Bison Stun AMC in 3OT 48-40

PAXTON, Mass. (10.01.11)– Gallaudet University used an 11-yard touchdown scamper from quarterback Gabriel Paulone (Fishers, Ind.) and a Tony Tatum (Gardendale, Ala.) interception to seal a thrilling triple overtime victory over Anna Maria College, 48-40 at AMCAT field on a drizzly Saturday afternoon.  The Bison improve to 2-2 on the year (1-0 ECFC), while Anna Maria falls to 0-4 (0-2 ECFC) season.

The AMCATS were led by quarterback Santino Simone (Worcester, Mass.) and wide receivers John LaMothe (Lynn, Mass.) and David Marsh (Boston, Mass.).  Simone accounted for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing), including 316-yards in the air.  LaMothe contributed with 82-yards receiving and two touchdowns while Marsh added 124 receiving yards and a score.

The visitors were led by quarterback Gabriel Paulone who paced the Bison offense with 114 yards in the air and a score to go along with 76 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Half-back Quentin Williams (Chesapeake, Va.) added 69 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown while also returning a pivotal kick return to pay dirt to spark the Bison comeback.  Tom Pangia (Hammonton, N.J.) and Jaris Alleyne (Waldorf, Md.) starred on defense, adding an interception each in addition to 15 and 13 tackles respectively. 

Gallaudet started off the scoring with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter.  A 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct on an Anna Maria punt put the Bison on the AMCAT 25-yard line and capitalized with a 20-yard touchdown run from Phillip Hayes (Baton Rouge, La.).   

The following possession Dolan Edney (Seattle, Wash.) recovered a Santino Simone fumble on the Anna Maria 39-yard line.  A Paulone 25-yard pass to Ryne Worsham (Chicago, Ill.) put the visitors on the AMC 11-yard line, which set up an 11-yard Ryan Bonheyo (Frederick, Md.) score on the following play. After a failed PAT, the Bison lead stood at 13-0 at the end of the first quarter. 

The teams traded possessions to start the second quarter until Jordan Koehler (West Warwick, RI.) forced a fumble that teammate Tim Ray (Lynn, Mass.) recovered on their own 36-yard line.  The AMCATS used an 11-play, 64 yard drive to get on the board, capped off by a Simone touchdown pass to John LaMothe.

Anna Maria forced Gallaudet to punt on the next possession and took over on their own 28-yard line with 3:45 left in the first-half.  A couple of small rushes set-up a third down situation for the AMCATS, however a 15-yard facemask penalty put AMC in Gallaudet territory.  Anna Maria wouldn't waste their opportunity, as Simone and LaMothe hooked up again for a spectacular 25-yard touchdown.  LaMothe refused to be denied, as he leapt up and outmuscled the Bison defenders in the back of the end zone. Jamaal Mitchell (Shelton, Conn.) converted the PAT and the AMCATS held a 14-13 lead heading into intermission. 

Anna Maria picked up right where it left off, dominating the third quarter of play.  Gallaudet held the ball only twice in the quarter and both times the AMCAT defense forced fumbles for a turnover. 

The Bison look destined to score after a five minute, 58-yard drive put them on the AMC 22-yard line.  Troy Barnes (Hamden, Conn.) stepped it up and forced a fumble on the AMC 14-yard line that was picked up by Jordan Koehler. 

The second Gallaudet drive of the quarter lasted only one play, as Koehler and Barnes swapped roles from the previous fumble, as the duo combined for their second forced fumble and fumble recovery of the quarter.

The AMCAT offense got back on track after the second Gallaudet fumble of the quarter.  The fumble put Anna Maria on the visitor's 32-yard line and after a 15-yard pass interference call on Gallaudet, they were quickly moved to the 14-yard line. The penalty proved costly, as Simone hooked up with Robert Small (Tarrytown, N.Y.) for a five-yard touchdown pass to give AMC a 20-13 lead at the end of the third quarter. 

Simone and David Marsh shined in the fourth quarter, as they helped push the AMCAT lead to 34-13 on consecutive drives in the start of the frame.  He converted with David Marsh on the first score on a 49-yard touchdown bomb down the sidelines.  On the second score, Simone ran for a 12-yard touchdown score on a quarterback keeper play.  David Marsh was instrumental in setting up Simone's touchdown run, as made a spectacular one handed 70-yard grab breaking free from the center of the Bison defense.  The touchdown pushed the AMCAT lead to 34-13 with 10:50 remaining in the 4^th quarter.

Despite scoring 34 unanswered points, the 21 point lead would not be enough.  The following kickoff, Quentin Williams returned a 71 yard kick off for a touchdown, cutting the lead to 14 points. 

Anna Maria went three-and-out on their next drive and handed the ball back over to Gallaudet on their own 38-yard line.  Half-back Michael Hantge (Hutchinson, Minn.) had a huge 35-yard gain that set up a Nick Elstad (Colorado Springs, CO.) 13-yard touchdown reception, cutting the lead to seven with just under seven minutes in regulation. 

A fumble on the following kickoff to the AMCATS gave the Bison the ball back again on the Anna Maria 37-yard line.  Faced with a 4^th and 2 situation on the AMC 29-yard line, Troy Barnes made a huge tackle on the sidelines to stuff running back Quentin Williams and force a turnover on downs.

With 4:52 remaining in the game the AMCATS took over on their own 30-yard line, clinging to a seven point lead.  Anna Maria put together a nice drive, highlighted by a 12-yard LaMothe reception and a 21-yard Ken Woods (Walpole, Mass.) reception on a 2^nd and long.  Gallaudet was forced to use all of their timeouts on the drive and forced a 3^rd and 3 situation with a 1:35 to play.  Simone was flushed out of the pocket and intercepted by Tom Pangia, who returned the interception 61-yards to the AMC 19-yard line.

Paulone's first two passes went incomplete and Gallaudet was forced with a 3^rd and 10.  The Bison refused to let this golden opportunity slip away, as Paulone connected with Nick Elstard on a 17-yard reception to the AMC 2-yard line.  Paulone rushed straight ahead to the end zone on the following play, knotting the game at 34-all, sending the game into overtime.

Gallaudet had first crack in the overtime period and quickly moved the ball on an eight-yard reception by Nick Elstad and two rushes for 10-yard by Hantge.  Hangte capped off the drive with a four yard rushing touchdown, however, the PAT sailed wide-left, giving the Bison a 40-34 lead.

The Bison defense look destined to stop the AMCATS on their rebuttal attempt, as they forced the AMC offense with a 4^th and 11 situation at the Gallaudet 26-yard line.  Simone delivered again with a 26-yard touchdown strike to Gregory Caldwell (Springvale, Maine.), setting up a PAT attempt for the win.  Mitchell's PAT attempt was blocked, however the blocked kick was recovered in the end zone by the AMCATS and was originally ruled as a two-point conversion that would have given Anna Maria their first win in program history.  However, after the referees came together to discuss the play, the ruling on the field was overturned because rules do not allow the offensive team to progress forward after a blocked PAT attempt. 

The AMCATS had possession of the ball first in the second overtime period and were able to move to the Bison eight-yard line after a Simone 11-yard rush.  The rush set-up a Jamaal Mitchell 25-yard field goal attempt on 4^th down, however a fumbled snap didn't allow Mitchell an opportunity to kick and left the door wide open for the visitors. 

Garbiel Paulone hooked up with Nick Elstad for 14 yards and moved the Bison offense down to the Anna Maria 8-yard line.  After two tackles for losses by Jordan Koehler, Jeremy Cormier (Metheun, Mass.) had a 29-yard field goal attempt to win the game.  He wasn't able to convert, as his kick clanked off the right upright, forcing a third overtime period. 

Gallaudet started with the ball in the third overtime and that is when Gabriel Paulone took control of the game.  He rushed for 10 yards to start the third overtime and capped off the drive with an 11-yard touchdown scramble.  The offense elected to try for a two-point conversion, which they converted successfully on Paulone's quarterback sneak attempt.  After the two point conversion, the visitors held a 48-40 lead.

Simone did his best to even up the score again, however, his passes for Dom Concepcion (Middlebury, Conn.) and Robert Small sailed incomplete.  Forced with a 4^th and 8 situation, Simone was intercepted by Tony Tatum, which ended the thrilling triple overtime affair and capped off an impressive comeback by the Bison.

Gallaudet returns to action Saturday at home against Husson at 12:00 PM while Anna Maria hosts Mount Ida at 1:00 PM

Release Courtesy of Jeff Lander – Anna Maria Sports Information GA