Box Score
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Curry College held on for a 7-6 victory as Westfield State missed two field goals in the final four minutes in a New England Football Conference non-divisional game on Saturday, Sept. 19.
It was a tough setback for the 2-1 Owls vs. the NEFC perennial power, as they came up just short in the game’s final minutes.
“I thought we played well today,” said Westfield veteran coach Steve Marino. “I was proud of our defense, especially the way it played in the second half. Offensively, we came up just short at times.”
Trailing 7-6, midway thru fourth quarter, the Owls marched from their own 15 to the Curry 18 where they faced a fourth-and-four situation. Chris Stengel attempted a 35-yard field goal that was high and far enough, but the attempt was ruled just wide left by the officials with 3:55 remaining. It was a questionable call to some as, according the spectators standing behind the end zone and a review of the game film, the field goal appeared good.
Westfield stuffed Curry’s offense and began another drive from the Curry 44 with 3:34 remaining. The Owls picked up two quick first down to the Curry 20, but a sack on first down placed the ball at the 28.
On fourth-and-13 from the 23 with 1:47 remaining, Stengel attempted a field goal from 40 yards that was long enough but wide left.
Westfield did get the ball back with five seconds left at the 50, but a Hail Mary pass was easily broken up.
Curry scored its only points in the first quarter on a 5-play, 74-yard drive that was capped by a nine-yard TD pass from Zach Cavanaugh to Michael Gentilli. Matt Alksninis split the uprights for the point after conversion. Two big plays during the short TD drive were a 37-yard pass reception by Victor Marinez and a 22-yard run by Joseph Freeman.
Westfield scored its only points late in the first half on a short drive that was set up when Stengel’s 40-yard punt was downed at the 1. Curry threw three incomplete passes and Kevin Parnell returned a punt 17 yards to the Curry 20 with 2:14 remaining. Four plays later, Luke Johnson scored from the 1-yard line with 46 seconds remaining in the first half.
On Stengel’s all-important point after attempt, however, the ball clanged high off the right upright and back onto the field.
The second half was mostly a field position game, with both teams getting very few short fields. There were 18 punts in the game, including 10 by Stengel. Also, Curry committed five turnovers, including three on interceptions deep in Westfield territory.
Curry had 276 yards in total offense, Westfield 267. Westfield had 17 first downs, Curry 10.
Owl sophomore quarterback Kyle Anderson completed 15 of 38 passes for 168 yards and also rushed for 54 net yards on 14 carries. David Benoit and Evan Berneche both had five catches, and Johnson rushed for 64 net yards on 22 carries.
Cavanaugh completed 9 of 23 passes for 141 yards before being replaced by Harold Rose in the fourth quarter. Freeman rushed for 57 yards on 22 carries.
Scott Driscoll led the Colonels with 10 tackles and returned an interception 51 yards early in the game. Linebacker Chris James led the Owls with 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. Josh Mathieu intercepted two passes.
Westfield defensive lineman Matt Fall (90) tackles Jamaal Woods for a loss. Photo By Nancy Bals