CASTLETON, Vt. – The New England College football team picked up another pre-varsity victory at Vermont State University-Castleton on Sunday at Dave Wolk Stadium in Castleton, Vermont. The defense led the way with six takeaways en route to a 32-14 win.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Early in the first quarter, a sack on third down by freshman defensive lineman Erik Menger (Stratham, N.H.) stalled out a Castleton drive and forced a Spartan punt.
- On the team's second offensive drive, three good runs by freshman running back Dontrell White (Weare, N.H.) set up a goal to go opportunity. On third down from the opponent's 20-yard line, freshman quarterback Jackson Lombardo (Medford, Mass.) evaded the pass rush and hit freshman tight end Austin Normandin (Gilford, N.H.) in the middle of the field for the game's first touchdown.
- As the Spartans began to put a drive together towards the end of the first, an interception by sophomore linebacker Michael Vallez (Clearwater, Fla.) inside their own 20-yard line on the last play of the quarter gave the ball back to the Pilgrims.
- After an NEC punt in the second quarter, the Spartans pieced together a pair of first downs before another sack by Menger set up second and long for the hosts. On third down, the Spartan quarterback floated a pass down the middle of the field and was intercepted by freshman Dylan Roy (Windham, N.H.) for the 'Grims second turnover of the game.
- A fourth down conversion by Lombardo on a scramble out of the pocket set the 'Grims up with 1st and Goal from the Spartans 10-yard line. On third down, Lombardo did it with his arm and found freshman wide receiver Gavin Auger (Derry, N.H.) for a touchdown pass. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful as NEC took a 12-0 lead with three minutes to go in the half.
- Late in the second quarter, the Pilgrims earned their third takeaway of the first half on an interception by junior defensive back Kaevryel Madison (Concord, N.H.) in the Spartan's end zone.
- On the first play of their next drive, nearly a 60-yard catch by sophomore wide receiver Isaiah Turner (Concord, N.H.) gave the 'Grims another red zone opportunity before halftime. Lombardo connected on another pass to Turner who broke a tackle before getting downed inside the five. NEC would convert with a rushing touchdown by freshman running back Fire Anderson (Cranford, N.J.) and convert on a two-point conversion to go into the locker rooms up 20-0.
- After the half, the 'Grims turned the Spartans over with another interception by Vallez toward the start of the third quarter for his second and team's fourth turnover of the game. Following the change of possession, a long gain on a pass from Lombardo to freshman wide receiver Ben Roy (Windham, N.H.) and a gain on the ground by freshman running back Jackson Borkush (Concord, N.H.) set the 'Grims up inside the 5-yard line. Borkush would do it himself and finish off the drive with a score, though the two-point conversion attempt would prove unsuccessful.
- Later in the third quarter, freshman defensive lineman Braedyn Mellen (Milford, N.H.), freshman linebacker Nate Reid (Windsor, Conn.), and freshman linebacker Kyle Gora (Hudson, N.H.) each had tackles-for-loss; however, the Spartans were able to deliver with a scoring drive – their first of the game. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Spartans would strike again on another rushing touchdown inside the Pilgrims five-yard line. A successful PAT would make it a 26-14 NEC lead.
- After a Pilgrims punt, NEC got the ball right back on another interception by Madison on fourth down to give the 'Grims their fifth turnover of the game and possession around midfield. The 'Grims began to threaten as White carried a couple of defenders with him before finally going down at the Spartans' five-yard line. The drive was capped off on a running touchdown by sophomore running back Aidan McDonald (Salem, N.H.).
- In the final minutes, an interception by freshman defensive back Divon Duncan (Concord, N.H.) set up victory formation for NEC as the Pilgrims kneeled out the clock. The defense took the ball away six times on the afternoon, helping lead to five offensive scoring drives.
UP NEXT
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