Three Bambini TD Catches Lead Curry Past Coast Guard, 35-0
MILTON, Mass. – Sophomore wide receiver Robert Bambini (Westwood, MA) caught three touchdown passes, leading Curry to a 35-0 victory over visiting Coast Guard in a non-divisional match-up of New England Football Conference (NEFC) rivals on Saturday night in Milton. The Colonels (2-1) also posted their second shutout in a row, having blanked Fitchburg State 28-0 a week ago. The Bears fell to 1-1 on the season.
Both teams' offenses were held in check in a scoreless first quarter. In the second quarter, the Colonels tallied the first of 35 unanswered points when sophomore Mark Gilson (Mansfield, MA) tossed a 24-yard scoring pass to Bambini with 14:42 on the clock. Then with just 18 seconds remaining in the half, Curry stretched its advantage to 14-0 courtesy of a one-yard scoring rush by senior Dennis Void (Brookhaven, PA).
After stopping the Bears' first drive of the second half, the Colonels went on a 10-play, 94-yard drive that was capped off with a seven-yard TD pass from senior Harold Rose (Buzzards Bay, MA) to Bambini. Coast Guard had another three-and-out on its next drive, then Bears' sophomore Will Leffler (Daytona Beach, FL) had his punt blocked by Colonels' freshman Chevere Archer (Lynn, MA), giving the Colonels the ball on the Bear's one-yard line. Rose ran a keeper on third down and pushed the ball into the end zone for a 28-0 lead. With 1:56 remaining in the third quarter, Rose connected with Bambini for the final points of the contest. Both teams were then held scoreless in the final frame.
Curry held the advantage in total offense (279-214), while Coast Guard maintained an edge in both first downs (14-11) and time of possession (33:12-26:48).
Rose went 10-for-22 for 153 yards, two TDs and one interception. Gilson chipped in with 27 yards passing and one TD. Bambini recorded four receptions for 72 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Curry was led by seniors Kevin McCarthy (Foxboro, MA) with nine total tackles (eight solo), and Sean Pike (Sudbury, MA) with seven tackles (four solo) and one sack (-8 yards). Sophomore Jason Genece (Waltham, MA) and junior Chris Haddad (Bellingham, MA) each snagged an interception.
The Bears' passing game was shared by senior Jesse Karr (Milan, MI), who went 14-for-34 for 95 yards, and sophomore Jon Resch (Lititz, PA), who went 8-for-11 for 44 yards. Sophomore Eric Gerken (Tampa, FL) hauled in a game-high 11 passes for 47 yards. Defensively, Coast Guard was paced by sophomore Mark Bonner (Virginia Beach, VA) with seven tackles (six solo), and senior Ryan Schmid (Robinsville, NJ) with three tackles (two solo) and one sack (-11 yards).
The Colonels, who notched back-to-back shutouts for the first time since the 2006 season, will play host to M.I.T. in a 1:00 p.m. Homecoming contest next Saturday, while Coast Guard travels to Mass. Maritime for a 12:00 p.m. kickoff.
