Box Score
GameStatistics
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. - Western New England used a strong defense and a one-yard scoring run by senior quarterback
Bryce Brown (Guilford, CT) in the third quarter in posting a hard-earned 12-9 victory over Salve Regina Saturday afternoon (Oct. 1) at Gaudet Field.
The Golden Bears improved to 4-1 overall and remained perfect in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division with a 2-0 mark. The Seahawks, who were playing their Homecoming contest, are now 2-3 and 0-2 in the division.
This contest was almost an exact replica of last year's low-scoring meeting, which Western New England won by the unusual score of 10-5.
SRU took an early 3-0 lead on the opening possession when freshman Mark Moore (Hattiesburg, MS) kicked a 39-yard field goal 3:42 into the game. The Seahawks missed another possible scoring opportunity when senior linebacker Todd Krolikowski (Bristol, CT) stopped a running play on fourth-and-five from the WNE 30 with a little over five minutes left in the opening stanza.
Western New England punted twice in the period, but finally tied the contest when freshman Nick Fox-Edele (Springfield, MA) made a 32-yard field goal at 11:46 of the second quarter.
On the next possession, sophomore linebacker Brandon Ormsby (Windsor, CT) blocked a punt that led to another field goal, this time a 29-yarder by Fox-Edele with 8:08 left before halftime.
The Golden Bears then stopped the hosts on two fourth-down tries in the final eight minutes to take a 6-3 advantage at intermission.
The first time came when Salve Regina moved to the WNE 24 before losing the ball on downs following a penalty and three pass incompletions.
After Western New England turned the ball over on a fumble at the SRU 46, the Seahawks advanced to the 32 before sophomore defensive tackle Kevin Soule (Medfield, MA) stopped running back sophomore Richie Edwards (Trumbull, CT) for a one-yard loss on fourth-and-one with 2:22 left in the half.
Salve Regina went ahead 9-6 when junior linebacker Anthony Hannon (Yorba Linda, CA) picked-up another fumble and raced 11 yards into the end zone with 7:43 remaining in the third stanza. Junior James Georges (Stamford, CT) blocked Moore's extra point attempt. Moore was making only his third appearance of the season and this was his first extra point attempt.
Brown then led the Golden Bears on a seven-play, 72-yard scoring drive that featured three key running plays.
Senior running back JJ Jachym (Milford, CT) rushed for three yards on third down for an important first down at the WNE 36 before Brown took off on a 16-yard run. Two plays later, sophomore back Dylan Danko (Southington, CT) scampered 24 yards to set-up what proved to be Brown's winning score with 5:01 remaining in the quarter. Fox-Edele, however, missed the extra point (his first in 14 attempts) that kept the slim lead to three points.
Western New England's defense then came up big time in the final period.
Senior quarterback Jimmy Connelly (Berlin, CT) moved the Seahawks from their 26 to the visitors' 19 before junior defensive back Nicholas Silvester (Weatogue, CT) returned an interception 78 yards to the SRU12 at the 12-minute mark.
This time the Salve defense rose to the occasion stopping Brown twice from the one before a pair of penalties led to a missed 32-yard field goal by Fox-Edele (his first in six tries this year) with 8:34 left in the game.
Senior defensive lineman Nate Kuzmeski (Tolland, CT) had a sack that forced the Seahawks to punt on their next possession. The Golden Bears went three and out to give the hosts one final scoring opportunity.
Krolikowski came up with a big eight-yard sack on third-and-14 from the Salve Regina 34, which forced a punt.
The Golden Bears took over at their 42 with 3:29 left and were able to run out the clock with Brown running six yards for a key first down to keep the drive alive at the WNE 48 with approximately two minutes left.
Brown completed only 4-of-11 passes for 56 yards, but rushed for a team-high 72 yards on 20 carries. Danko added 52 yards on seven attempts for a 7.4 average. Freshman receiver Andrew Walz (Groton, CT) had two receptions for 50 yards.
Krolikowski compiled nine tackles (six solo) with three stops for losses while Ormsby finished with seven tackles, two for losses. Both he and Kroliowski each had a forced fumble. Senior linebacker Mike Valentine (Newington, CT) and junior defensive back Corey Brown (Worcester, MA) both contributed seven tackles.
Connelly was 18-of-29 passing for 167 yards with four sacks. Edwards ran for a game-high 98 yards on 27 carries. Senior linebacker A.J. Albert (Franklin Park, NJ) and senior defensive tackle Carlos Santos (Trumbull, CT) both collected nine tackles. Albert also recovered a fumble while Santos had one tackle for a loss.
Salve Regina outgained Western New England by a slim 250 to 238 margin.
Contact: Ken Cerino, Western New England athletic communications director (413) 782-1227
kcerino@wne.edu
