La Bella leads way with three TDs; Seahawks rally from down 10 twice to win 35-17

NEWPORT, R.I. - Graduate student Marcelino La Bella (Windsor, Conn.) streaked to three touchdowns (73, 29, 35) on five catches for 160 yards as Salve Regina University football scored 28 unanswered points to defeat visiting United States Merchant Marine Academy, 35-17, in a NEWMAC matchup at rainy Toppa Field on Saturday afternoon. After trailing 10-0, La Bella got behind the secondary for his first catch and raced down the sideline in front of his bench for the first Seahawk points. Down 10 again (17-7), La Bella's next TD catch came in the final minute of the first half. Salve Regina had deferred the opening kickoff and had the first possession of the second half. La Bella's third TD covered 35 yards and capped a three-play, 72-yard drive in the opening minutes of the second half. Thomas Cea Jr. (Sayville, N.Y.) grinded out 97 yards in the final 20 minutes while scoring two touchdowns on 18 carries.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Salve Regina 35, Merchant Marine 17
Records: Salve Regina (4-1; 2-0 NEWMAC), Merchant Marine (3-1; 1-1 NEWMAC)
All-Time Series: Today was the first ever meeting between the two schools in football. After the Seahawk victory, Salve Regina now is 4-4 all-time versus Merchant Marine in all sports which includes men's basketball (0-3), men's lacrosse (2-0), women's lacrosse (0-1), and women's volleyball (1-0). 

SUMMARY:

• 1st | 05:03 | USMMA - Jackson Tinkis 29 yd field goal 16 plays, 62 yards, TOP 7:02 | Merchant Marine 3, Salve Regina 0
• 1st | 04:04 | USMMA - Ceaser Gonzalez 2 yd run (Jackson Tinkis kick ), 2 plays, 27 yards, TOP 0:48 | Merchant Marine 10, Salve Regina 0
• 1st | 03:45 | SRU - Marcelino La Bella 73 yd pass from Jake Stack (Vaughn Randle kick ) 1 plays, 73 yards, TOP 0:12 | Merchant Marine 10, Salve Regina 7
• 2nd | 08:38 | USMMA - Cole Simmons 4 yd run (Jackson Tinkis kick ), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:27 | Merchant Marine 17, Salve Regina 7
• 2nd | 00:48 | SRU - Marcelino La Bella 29 yd pass from Jake Stack (Vaughn Randle kick ) 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 2:35 | Merchant Marine 17, Salve Regina 14
• 3rd | 13:46 | SRU - Marcelino La Bella 35 yd pass from Jake Stack (Vaughn Randle kick ) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:08 | Salve Regina 21, Merchant Marine 17
• 4th | 14:55 | SRU - Thomas Cea Jr. 4 yd run (Vaughn Randle kick ), 8 plays, 71 yards, TOP 4:11 | Salve Regina 28, Merchant Marine 17
• 4th | 11:52 | SRU - Thomas Cea Jr. 4 yd run (Vaughn Randle kick ), 3 plays, 25 yards, TOP 1:30 | Salve Regina 35, Merchant Marine 17

NOTEWORTHY:

• Reigning NEWMAC Offensive Player of the Week, Jake Stack, threw for 309 yards on 19-of-25 passing including the three TDs to La Bella.
• Stack completed passes to eight different receivers - Marcelino La Bella, Josh Letellier, Jacoby Smith, Andre Sullivan, Justan Luzzi, Jacob Perez, Christopher Tall, Kyle Crampton.
• Vaughn Randle made all five PAT kicks.
• Brian Johnson netted 171 yards on four punts (42.8 avg.) with a long of 50.
• Jack Zingaro and Nick Bostrom both picked off Mariner passes.
• Zachary Ludemann led the Seahawk defense with 13 tackles (five solo) and Jacob Dubois had a dozen (three solo) while three others - Avery Arno, Jonathan Melisi, Jack Zingaro - totaled eight take downs apiece. Ludemann posted 2.5 tackles for losses (minus eight yards).
• Thomas Cea Jr. led the Seahawks' ground game with 97 yards on 18 carries and a long of 33. His second touchdown was an 11-man effort going four yards into the endzone.
• Stack added 46 yards on the ground with six rush attempts.
• Colin Morley had a pair of tackles on kickoff coverage.

HIGHLIGHTS | POSTGAME INTERVIEW

ON THE HORIZON:
The Seahawks host the United States Coast Guard Academy at Toppa Field on Saturday, October 7 (12 p.m.).