Box Score
WILKES-BARRE – Springfield College rushed for 566 yards as the Pride defeated Wilkes University 44-7 in a non-conference football matchup on Saturday afternoon at the Ralston Athletic Complex.
After each team traded possessions, Springfield (3-0) started to march downfield before quarterback Josh Carter misread a pitch and fumbled, as Greg Nielsen (Wharton, NJ, Roxbury)recovered at the Wilkes 26-yard line. After a stalled Colonels drive, Springfield got the ball back at their own 19 and drove 81 yards in 13 plays, getting a five yard rush from Alex Mendez as the Pride took a 7-0 lead.
The Colonels would get the ball and drive to the Springfield 47 before getting stopped on third down. However, quarterback Marc Persing (Coal Township, Shamonkin) pouch punted, pinning the Pride back inside their own five. Springfield got the ball out to midfield before Carter fumbled again, giving Wilkes the ball at its 47 going into the second quarter.
Wilkes punted the ball back to Springfield, and the Pride would capitalize, getting a 67-yard touchdown run from Mark Safer to take a two-touchdown lead.
The Pride would continue to succeed in the first half, getting two more touchdowns as Carter and Safer would each get scoring runs, and took a 28-0 lead into halftime.
The Colonels (1-1) came out fired up in the second half, forcing Springfield into punts on each of its first two possessions. Starting its third drive of the half at their own 37, the Colonels struck as Persing connected with Jordan D'Emilio (Stowe, Saint Pius X) for 10 yards, and then Auxence Wogou (Hackettstown, NJ, Hackettstown) ran for 18 yards and another first down to the Springfield 35-yard line. Persing would then loft a pass to the back corner as Todd Eagles (Downingtown, Downingtown East) would make an over-the-shoulder catch to put Wilkes on the board with 3:23 left in the third quarter.
Springfield would answer, however, with a four-play, 53-yard touchdown drive, take a 35-7 lead into the final quarter. The Pride controlled the fourth, getting a field goal and another touchdown for the win.
Joe Myhren led the Pride with 120 yards on the ground and three other players ran for at least 90 yards. D'Emilio had four catches for 50 yards and is now just 10 receptions away from entering the school's all-time top 10. Tate Moore-Jacobs (New Cumberland, Cedar Cliff) led the all defenders with 15 tackles and Chris Swinarski (Old Bridge, Old Bridge) added 14 and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Nielsen had nine tackles and two fumble recoveries for Wilkes.
The Colonels hit the road for the first time this year next week when they travel to Utica College. The game will be broadcast on Time Warner Cable in Syracuse.
