SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (September 2, 2023) – The Western New England football team took a lead after the first 30 minutes of play though could not score after that as the visiting Pride of Springfield College captured the SAW Pynchon Trophy for the second season in a row, defeating Western New England by a final score of 28-14 from Golden Bear Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Records:
- Western New England: 0-1
- Springfield College: 1-0
How it Happened:
The Pride opened the scoring in the contest after Springfield College's defense shut down the opening drive for the Golden Bears to start the game. Springfield would use an opening 22-yard rush to march down the field and score the first three points of the game when Christian Hurta nailed a 39-yard field goal attempt to put Springfield ahead 3-0.
Both teams would stand tall on defense as the Golden Bears would get the Pride defense off the field quickly after the Pride would do the same to WNE in their next drive of the game. The Pride would take the 3-0 lead after one quarter of play. In the second quarter, Western New England would score their first points of the season after QB
Conrad Swanson delivered a 16-yard pass to
Ryan Larson, giving WNE a 7-3 lead after the
Andrew Havens extra point went through the uprights. On the ensuing drive, a ten-play execution by the Pride would come through for six points after a 26-yard pass from SC's Jacob Silvester would connect with Craig Connell, who ran the ball into the endzone to give Springfield their second lead of the game. The extra point would be blocked by WNE's
Malcolm Wilson-Toliver, seeing WNE trail by just two points, 9-7.
Seven points would be added to the scoreboard on the next drive for Western New England as
Dillon Kohl would power through the middle of the end zone on a one-yard rush to give the Golden Bears the 14-9 lead. On the drive,
Conrad Swanson would connect on three deep passes, finding
Greg Perry for a 13-yard catch,
Ryan Larson for a 16-yard catch, and
De'Andre Harris for a 19-yard pass, leading to
Kohl's touchdown to give WNE the lead back. Neither team could get back on the board to end the half, as Western New England took the 14-9 lead after two quarters of play.
The WNE defense would come up strong to open the third quarter, forcing Springfield to punt, which would be blocked by
Cam Leblanc, leading to a chance for the Golden Bears. WNE would fail to put anything together being unable to take advantage of the brilliant field position as a fumble would force the WNE defense back onto the field. The Pride would go down the field and complete an 87-yard touchdown pass which gave the visitors the one-point lead after a two-point conversion failed.
Springfield's defense would prove to be challenging in the second half, as the WNE offense would stagger, not coming up with yardage or points in the third quarter. To begin the fourth quarter, Springfield College would go 58-yards on one play as Dante Vasquez would rush the distance to get the Pride a seven-point lead.
A 13-play drive in the middle of the fourth quarter for the WNE offense would end in the teams' second fumble of the afternoon, seeing a first-and-goal from the Springfield four yard line come up with no points on the scoreboard again. Springfield would take advantage of the fumble by WNE and come up with another seven points after a 53-yard touchdown run from Blane Hart would send SC to a 28-14 lead. The Golden Bears would not be able to come back from there, falling in the SAW Pynchon Game for the second straight season.
By The Numbers:
- Conrad Swanson completed 14 of his 29 passes for 180 yards on the afternoon. Springfield College threw just five passes in the win, as Jacob Silvester tossed three completions for 160 yards and two touchdowns.
- Swanson and Dillon Kohl were the leading Golden Bears rushers, combining for 90 yards rushed in the losing effort.
- De'Andre Harris led WNE with four grabs and 83-yards on the night. Springfield College's Bradley Barcello caught two passes for 134 yards and a touchdown in the win.
- On the defensive side, Aiden Lewin led Springfield with 11 total tackles while Billy Carr collected three solo tackles and seven assisted tackles.
- WNE saw Jake Chiasson grab 14 tackles in the loss with Cayden Porter (11), and Jason Shumilla (10) grabbing double-digit tackles.
- Michael Dogostino grabbed a full sack in the contest while Cayden Porter and Kyle Holt both collected a half sack in the game.
Up Next on the Schedule:
- Western New England will look to Friday, September 8 at 7:00 PM when they travel to Westfield State University in the annual President's Cup Game.
