AMACATS Drop First Conference Game

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Freshman quarterback Todd Bonheyo(Frederick, Md.) compiled 278 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as Gallaudet University downed Anna Maria College, 52-24, before a crowd of 512 at Hotchkiss Field. This was the first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) game for both teams this season.

Bonheyo ran for 169 yards on 15 carries and scored twice in the second quarter on runs of 17 and 59 yards, respectively. He completed 6-of-12 passes for 109 yards and two first half touchdowns. Bonheyo connected with senior wide receiverKevin Berrigan (Frederick, Md.) midway through the first quarter on a 28-yard touchdown pass over the middle. In the second quarter, Bonheyo threw a nice ball to senior wide receiver Ryne Worsham (Chicago, Ill.) in the end zone for the 23-yard score that put GU up 28-0.

Special teams played another vital role for the Bison (3-1, 1-0 ECFC) as they accounted for three touchdowns, one field goal and seven extra-points in the 28-point win. Anna Maria (1-3, 0-1 ECFC) got on the scoreboard with two minutes before intermission when Jamal Mitchell made a 34-yard field goal. On the ensuing kick-off, junior Nick Elstad (Colorado Springs, Colo.) fielded the kick at Gallaudet's own 12 and broke to the outside and sprinted down the sideline for the 88-yard touchdown return. Gallaudet took a 35-3 lead into halftime.

GU finished with 443 yards of total offense and 334 rushing yards, which would had been higher if the Bison didn't take a negative 32-yard team rush to run out the clock at the end of the game. The two totals are very similar to last year's game when GU won 48-40 in triple overtime on the road. In that game, Gallaudet had 449 yards of total offense and 335 rushing yards.

The Bison picked up where they left off in the second half when Elstad scored on a 20-yard run at the 9:52 mark. GU then blocked a kick deep in Anna Maria's territory. Junior Silvio DiCristo (Atco, N.J.) made the block as the ball rolled into the end zone where freshman Nate Holmes (Williamstown, N.J.) leaped on the loose ball for the touchdown as the Bison held a dominating 49-3 advantage.

Anna Maria outscored Gallaudet 21-3 in the fourth quarter as senior quarterback Santino Simone orchestrated three scoring drives for the AMCATS. Simone went 21-for-35 in the game for 233 yards and ran 22 times for 27 yards and one touchdown. Freshman running back Chris Bettano ran for 48 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore linebacker Jaris Alleyne (Waldorf, Md.) led all Bison defenders with nine tackles (seven solo) while senior Jared Pearce (Reno, Nev.) made seven tackles, four and a half tackles for a loss of 24 yards and three sacks for a loss of 21 yards. Junior defensive end Adham Talaat (Springfield, Va.) had two sacks for a loss of 18 yards and four tackles.

Anna Maria will next travel to Mount Ida on Saturday, Oct. 6, kickoff is slated for 1:00pm.