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A LOOK BACK FIRST FOOTBALL WIN IN SCHOOL HISTORY

This edition of "A Look Back" is the first football win in school history during the 2011 AMCAT Homecoming.

MIKE KENNEDY '15, assistant football coach reflects on the first win in AMCAT Football histroy. Kennedy was a freshman on the 2011 team.

"Going into week nine it had been a very long season and we had lost some very close games to this point. It was senior day for Kevin Brown, Chris Meadows, Blake Simpson, Rich Brandt, Nii Quartey who have been there since day one and were great leaders individually for the team. I think I can speak for everyone on that team that we would do everything we possibly could to send them out with a W"

"A Becker vs Anna Maria game is something very special. It is a high intensity, high emotion football game, we battled back and forth all day. It's hard for me to put into words the energy that was building throughout that game. When the clock struck zero and we finally had the program's first win, the fans stormed the field and we were celebrating on the "CAT" like we always said we were going to. We had worked very hard that season and finally were being rewarded for it. It's a day that I will never forget for the rest of my life. "

AMCATS WIN FIRST FOOTBALL GAME IN HISTROY OF PROGRAM ON HOMECOMING

PAXTON, MASS. – Anna Maria College junior quarterback Santino Simone (Worcester, MA) accounted for 417 yards and four touchdowns in a 35-33 victory over visiting and local rival Becker College at AMCAT field on November 5, 2011. The victory marked the first win in program history for the Anna Maria football team and took place on Homecoming Weekend.

Simone, sophomore wide receiver Josh Sundquist (Windham,ME) and freshman defensive lineman Jason Campbell (Melrose, MA) starred for the AMCATS, as the aforementioned Simone passed for 264 yards and a passing touchdown, ran for 153 yards and had three rushing touchdowns. Sundquist added 78 yards receiving and a touchdown while Campbell recorded eight tackles and three sacks.

Becker started off the scoring after Andrew Reid forced a fumble on the AMCATS' first drive of the contest. Kyle Gregg scampered into the end zone on a 21-yard rush on the following play, giving the Hawks a 7-0 advantage.

The AMCATS responded after taking over on the Becker 45-yard line following a Hawks' punt. Simone hit Sundquist on consecutive plays, the first a 14-yard completion while the second was a 31-yard touchdown reception to even the score.

The next two possessions the team traded scores, as Becker struck first with a Gregg two yard rushing touchdown while Anna Maria countered with a 17-yard rushing touchdown by Simone.

The visitors padded their lead on the following two drives of the contest, as quarterback Robert Baker hit Gregg for an athletic 33-yard reverse field touchdown. The Hawks proceeded to strike again after Asante Harris returned an interception 75 yards to the end zone, giving Becker a 27-14 advantage.

The first-half lead was short lived, as a Anna Maria junior wide receiver Don Concepcion (Middlebury, CT) reverse put the ball on the Becker 1-yard line. Simone pushed his way through the opposition and snuck into the end zone to cut the lead to 27-21.

Anna Maria's defense stepped up on the following kickoff, as senior lineback Nii Quartey (Worcester, Mass.) and Campbell sacked Baker on back-to-back plays, setting up a 4th and 25 on Becker's own one-yard line. The snap sailed high and gave Anna Maria a safety and possession of the ball following a free kick.

The AMCATS wouldn't let the free kick opportunity go to waste, as freshman Chris Nelson (Worcester, MA) returned the kick 35 yards to the Becker 37-yard line. The return set-up a 22-yard ield goal by junior kicker Jamal Mitchell (Shelton, CT) which cut the Hawk's lead to one point (27-26) heading into the locker room.

Anna Maria had possession to start the second-half and used a 40-yard Concepcion reception and a 21-yard Simone rush to put them in field-goal range. The big plays set-up a 19-yard field goal by Mitchell that gave the AMCATS their first lead of the contest, 29-27 and the only points allowed in the third quater by both defenses.

The Anna Maria's defense was exceptionally strong in the quarter, forcing Becker on a pair of three-and-out's while only allowing the Hawks one first down.

Turnover's proved costly for both teams in the 4th quarter, as Becker's Tino Lopes forced and recovered an Anna Maria fumble at mid-field.

After being held in check the entire third quarter, Baker hooked up with Becker's Corinthian Bostic for a 30-yard gain. Ezequiel Torres finished off the drive with a one yard touchdown plunge to give the Hawks a 33-29 lead.

Head Men's Basketball Coach Shawn Conrad and Assisant Athletic Director commented on the first win in school history. Conrad, who is in his 14th year on campus, served as the interim athletic director in the fall of 2011.

“The win was affirmation of all the hard work and dedication from players, coaches, athletic, and school administration alike to persevere through all the difficulty and adversity of starting a football program from scratch three years earlier. We had become very competitive in our third season and to defeat a natural rival like Becker for our first win was extra special. The entire campus was electric during and after the game, a great uplifting experience for the entire school!”

Becker would give the lead right back on their ensuing offensive position. Kyle Gregg coughed the ball-up and the AMCATS recovered the fumble on the Becker 20-yard line. A pass interference penalty put the ball at the Becker 2-yard line and Simone promptly polished off the drive with his third rushing touchdown of the contest. After a missed point after, Anna Maria took back control of the lead, 35-33.

Becker had one last final shot to take the lead, as they started their final drive at the Anna Maria 49-yard line. The AMCAT defense held strong and forced the Hawks with a 4th and 2 situation on the AMC 41 yard line. Freshman linebacker Kevin Card (Deer Park, NY) and sophomore defensive lineman Joseph Williams (Capitol Heights, MD) brought down Baker for no gain and sealed the first program win in AMCAT Football history.

2011 SENIORS

This marked the final home game for seniors Richard Brandt (Natick, MA), Kevin Brown (New York, NY), Chris Meadows (New Rochelle, NY), Nii Quarterly (Worcester, MA) and Blake Simpson (Warwick, RI).

Blake Simpson '12 was a senior football player and a member of the 2011 team that won the first football game in school history. Simpson is currently the Head Football Coach at Pilgrim High School in Warwick, RI.

"Being a part of Anna Maria's first football win was an incredible feeling. From all the hard work put into the program when we started practices behind St. Joseph Hall in 2008 to beating that team down the road on our home field made it that much more memorable. It is a day I will never forget and was great to celebrate with my teammates, coaches and family."

“It is hard to believe that nine years has passed because I can still feel the excitement and pure joy that the entire campus felt that day! We were really so happy for the team to have their first win – they had worked very hard and were a great group of players,” President Mary Lou Retelle

Mary Lou Retelle began her role as Executive Vice President at Anna Maria College in 2011. She was named the 11th President at the College on June 1, 2015. Retelle was named president following nearly a year of service as the College's interim president. She was promoted to interim president in July 2014, following three years as Executive Vice President.

Created By
Joseph Brady
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