MITLON, Mass. - The New England College football team was defeated by Curry College on Saturday afternoon, falling 48-19 on the purple turf of Walter M Katz Field in Milton, Massachusetts.
The Pilgrims trailed 12-20 going into halftime, but the Curry Colonels used a big second-half surge to win by four scores, 48-19. While the NEC secondary flashed with four interceptions, part of a five-turnover day, Curry outgained NEC, 507-281.
Curry received the opening kickoff and the very first play of scrimmage saw junior Ethan Cenesca (Manchester, N.H.) forced a Colonel fumble which was recovered by junior Jayman Jones (Manchester, N.H.). The 'Grims worked inside the 10-yard line before freshman Brody Sobotka (Hastings, N.Y.) was picked off in the end zone to turn the ball back over to the Colonels.
The Colonels scored the game's first points on an 8-yard passing touchdown with two minutes left in the first quarter, although the extra point was missed. NEC pulled within three on a 40-yard field goal by freshman Gavin Ford (Hillsborough, N.H.) on the opening drive of the second quarter.
After Curry scored on another 8-yard passing touchdown to go up 13-3, their next drive ended with another turnover as quarterback Caden Borges was intercepted by sophomore Dylan Roy (Windham, N.H.). The 'Grims would capitalize on the turnover, working their way down to the Curry 1-yard line where junior Fire Anderson (Cranford, N.J.) ran it in for the first NEC touchdown of the day. The ensuing extra point attempt was blocked by Curry, and the following kickoff was returned 93-yards for a touchdown in a big special teams sequence for the Colonels.
The Pilgrims punted the ball back to Curry with just under two minutes to play in the first half, but NEC got possession back as Borges was picked off for the second time, this time by senior Kaevryel Madison (Concord, N.H.). The 'Grims would once again put up points off the turnover as Ford drilled a 46-yard field goal with five seconds left on the clock.
After junior Ben Roy (Windham, N.H.) pinned the Colonels at their own 1-yard line with a perfectly placed punt, Curry wasted little time before Borges connected with Colin Ridley for a 90-yard touchdown. On their next drive, Roy was called upon to punt again but was this time blocked by Lucas Leander and recovered for a touchdown as special teams continued to play a big role in the game.
Curry went to their backup signal caller in the fourth quarter, and Ty Tedesco was promptly intercepted by junior Levi Madison (Concord, N.H.) who jumped the route and set the 'Grims offense up at the Curry 11-yard line. Anderson would score his second rushing touchdown of the day from six yards out to make it 48-19.
Tedesco's very next pass attempt for the Colonels found its way into the arms of another Madison brother as Kaevryel tallied his second interception of the day and the fourth for the Pilgrim defense. Both teams would turn the ball over on downs the rest of the way as the score remained 48-19 till the clock hit zero.
NEC found quite a bit of success running the football, totaling 175 yards and nearly five yards a carry. Junior Jackson Borkush (Concord, N.H.) carried the ball 12 times for 80 yards, Anderson gained 51 yards on six rushes while scoring twice, and sophomore Gabe Murdough (Dover, N.H.) ran seven times for 39 yards.
Cenesca led the defense with 11 tackles – all solo stops. Kaevryel had eight stops on top of his pair of interceptions.
The 'Grims will rest up during their bye week, not playing their next game until Saturday, October 17th, when Husson University comes to town for a 12:00 PM kickoff.
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