Seahawks win big on Senior Day, 47-14

SEAHAWK FOOTBALL RESULTS
Salve Regina 47, Nichols 14
Toppa Field - Newport, R.I.
Saturday, November 3, 2018

Summary
NEWPORT, R.I. - Salve Regina University sophomore wide receiver Danny Hoffman (Trumbull, Conn.) caught four passes for 69 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Seahawks to a 47-14 triumph over visiting Nichols College in Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC) action at Toppa Field on Saturday afternoon. Freshman running back Joey Mauriello (Colts Neck, N.J.) led all players with 161 all-purpose yards, gaining 141 on the ground (11 carries) and 20 with one pass reception.

Salve Regina (6-3, 4-1 CCC) outgained Nichols (4-5, 2-3 CCC) on the ground, 309-72, and through the air, 200-185, with eight different ball carriers and two different tossers.

Dillon Mirabile (Fairfield, Conn.) returned the opening kickoff 36 yards to the Seahawk 46. Mauriello rushed for three and then caught his lone pass for 20, before starting quarterback Tyler McGovern (Attleboro, Mass.) completed his third consecutive pass for 10 yards to junior Brendan Nunes (Attleboro, Mass.) for a 6-0 lead. Senior Andrew Verre (Wethersfield, Conn.) kicked the extra point.

Nichols started its first drive at its own 32, and earned a first down in its first three plays, but the next three plays were marred by a pair of false start penalties and the Bison punted to the SRU19 out-of-bounds. Mauriello's 43-yard carry was the biggest gain in an eight-play, 81-yard scoring drive with junior running back Ronnie Martin (Foxboro, Mass.) carrying three yards into the endzone. Another Verre kick made it 14-0.

The Bison started the second quarter with the ball at midfield. Junior quarterback Michael Pina (Brockton, Mass.) completed three passes to three different targets - Eric Mooney (Stoneham, Mass.) for eight yards, Jake Wood (Whitinsville, Mass.) for 19 yards, and Hunter Ferreira (Mansfield, Mass.) for 26 yards and the touchdown. Salve Regina senior defensive end Brandon O'Neill (Madison, Conn.) had his career-high seventh sack of the season during the Bison scoring drive.

Verre kicked his first of two field goals in the game, 36 yards for a 17-7 Seahawk lead, and then a Bison fumble on their subsequent drive gave Salve Regina the ball at the Nichols 34-yard line. Martin gained 11 on two carries and Mauriello had eight on his carry and then took it into the endzone for an apparent score, but a holding penalty negated the added cushion until McGovern found Hoffman for 19 yards. Verre kicked the extra point and later had a 29-yard field goal for a 27-7 halftime score.

On Salve Regina's second drive of the second half, the Seahawks started at the Bison 44 and took four plays (each of the first three gaining a first down) to take a 34-7 lead. Hoffman's third TD catch was good for seven yards.

Junior Max Yates (Pinehurst, N.C.) took over signal calling late in the third quarter and called his own number on a one-yard run for a 41-7 Seahawk advantage. Connor Welsh (North Middletown, N.J.) had a 26-yard run to end the third quarter, and then began the fourth quarter with a three-yard plunge for the final Seahawk points.

Nichols finished the scoring with a nine-play, 59-yard drive and a Chauncey Lowman (Taylor, Mich.) 20-yard pass to Kionde Wilson (Cutler Bay, Fla.).

Series and Streaks
Salve Regina leads the all-time series, 17-9, and has won the last nine consecutively. The nine-game win streak began with a modest 6-0 victory on Nov. 6, 2010; each of the eight victories since then the Seahawks have scored at least 32 points. Salve Regina has outscored Nichols, 347-85, in the last nine meetings.

Three Stars of the Game

1. Salve Regina sophomore Danny Hoffman (Trumbull, Conn.) scored two touchdowns (19, 7) on four catches for 69 yards.
2. Salve Regina junior Ryan Farrell (Cumberland, R.I.) had three and a half tackles plus an interception returned for 37 yards. On Military Appreciation Day, Farrell also took the oath for enlistment as the newest member of Cramer's Sabers Battalion.
3. Salve Regina freshman Joey Mauriello (Colts Neck, N.J.) had 161 all-purpose yards including 141 on the ground on just 11 carries.

Key Stat of the Game
The Seahawks dominated on the ground, 309-72, and total offense, 509-257, and Andrew Verre punted four times (42.2 yards/punt) to keep the Bison on an uphill climb.

Turning Point
The Seahawks took the opening possession and scored on four plays, all positive gains with three through the air on the arm of McGovern.

Quick Hits

• Tyler McGovern finished 13-of-23 with no picks for 168 yards and three TDs.
• Ronnie Martin had a rushing TD among his 86 yards on 18 carries.
• Tristen Perez (Framingham, Mass.) led the Seahawks with six tackles (four solo) including two for losses.
• Matt Sylvia (East Greenwich, R.I.) added to his league-leading interception total with his eighth pick in the second half.
• Seahawk seniors honored before game - Tom Bennewitz (Allendale, N.J.), Tristan Caplan (Hopatcong, N.J.), Zan Carver (Old Tappan, N.J.), Matt Colucci (Mahwah, N.J.), Tyler D'Errico (Cheshire, Conn.), Ron Kruis (Midland Park, N.J.), Mike Mello (Tiverton, R.I.), Brandon O'Neill (Madison, Conn.), Tristen Perez (Framingham, Mass.), Rich Rebori (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.), John Salute (Mahwah, N.J.), Andrew Verre (Wethersfield, Conn.).
• Nichols senior McCoy Scott (Bronx, N.Y.) led all players with 10 tackles (nine solo).

Next Up
Salve Regina plays at Endicott College to close out the regular season (1 p.m.). Nichols finishes at home in Dudley, Mass., against the Colonels of Curry College.