Oct 05, 2024
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Trailing 21-0 in the first half, the MIT football team rallied to score 19 unanswered points but ultimately could not overcome the early deficit in a 21-19 NEWMAC loss to visiting Coast Guard on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Steinbrenner Stadium.
THE BASICS:
- Score: Coast Guard 21, MIT 19
- Records: Coast Guard (3-2 Overall, 1-1 NEWMAC); MIT (2-2 Overall, 0-2 NEWMAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The opening quarter was a runaway for the Bears, as the visitors came out in a hurry-up offense that produced 14 points in the game's opening 10 minutes.
- Coast Guard scored on its first possession, a five-yard run from sophomore James Wheeler IV (Oneida, N.Y.) that capped a 12 play, 73-yard drive.
- The Bears then forced MIT into a three-and-out on the Engineers opening drive before marching back down the field on their next possession. This time Coast Guard went 76 yards on 11 plays as senior quarterback Joey Armentrout (Oceanside, Calif.) found tight end Chase Denton (Hondo, Texas) for a five-yard touchdown pass to push the lead to 14-0 just 9:30 into the contest.
- Coast Guard added to the lead in the second quarter when Armentrout found received Brock Desta (San Diego, Calif.) on a nine-yard touchdown pass that pushed the visitor's advantage up to 21-0.
- Facing a three-touchdown deficit, MIT got on the board on its next possession. The Engineers worked the ball down the field thanks to the arm of sophomore quarterback Thomas Stueber (West Islip, N.Y.). Stueber completed 5-of-7 passes on the drive, including an 18-yard strike to senior Andrew Hutchison (San Diego, Calif.) for the score at 5:37.
- The Engineers nearly cut the lead to one score later in the quarter when senior DB Ryan Hourican (Staten Island, N.Y.) picked-off Armentrout at the MIT 18 and returned the ball deep into Coast Guard territory before being stopped at the 24-yard line.
- With less than a minute to play in the half, the Engineers took multiple shots at the end zone but could not add to the scoreboard. A field goal attempt from Luke Pelletier (Williamsburg, Va.) as time expired was off the mark, sending the game to the break with Coast Guard leading 21-7.
- Stueber and sophomore running back Carson Phelps (Wichita, Kan.) went to work on MIT's second drive of the second half to pull the Engineers another score closer. Phelps ripped off runs of five and 21 yards and Stueber completed five passes, including three to Phelps, on the drive. The final completion from Stueber was a 34-yard connection with wide receiver Keegan Doody (Eastchester, N.Y.). The point after attempt was no-good, making the score 21-13.
- The Engineers forced a fumble on the next Coast Guard possession, setting up the offense with the ball at the Coast Guard 40-yard line. Runs of eight, 18, and two yards from Phelps pushed the Engineers to the Coast Guard 12-yard line. Phelps would ultimately push the ball across the goal line for his first score of the day, capping the drive with a one-yard rush that made the score 21-19. However, MIT's two-point attempt failed leaving Coast Guard clinging to a two-point advantage.
- The Engineers got one more chance, moving the ball to the Coast Guard 229-yard line on the team's final drive. However, the Bears defense held Phelps on 4th and 1 to force a turnover on downs. Coast Guard used up the remaining 6:18 on the clock with a 14-play drive that was capped by three kneel downs to end the contest.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Stueber finished the contest 19-of-30 for 224 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. Saturday's game was his first multi-score game since the season-opener at Bridgewater State.
- Phelps totaled 111 yards on 24 attempts, scoring his fifth touchdown of the season and the seventh of his career.
- Hourican and the MIT defense shook off the early deficit and allowed just seven points after the games opening 10 minutes. The senior finished the contest with eight tackles and an interception. He now has four career interceptions.
- Senior Donny Stralkus (North Brunswick, N.J.) had a game-high 10 tackles and a fumble recovery for MIT.
UP NEXT:
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MIT will welcome the United States Merchant Marine Academy to Steinbrenner Stadium in a NEWMAC game next Saturday, October 12 at noon.
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