Last second field goal lifts Bears over Seahawks, 21-20

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Senior Tyler Henning 's 37-yard field goal with three seconds left gave Coast Guard a thrilling 21-20 upset win over Salve Regina, ranked 5^th in New England, in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) opener for both teams in front of a large Parents' Weekend crowd.

Coast Guard evened its record at 2-2 overall while Salve Regina had its seven game win streak, dating back to last season snapped and drops to 2-1 on the season. It was the Bears first ever win over Salve which had won the first four meetings in the series.

Sophomore Ryan Robertson's second blocked punt of the game setup the game winning  kick. Robertson, who had a huge game on special teams, also recovered a fumbled punt.

Salve junior Sam Pascale rushed for 216 yards on 36 carries and the go ahead score with 9:41 left in the game as the Seahawks finished with 439 yards of total offense (234 rushing) while the Bears totaled 224 yards (171 passing) in the win.

Henning opened the scoring with a 28-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter as the Bears took a 3-0 lead. He had missed a 33-yard field goal after Robertson blocked a punt with 11:31 left in the first quarter. Henning's made field goal was setup on a fumbled punt recovered by Robertson.

Salve senior Jackie Hurley missed a 40-yard field goal on the ensuing possession with 3:39 left in the opening quarter.

The Seahawks took the lead on a 17-yard touchdown pass from junior Brendan Basil (24 of 39, 205 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT) to sophomore tight end Tommy Seaver with 11:44 left in the first half for a 7-3 lead capping a 75 yard drive.

Henning added a 35-yard field goal with 1:04 left in the first half as the Bears trailed 7-6 at the half.

Salve had 241 yards of total offense to the Bears 104 in the first half as Pascale rushed 18 times for 139 yards.

The Seahawks took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 71 yards in just six plays as Basil threw a 40-yard touchdown to senior wide receiver Alex Hulme on 3rd and 11 to take a 14-6 lead with 12:06 left in the third quarter.

Henning, also a first team All-conference punter, who leads the NEFC with a 44 yard average, then pinned the Seahawks at the 1-yard line with a 49 yard punt which turned the momentum of the game. The Bears defense forced Salve to punt from its own end zone, it was just a 19-yard punt setting up the Bears at the Salve 22-yard line.

Victory threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jordan Groff to cut the deficit to 14-12 with 7'04 left in the third quarter. Groff's two-point conversion run failed.

Senior Mark Behne intercepted Basil on the third play of the next drive to give the Bears great field possession once again, this time at the Salved 16-yard line.

Coast Guard would take the lead 18-14 on a 2-yard touchdown run by Victory with 3:27 left in the third quarter. His two-point pass was not good.

Following an exchange of punts, Salve drove 84 yards in 13 plays with Pascale scoring on a 14-yard run for a 20-18 lead with 9:41 left, the extra point, which would loom large later was missed.

Coast Guard punted and Salve was set to go for it on 4th and 3 from the Bears 47 when a penalty backed them up forcing the punting unit on the field.

Robertson came up huge again blocking a punt and senior Cory Sonnega recovered giving the Bears the ball at the Salve 37 yard line with 2:35 left in the game.

Coast Guard converted a 3rd and 5 on a nine-yard pass from Victory to senior Kyle Jackson to move the ball into field goal range at the Salve 23. The Bears ran the ball in the center of the field and brought on Henning for the game-winning kick on third down. Salve called timeout to ice Henning, but the senior drilled the kick right down the middle.

Victory was 19 of 34 for 171 yards and a touchdown. Groff led the Bears with six receptions for 36 yards and also was the team's leading rusher with six carries for 24 yards.

Brandon Basil finished the afternoon 24-39 for 205 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Hulme led Salve Regina with 12 receptions for 96 yards in the loss.

Salve Regina returns to action on October 3 when the Seahawks host Curry College for Fall Festival Weekend.