Box Score
PLYMOUTH, N.H.--Tucker Schumitz rushed for touchdown scores of 33 and 28 yards as Western New England defeated host Plymouth State, 23-3, in New England Football Conference Boyd Division action at Currier Field. The Golden Bears improve to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in the NEFC Boyd standings while the Panthers sink to 2-6 and 1-4.
After the teams traded field goals in the first half, the Western New England offense scored 20 unanswered points in the second and the Golden Bears defense did the rest.
Schumitz scored the game-deciding touchdown late in the third quarter. The Golden Bears, facing a third down and seven from the Panther 33-yard line, executed a double reverse play when quarterback
John Krafick handed off to running back
Kevin Cook, who was going to his right. Cook then gave Schumitz the ball on the reverse and he went down the left sideline 33 yards, breaking two tackles at the five-yard line, for the first touchdown of the game.
Nick Fox-Edele added the extra point for the 10-3 advantage, and WNE never looked back.
Sophomore
Myles Becker made his first start this season a memorable one by making a team-high 10 tackles, including nine solo, for the Golden Bears, who allowed just 159 yards of total offense and forced PSU to several three-and-outs.
Andrew Treschitta added eight tackles,
Scott Maille had seven and
Corey Brown pitched in six along with two interceptions.
Western New England tacked on two more touchdowns in the final quarter. Cook rumbled in from 28 yards out with just over eight minutes to play for a 16-3 lead and then four minutes later Schumitz trotted in from 28 yards. Schumitz's second TD run was set up by a Brown interception.
The Golden Bears went 63 yards on the game's opening drive to the PSU six-yard line but had to settle for a Fox-Edele 24-yard field goal.
The score held up until late in the second quarter when Panther kicker Nick Cavallo tied the game with a 24-yarder of his own. PSU's first points of the contest were set up when running back Andrew Foglia completed a 31-yard halfback option pass to Zac Iovanella, giving the Panthers the ball on the WNE 23-yard line.
Plymouth State had eight possessions in the second half but was forced to punt on five of those opportunities. Western New England outgained the Panthers 358-159 in total offense, including 190-69 via the air.
Schumitz had a terrific all-around game for the Golden Bears by finishing with 55 yards on just three carries (18.3 avg.), leading the team with five passes for 77 yards, returning a kickoff for 26 yards and gaining nine punt yards for 167 all-purpose yards on just 11 touches.
PSU defenders Josh Morgan, Chris Smith and Matt Fiore did all they could to keep the Golden Bears' offense in check, registering 11, nine and eight tackles respectively.
