BANGOR, Maine - The Husson University Eagles defeated Springfield College, 26-21, on Saturday afternoon in non-conference football action at the Dr. John W. Winkin Sports Complex on Homecoming Weekend.
In the first meeting between the two schools since the opening round of the 2017 NCAA Division III Championship Tournament, Husson scored all 26 of their points in the second quarter to earn the win and improve to 3-1 on the year. Springfield, which was receiving votes in this week's AFCA Division III National Coaches Poll, slipped to 1-3.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
On Husson's opening drive that went 10 plays, the Springfield defense forced the Eagles to turn the ball over on downs as Husson came up empty on 4th-and-9 from Springfield's 29 yard line. The Pride would go three-and-out on their first two offensive possessions as the Eagles did the same on their next two. Springfield started to find its rhtyhm on its third drive as it marched into Husson territory before putting the ball on the turf which Tucker Buzzell recovered on the Eagle 44 yard line.
The Eagles capitalized on the turnover, as four plays later John Bell snagged a 37-yard catch from Nic Visser to find the endzone at the 13:50 mark of the second quarter. Springfield answered right back, going 63 yards in seven plays as Tim Callahan plowed his way into the end zone with 10:25 on the clock to gain a 7-6 lead.
Husson regained the lead for good on their next drive, as Visser found a wide open Aidan Hogan, who scampered down the sidelines 54 yards for a touchdown to make it 13-7 with 9:09 left in the half. The Pride fumbled on their next drive on the Husson 32 yard line which was recovered by Antwan Turner, and just 2:28 later, Bell ran the ball in from 12 yards out to make it a 19-7 contest. Springfield turned the ball over on downs on the Husson 35 yard line with 1:24 remaining, only to have the Eagles score on a fourth and goal from the Springfield one-yard line when Tyler Halls grabbed a Visser pass to take a 26-7 lead into the break.
On their opening drive of the second half, Springfield coughed the ball up inside the red zone thanks to Derek Barden forcing the ball out of the arms of Callahan, as Kaleb Caron was able to recover it on the Husson eight yard line. The teams would trade possessions before Aiden Lewin jumped a route across the middle to snag an interception, which he raced down the right sideline for a 55-yard pick six to pull the Pride within 26-14 with 13 seconds left in the third.
The Pride got great field position after stopping Husson on fourth down on the Husson's 49-yard line, but Springfield was backed up with a pair of penalties and was forced to punt with 7:10 left in regulation. Springfield would get the ball back after a Husson punt, and Isaiah Cashwell-Doe found daylight on the right side from 14 yards out to cap off a 12-play drive as Springfield pulled within 26-21.
Christian Hutra then delivered an onside kick that Ian Porter was able to elevate over Tyler Halls, who called for a fair-catch, and recover the football, but the Pride was flagged for fair-catch interference as Husson held on for the program's first victory over the Pride at home in 13 years.
FOR HUSSON:
- Garrett Poussard carried the ball 20 times for 40 yards.
- Visser completed 19-of-30 pass attempts for 325 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions. He also rushed the ball six times for 24 yards.
- Bell caught eight passes for 130 yards and ran the ball twice for 14 yards and recorded a rushing touchdown and receiving touchdown in the victory.
- Halls recorded his sixth 100-yard receiving game of his career, taking over sole possession of the most all-time in program history. He finished the game with 106 yards off five catches with a touchdown.
- Hogan had three catches for 66 yards with a touchdown catch.
- Buzzell record a career-high 13 tackles (five solo and eight assist) on the afternoon with a fumble recovery.
- Caron and Frank Curran each had eight tackles, a half of a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss, while Caron added a fumble recovery.
FOR SPRINGFIELD:
- Callahan ran for a team-best 90 yards and a touchdown.
- David Wells completed 4-of-11 pass attempts for 39 yards and carried the ball 18 times for 64 yards.
- Ryan Deguire added 52 yards on the ground.
- Cashwell-Doe rushed five times for 42 yards with a touchdown.
- Lewin registered 14 tackles, including six solo stops, and returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown.
- DJ Brown added ten tackles and a pass breakup.
TEAM STATS:
Husson had 428 yards of total offense in the game, including 334 in the first half, as it threw for 325 yard in the victory. The Husson defensive held Springfield to 302 yards of total offense, including only 263 yards on the ground to a team who was averaging 332.7 rushing yards to per game coming into today's game.
HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:
With the victory, the Eagles secure their first consecutive wins over the Pride in the all-time series that dates back to the 2006 season. This win also marks the program's first victory over Springfield on the Winkin Complex turf since the 2008 season's 39-21 triumph. The Eagles also improve to 11-7 all-time on homecoming weekend with the victory.
NEXT!
Husson will have its bye week next week as it prepares to open up Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) play on October 9th at home versus Curry at 1:00 p.m.