Boyd has Bogan's number
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The Boyd schools have fared much better thus far in the young season — thanks in no small part to games against Bogan schools — but it is still a little too early to get a definitive read on how either division will shape up this year.
Camobreco shines in overtime thriller
On the strength of a five-touchdown effort from junior quarterback Adam Camobreco, Bridgewater State withstood a 21-point, fourth-quarter rally by Nichols and managed to pull out a 37-34 victory following one overtime period. The Bears’ season-opening victory dropped the Bison to 0-2 so far this season. Halfback Misbah Karim tallied 302 all-purpose yards in the losing effort.
After three quarters of play, Bridgewater lay claim to a 19-10 advantage in a game that hardly resembled a shootout; however, the game took a dramatic turn in an action-packed fourth quarter of play which saw the two teams combine for a whopping 33 points. Nichols made full use of this finite period — the Bison scored their first touchdown of the quarter after only six seconds and their last with the game clock reading 0:00.
After a 37 yard touchdown reception by Karim cut the Bison deficit to 19-17, the Bears appeared to have reclaimed a two-score cushion a few minutes later on a 3-yard run by Brenden Kavey, but the extra point failed — the third unsuccessful PAT attempt by Bridgewater kicker Brian Lowe.
Indeed, the Bridgewater lead was put in serious jeopardy just three minutes later when Bison signal-caller Michael Carven completed a critical pass to Daragh McCann on fourth-and-9 that went for 24 yards and a touchdown. Trailing 25-23, Nichols attempted a two-point conversion, but the run failed, and Bridgewater’s lead — which had existed in varying degrees since its first play from scrimmage on offense — remained intact.
Up two, Bridgewater could have all but sealed the victory when receiver Ben Bascon hauled in his second touchdown reception of the day with 4:39 left in regulation. With a 31-23 lead, all the Bears had to do was kick an extra-point to give them a nearly insurmountable two-score cushion. But given that Lowe had failed to convert on three of his previous four PAT attempts, coach Peter Mazzaferro decided that his team would have a better chance of tacking on extra points simply by keeping his offense on the field for a two-point attempt. This decision, I think, was a sound one, but the execution was lacking as Camobreco’s pass failed to find a receiver.
Nichols took full advantage of this reprieve by promptly launching a 14-play, 71 yard drive that culminated in thrilling fashion when Carven completed a 2-yard touchdown pass with no time remaining on the game clock. Due to the Bears’ kicking-game woes, the Bison now had the opportunity to extend the game by converting a two-point play. Convert they did, as the Bears saw their nine-point fourth quarter lead evaporate despite putting up 11 points themselves in this final period of play.
Nichols momentum was quickly stunted on the first play of overtime when defensive lineman Sal Longo infiltrated the Bison backfield and sacked Carven for an 11-yard loss. Carven did connect on an 18-yard completion on second-and-21, but the Bison magic ran out on third down and Nichols was forced to settle for a 35-yard field goal from Matt Cestone. This was a clutch kick, but a field goal simply was not going to be enough for Nichols to survive in this high-scoring affair.
On the Bears’ second offensive play in overtime, Camobreco teamed with Bascon for another score. Fortunately for the Bears, a PAT was not required to seal the deal.
Camobreco had a phenomenal day, completing 11 of 19 passes for 282 yards and five touchdowns. Bascon hauled in three passes for 114 yards and three touchdowns.
Carven contributed 291 yards through the air for Nichols as the two teams combined to rack up 856 yards of total offense. The fans at Shepherd Hill High School in Dudley, Mass., certainly got their money’s worth.
This Saturday, Bridgewater State will host Mass-Dartmouth while Nichols will search for its first win of the season at Westfield State.
Turnovers, turnovers
Westfield State, the returning NEFC Bogan Division champs, did not lose its season opener to Western New England on account of a lack of talent. Indeed, the Owls were clearly the more talented team in Saturday’s interdivision game; Westfield State amassed 359 yards of total offense while holding WNEC to just 112 yards — the Golden Bears churned out only three rushing yards on 28 carries. But in football, mistakes can trip up talent any day, and that it precisely what happened in this game to produce a 26-21 WNEC win. Westfield State committed four turnovers, which resulted in 23 of WNEC’s 26 points.
Despite the turnovers, the Owls looked as if they might still salvage a win as Westfield quarterback Jon Meczywor led a drive into the Golden Bear redzone with less than two minutes to play. Unfortunately for the Owls, the drive stalled and Meczywor’s pass attempt on fourth-and-16 fell incomplete. WNEC then converted a first down and ran out the clock for its first win over Westfield in four years.
Special mention should be made of Dayne Poirot, a starting defensive tackle for Western New England, who made his collegiate debut as a punter in the President's Trophy game, averaging 40.7 yards for seven punts with a long of 53 and three inside the 20. He also had two solo and two assisted tackles, and a forced fumble. I have heard of quarterbacks, wide receivers, safeties, even linebackers taking up the punting chores, but a defensive tackle? That is some athlete.
Westfield (0-1) will host winless Nichols this Saturday, while 1-0 WNEC will stay at home to entertain Fitchburg State.
Defending champs open with win
Defending NEFC Champions Curry opened its season at home last weekend with a 14-3 win over visiting Fitchburg State, a team that dropped a 31-17 decision to Western Connecticut the previous week. Curry did not dominate the game as many expected; indeed, the outcome of the game was in doubt up until Fitchburg lost a fumble at Curry’s 2-yard line with just about 2:30 left in the game.
After a scoreless first quarter, Curry registered the first points of the game when Colonel sophomore quarterback Kevin Holleran located Emmanuel Parent streaking downfield for an 86-yard touchdown. Fitchburg managed its only score in the third quarter, but Curry increased its cushion early in the fourth on a short touchdown drive that was set up by a Charles Gibbs interception.
The Colonel defense played well, recording four takeaways and three sacks and holding the visiting team to a measly 42 yards rushing. The Curry offense struggled somewhat however, despite getting 133 yards on the ground from sophomore tailback Brandon Benoit. Holleran connected on only eight of his 24 pass attempts and nearly half of his 183 yards came on his one big completion to Parent.
With the win, Curry extends its NEFC win streak to 14. The Colonels should improve upon that number next week when they host Maine Maritime. Maine Maritime lost its season-opener to Mount Ida last week, 25-23.
Worcester Polytech continues to feast
After trouncing Endicott, 47-2, in its season-opener WPI met with similarly restrained resistance when the Engineers took on cross-town rival Worcester State on Sept. 10. The Engineers did surrender their first touchdown of the year, but nonetheless cruised to an easy 40-7 victory behind a dominating ground attack and a smothering defense. Billy Orfalea continued his hot start to the 2004 campaign by rushing for 120 yards and four touchdowns on the evening.
WPI scored touchdowns on each of its first two possessions, and took a 20-0 lead heading into the intermission. Worcester State’s offense showed its only signs of life during the opening possession of the second half, as the Lancers sustained a five-minute drive that ended with a 3-yard, Kenyatta Hale touchdown run. Worcester State could not capitalize on this early strike however, and WPI retaliated with three more touchdowns of its own to close out the game.
Fortunately for the NEFC, WPI will move on to other competition; this week, the Engineers host Husson. Meanwhile, Worcester State will try to get back on track against Salve Regina.
Game of the Week
Nichols at Westfield State, Saturday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m.: Clearly, 2004 has not begun the way that either of these programs would have hoped. Nichols dropped its season-opener to Worcester State before seeing its valiant come-from-behind effort against Bridgewater nipped in the bud in overtime last week. Westfield State meanwhile, the defending Bogan champs, finds itself with a 0-1 mark despite statistically dominating its opponent. This is not a division game, but no team wants to wait until late September to finally win a game, so I would expect to see a hard-fought battle in this one. But if the Owls can cut down on their turnovers, you have to like Jon Meczywor and company to move the ball against the Bison D.
Other game to watch
Mass-Dartmouth at Bridgewater State, Saturday, Sept. 18, 1 p.m.: Is the Bridgewater offense for real? The Corsair D will put them to the test.