SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 7, 2023) – The Western New England football team grabbed their third victory of the season on Saturday afternoon, defeating the AMCATs of Anna Maria College by a final score of 33-17. Callaghan Daskam and Dillon Kohl led the way on offense for Western New England, combining for three touchdowns in the win.

Records:

• Western New England: 3-2
• Anna Maria College: 2-3

How it Happened:
The Western New England defense came away with a big stand on Anna Maria's opening drive after the AMCATs elected to receive the opening kickoff of the contest. A 13-play, 74-yard drive would lead to zero points on the scoreboard after a fourth, and goal effort from Anna Maria would be stuffed short on a pass broken up by WNE's Bryan Kane, keeping the AMCATs off the scoresheet. Western New England's ten-play, 80-yard drive would also lead to no points after a missed field goal would keep the score even. Neither team could find the end zone in the first quarter, with the score remaining 0-0 after the first 15 minutes of play.

Anna Maria opened the second quarter with a 20-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead. Western New England would come around and use an 11-play, 75-yard drive to march down the field and collect their first points of the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Millerick to Callaghan Daskam for a 14-yard score, evening the score at seven. The drive would be sparked by an 11-yard reception by Ryan Larson as well as a 10-yard catch from Daskam, which helped Western New England move down the field for their first points of the game. After the WNE defense made a stop of third and long, led by Cam Leblanc, Jake Chiasson, and Bryan Kane, the Golden Bears set out for their next seven points of the afternoon and converted on a one-yard touchdown run from Dillon Kohl, who spearheaded into the endzone for the third time this season, giving Western New England a 14-7 lead, following the extra point attempt from Andrew Havens. Callaghan Daskam would collect a 50-yard pass from Conrad Swanson to set up Western New England at the goal line on the drive.

The WNE defense would fly all around the field in the second quarter. Jason Shumilla would intercept West Springfield, Massachusetts native Ryan Russell's pass, as Western New England would take over with two minutes to play in the quarter and score in just three plays, needing 38 yards of offense. Ryan Larson would catch a 38-yard pass from Conrad Swanson before Dillon Kohl shoved his way into the endzone for the two-yard score, giving Western New England a 21-7 lead at the half.

The Golden Bears would receive the opening kickoff and would turn their first drive of the second half into three points when Andrew Havens dialed up a 35-yard field goal, giving WNE a 24-7 lead. Anna Maria would grab their second touchdown of the afternoon when Russell scooted 12-yards into the endzone, putting the AMCATs down by just ten points at 24-14. Both Anna Maria and Western New England would trade interceptions when Tyler Millerick would be picked off by Lamar Wilkes at the AMC 20-yard line, while Jake Chiasson would tip a pass from Ryan Russell and collect it into his own hands, grabbing his first INT of the season. That INT would end the third quarter, with Western New England coming away with a 24-14 lead.

Two plays later, Western New England would see another Anna Maria defensive interception when Conrad Swanson would be picked off. This time, Anna Maria would turn the interceptions into points when a 29-yard field goal from Ryan Kent went through the uprights, as the AMCATs closed the gap, trailing by just seven points. The WNE offense would be intercepted for a third straight drive after Rashawn Shelton picked off Conrad Swanson, with Swanson tossing his second INT of the day. Anna Maria would get poor ball position after a personal foul, which would send the AMCATs back to their own six-yard line. The WNE defense would hold their ground and force the AMCATs to punt, though a muffed snap would roll out of the endzone, resulting in a safety for Western New England, as the Golden Bears took a 26-17 lead and would get the ball back on offense. An 11-play, all-rushing attempts drive would set up Ryan Carlson for a one-yard score, giving Western New England a 33-17 lead with just 1:23 to play in the contest. Anna Maria would fail to convert in those final 83 seconds, as Western New England would hold on to defeat Anna Maria by a final score of 33-17.

Inside the Lines:

• Western New England senior running back Dillon Kohl rushed 18 times for 86 yards, scoring two touchdowns for the Golden Bears on the afternoon.
• Ryan Carlson also contributed on the ground for Western New England, rushing 12 times for 47 yards while scoring once.
• WNE's Callaghan Daskam led all Golden Bears with five catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.
• Jake Chiasson collected seven solo and seven assisted tackles, good for 14 total tackles on the afternoon. Chiassoncollected 2.5 tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception, and two breakup passes.
• Cam Leblanc notched one tackle for a loss, one breakup pass, and a half sack. Rogan Wotherspoon combined with Leblanc on the other half of the sack.
• Jason Shumilla came away with two tackles and one interception on the afternoon.
• WNE did not punt in the contest, while Andrew Havens went 1/2 on field goal attempts, connecting on a 35-yard attempt. The senior was 4/4 in extra-point attempts.
• Anna Maria was led by Ryan Russell, who threw 43 passes, completing 26 of them for 311 yards and one touchdown. Russell also threw two interceptions and was sacked twice.
• WNE improves to 2-0 all-time against Anna Maria.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• Western New England heads to Endicott College for their CCC opener on Saturday, October 15 at 12:00 pm.