FOOTBALL: Husson too strong for Anna Maria

The Basics:

-Score: Husson University 70, Anna Maria College 13

-Records: Husson (7-1, 5-0 ECFC), Anna Maria (1-7, 1-4 ECFC)

-Location: Paxton, Mass. (AMCAT Field)

- The Lead: Senior John Smith (Fayetteville, Ga.) led a potent Husson University attack Saturday afternoon, rushing for 247 yards and four touchdowns, all in the first half, as the Eagles defeated Anna Maria College, 70-13, in an Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) contest at AMCAT Field.

How It Happened:

-Husson piled up 671 yards of total offense, including 565 yards on the ground, with eight rushing touchdowns. The Eagles also had a blocked punt returned for a TD and an interception returned for a score. Sophomore kicker Devin Pickett (Sidney, Maine) was a perfect 10-for-10 on extra point kicks.

-The visitors led 21-6 at the end of the first quarter and 49-6 at halftime before coasting to the victory in the second half. Husson (7-1 overall) remains unbeaten in the ECFC (5-0) while Anna Maria drops to 1-7 overall, 1-4 in conference play.

-Senior Trai Weaver (Waterbury, Conn) provided the highlights for the AMCATS, catching seven passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns. Weaver, who has four TD receptions in the last two weeks, has caught a TD pass in seven straight games and leads the EFCF with 10 receiving touchdowns.

-Smith ran for 62 yards on Husson's first play from scrimmage to set the tone, and two plays later scored on a nine-yard burst to help put the Eagles up 7-0.

-Weaver gave the home team some life with a 16-yard TD reception from junior Emmanuel Leake (Providence, R.I.) on Anna Maria's first possession (the extra point was no good), but Husson answered just over a minute later with Smith's second TD of the day, a 26-yard run, to put the Eagles ahead 14-6 less than four minutes into the game. Smith scored again on an 11-yard run before the end of the first quarter to make it a 21-6 margin.

-Senior Robenson Saintard (Port Charlotte, Fla.) broke a 62-yard run for a touchdown for Husson early in the second quarter to cap off a 99-yard drive. Freshman Derek Barden (Winter Park, Fla.) returned a blocked Anna Maria punt 26 yards for a score less than two-and-a-half minutes later to push the Husson lead to 35-6.

-Smith registered his fourth TD of the day for Husson with just under five minutes remaining in the second quarter, and junior Quan Soyini (Manchester, Conn.) returned an interception 35 yards for a TD to give the Eagles a 49-6 advantage at halftime.

-Junior Ty Bassett (Dracut, Mass.) got into the scoring act for Husson to open the third quarter with a 13-yard TD run. Weaver found the end zone for the second time for Anna Maria on a 19-yard pass from Leake later in the third quarter to cap an eight-play, 64-yard AMCAT drive.

-Husson rounded out the scoring with a seven-yard run by sophomore reserve quarterback David Morrison (Ashland, Mass.) late in the third quarter, and a one-yard TD run by junior Max Troiano (Gilford, N.H.) early in the fourth quarter.

Inside the Numbers:

-Husson's 70 points were the most in a game since setting the program record in a 74-22 victory over Becker College on November, 7, 2009.

-Smith now leads the ECFC with 1,487 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in eight games (185.9 yds/game).

-Junior Chuck Browne (Jamaica, N.Y.) also rushed for 99 yards on seven carries for Husson.

-Husson outgained Anna Maria 671-193, and more than doubled the first down total, 32-15. Both teams ran 58 plays from scrimmage.

-The Eagles sacked Leake six times, including two each by junior Elvin Suazo (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and senior Luke Washburn (Litchfield, Maine). Soyini had two interceptions for Husson, and senior Jean Gabriel (Lake Worth, Fla.) had an active day for the Eagles with seven tackles, a sack, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick to set up a touchdown.

-Senior Trevor Brown (Gardner, Mass.) led the AMCATS with eight tackles (four solo). Freshman Aiden Folster (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) made seven stops (six solo), including two for minus-four yards, and junior Bailey Braga Foster, R.I.) intercepted a Husson pass and ran it back 64 yards.

Up Next:

-The AMCATS are on the road next Saturday, November 4, for an ECFC match-up at Mount Ida College (1:00 p.m.) before wrapping up the season on Nov. 11 at home against Dean College (noon). Husson plays its final two games at home, hosting Alfred State next Saturday at noon and Mount Ida College on Nov. 11 at noon.

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