MADISON, N.J. – Senior Preston Addo caught two long touchdown receptions and added an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown as the Stevenson University football team downed FDU-Florham 52-14 Saturday afternoon at Robert T. Shields Field in Middle Atlantic Conference football.
Addo had touchdown receptions of 67 and 80 yards in the second quarter as he finished with three receptions for 149 yards. His 83-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth was his second career punt return score, as he returned a punt 66 yards for a touchdown last season at Widener. He has the only two punt return touchdowns in program history.
Stevenson (2-1, 1-1 MAC) improved to 7-0 all-time against FDU-Florham (1-2, 0-2 MAC) and reached the 50-point mark for the fourth time against the Devils. The Mustangs won their 14th straight September game.
FDU-Florham took advantage of a Stevenson fumble at its own 32, and a seven-yard rush by Steve Iannone with 6:13 left in the first quarter gave the hosts a 7-0 lead. The Mustangs responded with a nine-play, 52-yard drive that was set up by a 41-yard kickoff return by senior Devin Salisbury. A five-yard run by junior Isaiah Austin with 2:26 left tied the game 7-7.
On the Devils next possession, a fumble was caused by senior Cory Pietrzyk at the Mustang 30, which was recovered by David Downs III. One play later, junior Dan Williams found senior Dequan Ellison on the left side for a 30-yard completion and a 14-7 lead at the 1:36 mark. The Mustangs extended the lead to 17-7 on a 40-yard field goal by freshman Ian Gould with 9:37 left in the second quarter.
Addo's first touchdown reception came with 6:58 left in the second, as Williams found him in the flat and Addo ran untouched for 67 yards to up Stevenson's lead to 24-7. After FDU-Florham's next drive sputtered at midfield, on Stevenson's next play, Williams and Addo hooked up for an 80-yard completion down the middle that made it 31-7 with 3:37 left.
Stevenson extended its lead 14 seconds before the end of the third quarter as it chewed up over five minutes as the Mustangs ran 13 plays for 77 yards, capped by a two-yard run by junior Jainard Crawley-Lambert. The drive was extended on a nine-yard rush on fourth and 3 on a fake punt by Brody Coleman. Following an FDU three-and-out, Addo brought back a 47-yard Devil punt for a 45-7 advantage.
FDU-Florham's other touchdown came when a shovel pass by Steve Shanley at the Stevenson 42 was intercepted and taken back for a score by Shaun Benford. The Mustangs closed out the scoring with an 11-play, 66-yard drive capped by a five-yard run by senior Mike Edwards.
Stevenson rolled up 568 yards of offense and held the Devils to just 198 total yards. It marked the most yards offensively since recording 577 yards at Misericordia on October 1 of last season. Stevenson's defense also recorded a takeaway for the 47th straight game. The Mustangs won the time of possession battle, holding the ball for over 32 minutes.
Williams finished 29-40 passing for 352 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, setting career highs in both completions and yardage. He has not thrown an interception this season, a streak of 107 straight passes without a pick. Ellison caught 10 balls for 120 yards, while Salisbury had eight catches for 51 yards. Eleven different receivers caught at least one pass on the afternoon.
Nine different ball carriers racked up 180 yards on the ground, with Crawley-Lambert rushing 10 times for 64 yards and Austin eight times for 26 yards.
Defensively, Pietrzyk finished with six tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup, while Tyler Burton finished with five tackles, including a sack. DJ Broxton had an interception in the end zone late in the second quarter as the Devils were driving looking to pull within 31-14 before halftime.
Stevenson returns to action next Saturday at 12th-ranked and MAC preseason favorite Delaware Valley. Kickoff in Doylestown, Pa. is set for noon.