Box Score
The result this time was more satisfying as Salisbury compiled 597 yards (including 568 on the ground) in rolling to a 62-24 victory over Western New England Saturday (Nov. 19) in a first-round contest before 1,183 fans.

Junior quarterback Dan Griffin (Jarrettsville, MD) led the attack by rushing for 175 yards and three touchdowns as the Sea Gulls improved to 10-1. Junior running back Ross Flanigan (Ijamsville, MD) added 110 yards and two scores.

Salisbury, ranked 13th nationally, also received fine outings from junior slot back Joe Benedetti (Langhorne, PA) (98 yards) and senior back Randal Smedley (Frederick, MD) (86 yards, one TD).

Like they have done all year, the Sea Gulls (who came into the contest fourth nationally in scoring with a 45.9 average) made big plays in addition to taking advantage of four costly WNE turnovers.

Salisbury scored on its first possession when Flanigan scooted 27 yards just 2:22 into the game.

Western New England, which was making its first appearance ever in the national tournament, answered with a 29-yard field goal by freshman Nick Fox-Edele (Springfield, MA) at the 8:04 mark.

SU then punted from its 24, but got a big break when the kick was partially blocked and touched by senior Joe Cicarella (Guilford, CT) after it crossed the line of scrimmage.The Sea Hawks recovered the ball and Griffin continued the drive that culminated when he ran a yard for a score with 3:09 left to give his team a 14-3 lead after the opening period.

Griffin then raced 79 yards to start a drive for a 21-3 advantage at 11:32 of the second period before WNE again came back cutting the margin to 11 when senior quarterback Bryce Brown (Guilford, CT) directed a 10-play, 77-yard drive, which ended when he tossed a 17-yard score to freshman receiver Andrew Walz (Groton, CT) with 7:15 left before the break.

A key fourth down pass play from the WNE 41 by sophomore John Krafick (New Milford, CT) to senior running back JJ Jachym (Milford, CT) on a fake punt kept the drive alive.


Western New England moved from its 20 to the Salisbury six, but came up short when Jachym fumbled at the three. The Seahawks then went 98 yards on six plays scoring on a two-yard run by Griffin with 33 seconds for a commanding 42-10 lead at halftime.

Flanigan hit the end zone for the second time with a 31-yard run at 11:20 of the third quarter to extend the margin to 49-10.

The Golden Bears missed another scoring opportunity after moving from their 20 to the hosts' five before turning the ball over on downs.

There were four touchdowns in the final quarter starting when Brown scored from a yard out before senior back Jonathan Briscoe (Waldorf, MD) and sophomore Brendan Chavis (Berlin, MD) each added five-yard touchdowns for the Seahawks.

Brown then fired a 42-yard scoring strike to freshman receiver Kareem Hines (S. Burlington, VT) with 6:25 left in the game to complete the scoring.

Brown turned in a gutty performance after suffering an injury at practice Thursday night that made his status doubtful for the game. He started, but left in the second period when he was shaken up, only to return at the start of the second half. Brown passed for 140 yards while Krafick (who did a nice job in relief) was 6-for-7 passing for 71 yards.

Freshman back Kevin Cook (Hamburg, NJ) contributed 76 yards while senior back JJ Jachym (Milford, CT) totaled 43 yards on just nine carries. Hines finished with five receptions for 85 yards. Junior receiver Brendon Thompson (Enfield, CT) had four catches for 41 yards. Junior corner back Alex Miller (Seekonk, MA) had seven tackles.

The Golden Bears totaled 353 yards and their' 24 points were the second most points Salisbury has allowed all season.

Western New England ends the best season in its 31-years as a NCAA program with a 10-2 record.

Contact: Ken Cerino, Western New England athletic communications director (413) 782-1227
kcerino@wne.edu