Spinazzola, Emond Hook Up For Fourth Quarter Score As Football Drops Tough 13-7 NEFC Bogan Division Decision At Westfield State
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME FOOTBALL
Friday, October 9, 2009
Alumni Field, Westfield, Mass.
FINAL: WESTFIELD STATE 13, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 7
1 2 3 4 Total
Massachusetts Maritime (2-4, 1-2 NEFC) 0 0 0 7 - 7
Westfield State (3-3, 1-2 NEFC) 7 0 0 6 - 13
SCORING SUMMARY
WES: Kyle Anderson 8 yd run (Kennan Startzell kick) 7:01 1st
WES: Luke Johnson 2 yd run (kick failed) 3:55 4th
MMA: Jonathan Emond 32 yd pass from Matt Spinazzola (Jake Bickley kick) 2:21 4th
Attendance: 313
WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Sophomore Luke Johnson (South Attleboro, Mass.) rushed for 149 yards and a touchdown to lift Westfield State to a 13-7 New England Football Conference victory over Massachusetts Maritime Friday evening at Alumni Field.
The host Owls (3-3, 1-2 NEFC Bogan) jumped out to a 7-0 advantage midway through the opening quarter on an eight-yard scoring run by sophomore quarterback Kyle Anderson (Westminster, Mass.) after recovering a high snap on a field goal attempt at their own 44 yard line, and Westfield State dodged a bullet on the ensuing drive by the visiting Buccaneers (2-4, 1-2 NEFC Bogan), who drove 69 yards to the Owl 1-yard line before turning the ball over on a fumble. A missed Massachusetts Maritime field goal and an interception by Buccaneer junior Andy Hirko (Uxbridge, Mass.) thwarted scoring opportunities for both squads in the second stanza, and neither team scored again until the final minutes of play when Johnson plunged in from two-yards out to extend the hosts ‘ lead to 13-0 with 3:55 to go. Freshman quarterback Matthew Spinazzola (Melbourne, Fla.) connected with fellow freshman Jonathan Emond (Green Harbor, Mass.) on the visitors' ensuing possession on a 32-yard touchdown pass (their third in the last two weeks) to slice the Massachusetts Maritime deficit to six, and the Buccaneers had one last chance in the final 1:03 of action, driving to the Owl 34-yard line before an interception by Westfield State freshman Dan Dowling (Stoneham, Mass.) sealed the hosts' triumph.
Johnson rushed for 146 of Westfield State's 185 yards on the ground for the evening, as Anderson completed 11-of-20 passes for 127 yards, including nine hook-ups with senior David Benoit (Ludlow, Mass.) for 102 yards. Junior Douglas Dyke (Plainville, Mass.) and freshman Deonte Fielder (Haines City, Fla.) combined for 143 rushing yards in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, as Spinazzola was 8-for-24 for 136 yards to go with his touchdown but was sacked six times during the contest.
Senior Matt Fall (Wilbraham, Mass.) paced the Owls defensively with 14 total tackles and a pair of sacks, while fellow senior Nick Gniadek (Northbridge, Mass.) also recorded a pair of sacks for the hosts. Senior Howard Hayes (Westport, Conn.) and sophomore Mike Bois (Lakeville, Mass.) each notched eight total stops for the Buccaneers, who received six solo tackles and three for losses by senior Ryan Howley (New Fairfield, Conn.) as well as a pair of interceptions by Hirko.
Massachusetts Maritime hosts Maine Maritime in the annual Admiral's Cup clash next Saturday afternoon in a New England Football Conference Bogan Division clash at Clean Harbors Stadium that begins at Noon, while Westfield State travels to Framingham, Mass. next Saturday afternoon to take on Framingham State in an NEFC Bogan Division clash that kicks off at 2:00 p.m.