Eagles top Seahawks in OT

BANGOR, Maine - The Husson University football team (4-5, 4-2 CCC Football) completed a 29-26 comeback win over visiting Salve Regina University (3-6, 2-4 CCC Football) in overtime at the Dr. John W. Winkin Sports Complex on Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Husson kicked off the scoring on their first drive, with David Morrison connecting with Tyler Halls for a 31-yard touchdown to give the Eagles an early 6-0 lead (the Devin Pickett extra-point attempt was blocked). 

After this initial score, momentum swung in favor of Salve Regina. The Seahawks answered the Halls touchdown with their own, with Seahawk running back Joey Mauriello punching it in on a 5-yard touchdown run to give his team a 7-6 lead. Husson would lose the ball via turnover on their next two drives; Salve Regina couldn't capitalize on the first turnover, but quarterback Tyler McGovern hit wide receiver Max DeVito for a 24-yard touchdown, extending the Seahawk lead to 14-6 in the second quarter. 

After a Husson punt, McGovern again found DeVito, this time for a 12-yard touchdown strike, however the Angelo DiSanto extra-point attempt was blocked, bringing the score at 20-6 in favor of Salve Regina. DiSanto would knock in a 37-yard field goal to push the Seahawk lead to 23-6, rounding out the scoring for the first half.

Throughout much of the third quarter, both teams were unable to put points on the board. Husson turned the ball over on downs at the Salve Regina 1-yard line, but after Seahawk running back Connor Welsh rushed for a yard, Husson defensive back Zach Connolly took him down in the end zone for a safety, reducing the Seahawk lead to 23-8 and giving the Eagles possession. This sparked a complete momentum shift, with Husson getting the ball off a McGovern punt at the 50-yard line. In the next two plays, Morrison would connect with Aidan Hogan for 24 yards, and then hit Halls for a 26-yard touchdown to lessen the deficit to 23-15.

The next Seahawk possession wouldn't last long, as Husson defensive back Nick Alvarez picked off McGovern's first pass to give the Eagles possession at their own 46-yard line. However, both teams would turn the ball over on downs during their ensuing possessions as the game entered into the fourth quarter. Morrison's next pass was a huge 71-yard catch-and-run to Halls for a touchdown, making it 23-21 in favor of Salve Regina. Keyshawn Robinson would rush for the crucial two-point conversion to tie the game at 23-23; which is where the score stayed at the end of regulation.

In overtime, Salve Regina received the first possession, but after stalling at the Eagle 4-yard line, settled for a DiSanto 21-yard field goal, giving themselves a 26-23 lead. However, Husson had one chance to answer the field goal, and they took advantage. Robinson was able to take care of the first 19 yards himself, catching a 13-yard pass from Morrison and rushing for 6 yards before Morrison found Hogan in the end zone to seal the victory for Husson.

TEAM LEADERS:

For the Eagles, Morrison completed 19-of-43 passes for 320 yards, four touchdowns and an interception while adding 22 rushing yards. Robinson accumulated 117 total yards on 24 touches and recorded a two-point conversion. Halls caught eight passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns, his second-straight game with three scores. Hogan added 82 yards on five receptions and a score of his own. Defensively, linebacker Frank Curran notched 11 total tackles and blocked an extra-point attempt. Defensive end Derek Barden added 10 tackles (one for loss) of his own. Connolly had seven tackles, one of them being the safety in the third quarter that sparked the comeback. Alvarez and Brandon Williams recorded an interception and pass breakup each.

For the Seahawks, McGovern completed 14-of-39 passes for 248 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Welsh and Mauriello rushed for 65 and 57 yards, respectively. Wide receiver Danny Hoffman only caught two passes, but led all Salve Regina receivers with 83 yards. DeVito caught three passes for 66 yards and two scores while receivers Pat Travers and Mike Nestor added 46 and 40 yards, respectively. On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Matt Messner recorded nine tackles (two for loss) and added a forced fumble as well as a fumble recovery. Defensive back John Goode notched four tackles and caught the lone Seahawk interception, returning it for 21 yards. Defensive back Christopher Minchin blocked a Pickett extra-point attempt in the first quarter and recorded three tackles.

Next Up:

Salve Regina returns home to host Curry College for Senior Day on Saturday, November 16, at 1 p.m. Husson travels to face Western New England.