Washington, D.C. - October 20, 2018 - The Springfield College football team rebounded from its first-ever New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) loss with a 23-11 victory at Catholic in conference play on Saturday.
The win boosted Springfield's record to 6-2, 4-1 in conference play, while the Cardinals remained winless at 9-7, 0-4.
The Pride totaled 381 yards of offense, including 344 yards on the ground. Hunter Belzo (Middletown, Conn.) totaled 148 rushing yards and a score as he averaged over six yards per carry, while also completing 2-of-3 pass attempts for 37 yards and a score. Tim Callahan (Enfield, Conn.) ran hard from the fullback spot, totaling 123 yards on 22 carries, and Jakai Whittingham (Meriden, Conn.) hauled in a 36-yard touchdown. Defensively, Nick Giorgio (Cumberland, R.I.) was a stalwart on the defensive line, racking up a team-best 11 tackles, including six tackles-for-loss, that resulted in a loss of 29 yards. Marlowe Scott (Dorchester, Mass.) added 10 stops for a Pride defense that had 11 tackles-for-loss in the win.
After Catholic opened the game with an onside kick attempt that resulted in Springfield getting the ball on the Cardinals 48 yard line, the Pride brought the ball inside Catholic's 20 yard line in five plays. Christian Humulock (Narragansett, R.I.) then cashed in on a 36-yard field goal to give the visitors a 3-0 edge just 2:40 into the game.
On the ensuing drive, Catholic went 75 yards in nine plays, chewing up nearly five minutes off the block before Brady Berger connected with Pedro Garcia for a 34-yard touchdown strike. The Cardinals went for two, and Berger found Johnny Hecht for the conversion to put Catholic on top, 8-3, midway through the first.
Another short kickoff by Catholic gave Springfield the ball on their own 44 yard line. Eight rushing plays later, Skyler Bateman (Gansevoort, N.Y.) barreled his way in from nine yards out for his first collegiate score as the Pride regained a 10-8 edge with 3:58 to play in the quarter.
After stopping Catholic and gaining possession late in the first, Springfield manufactured a nine-play, 62-yard drive that lasted nearly four minutes. The drive was capped off by a touchdown strike from Belzo to Whittingham to put the visitors on top, 17-8, with 11:51 remaining in the first half.
The Pride would punch in what would prove to be their final score of the day after they took over on their own 42 yard line with 1:28 on the clock. Springfield needed just six plays to find paydirt as Belzo scampered in from seven yards out with 34 seconds on the clock. The extra point was no good and the Pride took a 23-8 advantage into the break.
For the second-straight game, Springfield was held off the scoreboard in the final two quarters, but the Cardinals were able to score early in the fourth quarter as they finished off a 12-play drive with 12:13 remaining in regulation with a 32-yard field goal. In the final 15 minutes of play, Springfield's defense held Catholic to -14 rushing yards as the Pride held on for another conference victory.
Springfield will enjoy its bye week and begin preparation for its regular-season home finale against Maine Maritime that will be played on Stagg Field on November 3 at 12 pm.