Ryan Russell Leads Football to Miracle Comeback Over Castleton on Senior Day

PAXTON, MA: The Anna Maria College football team closed out the 2022 season when they welcomed Castleton University on Saturday afternoon for some Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action at Caparso Field.

SENIOR DAY:

Prior to the game, the AMCATS recognized their graduating senior class as part of senior day. Uthman Ajia (Pawtucket, RI), Alex Cohen (Plymouth, MA), Riley Cole (Stratham, NH), Kyle Couto (East Taunton, MA), Jared Grant-Spann (Syracuse, NY), Christian Herget (Canajoharie, NY), Roger Kennedy (Valley Stream, NY), Vincent Marrone (Wayne, NJ), Alvin Martin (Philadelphia, PA), J.J. Martuscello (Clifton Park, NY), Sammy Okunfolami (Providence, RI), Tyler Pappas (Brick, NJ), and Ahmad Traoui (Worcester, MA) were honored by coaches, teammates, family members, and fans for their time with the football program. Although their time with the program may be ending, they will forever be a part of the AMCAT family.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, November 12, 2022
• Score: Castleton 26, Anna Maria 27 OT
• Records: Castleton Spartans 5-5 (4-2 ECFC) | Anna Maria AMCATS 5-4 (3-3 ECFC)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The biggest play of the game came on a second and 10 from the AMCATS own 39-yard line and was an underthrown pass from sophomore quarterback Ryan Russell (West Springfield, MA) to junior wide receiver Deandre Wallace (Waterbury, CT) with just under two minutes remaining in regulation. Wallace came back to the ball and then jumped with the Spartans' defensive back Ethan Palazzetti, and as both players came down with the ball, Wallace just went higher and pulled the ball out of Palazzetti's hands. The end result was a 34-yard gain to the Castleton 27-yard line. Three plays later, Russell found senior wideout Justin McMillian (Middletown, CT) when he rolled out to his right and hit McMillian with a pass right in the numbers to tie the game at 20. With exactly one minute left on the clock, the AMCATS would miss the PAT kick and then need their defense to hold to force overtime.
• It did not look good initially for the AMCATS who allowed Damiyr Martinez to return the kickoff 33-yards into the AMCATS side of the field. The Spartans started their drive at the AMCATS 44. After a 13-yard pass from quarterback, Evan Smith to tightend Dylan Shiland moved the Spartans further into AMCATS territory, the AMCATS defense then doubled down and forced Smith to throw three straight incomplete passes. On fourth down and with one of the ECFC's top kickers and the reigning ECFC special teams player of the week in Noah Crossman, Spartans coach Tony Volpone chose to go for it on fourth and 10 from the AMCATS 31-yard line, calling for a passing play from Smith to Jackson Brand that fluttered short.
• The Spartans would get the ball first in the overtime period where each team would be guaranteed an opportunity to get the ball from their opponent's 25-yard line. The Spartans would march the 25-yards on four running plays and score a touchdown. However, Crossman missed the PAT kick.
• The AMCATS then took their turn knowing that they would have a chance to win the game. The AMCATS opened their drive with a pair of rushes from Russell. The first second of which went for 14-yards and gave the AMCATS a first and goal opportunity from the 10. Off a play-action pass, Russell found sophomore receiver Devin Tolbert (Salem, MA) on a crossing route near the five-yard line. Tolbert slipped a pair of Spartans' defenders and crossed into the endzone.
• The AMCATS victory marks only the third time that the AMCATS have brought home the Helmet Trophy. The Helmet Trophy was established in 2009 when the teams opened that season against each other in what was the first game for both programs. The Spartans have won 10 of the 13 matchups, with the AMCATS only winning in 2013, 2018, and 2022. The 2018 victory was the AMCATS' only win that year. This was the first time that the teams have gone to overtime. The games are also normally very high scoring, with this year's 53 combined points coming in as the fourth-lowest total between the two teams.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• First Downs: Castleton 24, AMC 26
• Passing Yards: Castleton 165, AMC 310
• Rushing Yards: Castleton 220, AMC 85
• Time of Possession: Castleton 34:38, AMC 40:22

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