WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Anna Maria College football team scored 19 points in the fourth quarter to take a 24-20 come-from-behind win against the Gallaudet University Bison in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action on Saturday.
With the win, the AMCATS snap a 20-game losing streak and improve to 1-8 overall and 1-5 in ECFC play, while Gallaudet remains winless at 0-8 overall and 0-6 in league action.
THE SERIES
Today's win also marks the first time in program history that the AMCATS have topped the Bison. In the previous six meetings between the two schools, Gallaudet has been victorious in all of them, including a 48-40 overtime victory at AMCAT field in 2011.
FOURTH QUARTER FURY
Trailing 20-11 with 9:04 left to play in the final frame, senior Christopher Bettano (Tewksbury, Mass.) got to work, completing back-to-back touchdown runs at the seven-minute mark and the 2:09 mark to lead the AMCATS to victory.
The frame opened with an 11-play, 86-yard series for the AMCATS, that concluded with a 16-yard touchdown rush by quarterback Malik Faison (Bowie, Md.) to bring the score to 14-11.
Gallaudet scored on their next drive, using seven plays to travel 50 yards, resulting in an 18-yard touchdown completion.
AMCAT DEFENSE STEPS UP
Following Bettano's first score at the seven-minute mark, which brought the AMCATS within two points at 20-18, the AMCAT defense got to work. In a crucial drive for Gallaudet, Anna Maria forced their hosts into a three-and-out, as Juan Palacio (Lowell, Mass.), Stefano Marziale (Cranston, R.I.), Jake LeBlanc (Ipswich, Mass.) and Mike Sinto (Long Beach, N.Y.) all recorded short tackles in the series. The Bison took to the ground for three-straight rushes, which saw them acquire gains of three, two, and one yard, respectively.
The defense's quick work allowed the AMCAT offense to take control with 4:36 left in the game. The team needed just six plays to travel 38 yards, resulting in an 11-yard, game-winning rush for Bettano. The team tried for a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful.
As a whole the AMCAT defense held Gallaudet to just 124 yards of offense on the day—the Bison recorded 83 yards in the air and 41 on the ground. Sinto led the way for Anna Maria with a team-high 15 tackles, 4.5 of which were for a loss. Sinto was followed by Tyler Rocha (Cranston, R.I.) with nine tackles, including a sack, and LeBlanc with eight.
BEGGING BISON
With two minutes left to play, Gallaudet still had a chance, which was aided on an Anna Maria pass-interference penalty on their first play that moved the ball up 15-yard from their own 31 yard-line to their 46. From there, the Bison threw four-straight incomplete passes, including a dropped pass on fourth down, to turn the ball back over to the AMCATS. Anna Maria took three knees to run out the clock and leave Washington, D.C. with the victory.
EARLY SCORES
First Quarter: The Bison defense started off the game strong, forcing the AMCATS into two fumbles and a blocked punt in the first quarter. Following the blocked punt and an illegal batting penalty on the AMCATS late in the quarter, the Bison were able to start their first scoring drive at the Anna Maria one-yard line. It took them three tries, but Gallaudet running back Kahan Loussaint eventually snuck into the end zone for the score. Their two-point conversion failed, but the Bison took the early 6-0 lead.
Second Quarter: The Bison would take a 14-0 lead with 2:26 left before halftime when Todd Collins completed a one-yard touchdown run and then found the end zone again on the two-point conversion.
With 34 seconds left in the first half, the AMCATS used seven plays to get kicker Francis Cole (Maspeth, N.Y.) within range—he buried the 24-yard field goal to put Anna Maria on the board.
Third Quarter: Anna Maria scored the first points of the second half on a safety at the 12:40 mark to cut their deficit to 14-5. It would prove to be the only scoring of the third quarter, setting Anna Maria up for their 19-6 scoring advantage in the final frame.
AMCAT OFFENSE
The AMCATS totaled 239 yards of offense in the victory, including 156 rushing yards. Faison led the team on the ground with 67 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries, while Bettano totaled 37 yards and two touchdowns on two attempts.
Faison also completed 8-of-16 pass attempts for 83 yards. He found William Ricard (Billerica, Mass.) for a 24-yard pass, the longest of the day, while also completing three short passes to Bettano for 23 yards. Kolin Matthews (Seymour, Conn.) added a 22-yard reception on the day.
GALLAUDET OFFENSE
Bison quarterback Ramon Johnson completed five of 10 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown, while Louissaint led the team on the ground with 66 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries.
FINAL COMPARISONS
The AMCATS held a 14-12 advantage in first downs on the day and completed six third-down conversions to Gallaudet's three. Anna Maria also punted two-less times than the Bison (7-5), and held a 155-140 edge in return yards.
The Bison were called on three-less penalties than Anna Maria, who totaled nine penalties for 117 yards. Gallaudet's six penalties cost them 50 yards.
WHAT'S NEXT
Anna Maria returns to AMCAT Field next weekend for the season finale against Becker. Prior to the 1:00 p.m. kickoff, the team will host their annual senior day festivities.