football win of the 2013 season, the first win under Gabby Price in his second tenure as head coach, earning him a Powerade shower after the game.
- The 13-0 victory is the first shutout for the Eagles since October 25th, 2008 in a 49-0 win over Gallaudet, which was also under coach Gabby Price.
- The home crowd at the Winkin Complex Saturday of over 1,100 was the largest home crowd for football since almost 1,300 fans came out for a game vs. Norwich on October 17, 2009.
The Eagles have a bye week next week, and will be back at the Winkin Complex on October 5th vs. Castleton at 12:30pm.