The Springfield College football team cruised past Husson, 45-20, in their home opener on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field.
The Pride moved to 2-0 on the season with the victory, while Husson dipped to 1-1.
Springfield finished the afternoon with 462 yards of total offense, including 441 on the ground, and held the ball for just over 36 minutes. Arsen Shtefan (West Hartford, Conn.) was dominant with 153 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, while Joseph Cannizzaro (Lincoln Park, N.J.) added 90 yards, Blane Hart (East Lyme, Conn.) totaled 82 yards and a score, and Jacob Silvester (Lancaster, Mass.) finished the day with two rushing scores and one passing touchdown. Defensively, Colby Richardson (East Hartford, Conn.) and Will McKay (Tewksbury, Mass.) each had six tackles.
It was an electric start to the game for Springfield, as Desmond Perezcastaneda (Brockton, Mass.) popped free a fumble on the opening kickoff, which was recovered by Damon Garner Jr. (Bay Shore, N.Y.) to give the Pride terrific starting field position at the Husson 23 yard line. Three plays later, Silvester tucked behind his offensive line for a one-yard score to give the Pride a 7-0 lead just 1:43 into the contest.
Springfield's special teams came up huge again following a three-and-out as Richardson broke through the Eagles line to block the punt and the Pride once again started inside the Husson 30 yard line. Hart would later break free around the edge for an 18-yard touchdown run at the 10:39 mark as Springfield gained a quick 14-0 lead.
Husson answered right back just 48 seconds later as Garnett found a hole an ran away with a 72-yard scamper down the sideline to paydirt for the visitors first score of the game. The extra point was blocked by Christian Johnson-Hall (Savannah, Ga.) as Springfield maintained a 14-6 lead. Springfield responded with a methodical 15-play drive that chewed up 8:21 off the clock and covered 70 yards. Springfield converted three third downs and a fourth down in the drive before Shtefan scored from four yards out with 1:25 left in the opening stanza to make it 21-6.
The Eagles responded with their best drive of the day, going 75 yards in 13 plays in just over six minutes as Garnett punched his second score of the day from three yards out at the 10:02 mark. The teams traded punts before Christian Hutra (Holmes, N.Y.) cashed in on 30-yard field goal at 3:33 to give the Pride a 24-13 cushion. Joe Maurer (Wilbraham, Mass.) was able to give Springfield one more first-half possession following his interception two plays later, and Silvester would connect with Bradley Barcello (Weston, Conn.) for a 10-yard pass that Barcello muscled away from a defender. The score came with 16 seconds remaining in the frame as the Pride went into the locker room with a 31-13 edge.
Springfield took the opening possesion of the second half and marched 70 yards in 11 plays, needing just over six minutes to find the end zone again as Silvester took the keeper four yards up the middle with 8:16 on the clock for the only score of the third.
In the fourth, Husson took advantage of a Springfield fumble and scored on a six-yard run by Jed Lober with 8:38 left in regulation. Springfield answered back with the final score of the game in fitting fashion as Shtefan delivered a slippery 18-yard score for his second touchdown of the day to complete the 45-20 triumph.
Springfield will next play on Friday night in a 7 pm showdown with Union.