Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 10, 2018) – The Western New England University football team clinched the 2018 Commonwealth Coast Football title with a 52-0 shutout victory over Becker College on Saturday afternoon at Golden Bear Stadium.
Despite the win, Western New England needed a little help to secure the CCC Football crown, as Salve Regina's 47-34 victory over Endicott broke a three-way tie and lifted the Golden Bears to their fourth consecutive conference championship. Western New England (8-2, 5-1 CCC Football) will find out its NCAA Tournament first round opponent and destination during the NCAA selection show on Sunday night at 5:30 p.m.
Top Performers
Junior quarterback Alec Coleman (Arlington, Mass.) fueled the Western New England offense with 215 yards and six total touchdowns, as he completed 11-of-18 passes for 129 yards and four scores to go with 86 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground.
Sophomore wide receivers Steven Fedorchak (Guilderland, N.Y.) and Adam Razza (Watertown, Conn.) were Coleman's top targets, as Fedorchak recorded six catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns, while Razza finished with four receptions for 81 yards and a score.
Defensively, senior Matt Anastasi (Stoughton, Mass.), junior Jake Salera (Rehoboth, Mass.) and freshman Joshua Salem(Dracut, Mass.) all totaled nine tackles. Sophomore cornerback Zhaire House (Greenwich, Conn.) made eight stops and picked off a pass, while senior linebacker Mike Chirco (Weedsport, N.Y.) finished with seven tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Becker sophomore running back David Collins (Staten Island, N.Y.) nearly reached the 100-yard mark on the ground for the Hawks, as he carried the ball 28 times for 97 yards.
Senior linebacker Michael Bianco (Manorville, N.Y.) led the visitors defensively with a team-high six tackles.
Game Review
After getting off to a slow start offensively, the Golden Bears put ten points on the board in the first quarter as junior Kieran Lombard (Dover, N.H.) connected on a 39-yard field goal and Coleman found the end zone late in the period with a 28-yard touchdown run.
Western New England broke the game open with four touchdowns in the second quarter to establish a 38-0 lead at halftime. A trio of Becker turnovers early in the quarter led to Coleman touchdown passes to Fedorchak, Razza, and senior Yianni Hilas(Merrick, N.Y.), respectively. With just under five minutes left in the half, Coleman and Fedorchak connected again for an eight-yard score.
The Golden Bears tacked on two more touchdowns in the third quarter, which came on runs by Coleman and junior Jamyre Soberanis (Dorchester, Mass.), to stretch the final margin to 52-0.
Notes
• Western New England has outscored Becker 97-0 over the past two seasons.
• The Golden Bear defense limited the Hawks to 179 yards of total offense (2.4 yards per play) and forced five turnovers.
• Coleman has accounted for 38 total touchdowns (20 passing, 18 rushing) this season.