March On: Football Prevails Over Alfred State

ALFRED, NY : The Anna Maria College football team continued their best start to a season ever with a 28-17 victory at Alfred State University in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action at Pioneer Stadium in Alfred, New York. With the victory, the AMCATS are 4-1 for the first time in school history, with their first four-game winning streak in school history.  

THE BASICS:                                     

• Date: Saturday, October 16, 2021
• Score: Anna Maria 28, Alfred State 17
• Records: Pioneers of Alfred State (2-4, 1-1 ECFC) | AMCATS of Anna Maria (4-1, 2-0 ECFC)

STANDOUTS:

• Anna Maria senior quarterback Alex Cohen (Plymouth, MA) completed 21 of 29 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. With his first completion of the game – a three-yard pass to grad student wide receiver Kristian Sapp (Cromwell, CT) – early in the first quarter – Cohen moved to second all-time in the AMCAT record books for career completions, surpassing the 256 completions record set by Greg McGoldrick from 2013-2015.
• Anna Maria sophomore wide receiver Deandre Wallace (Waterbury, CT) continued to produce one of the most dominant performances by a rookie in country, tallying five receptions for 90 yards and two scores. Wallace was responsible for both of the AMCATS' second-half scores, including a 48-yard touchdown reception from Cohen with 5:18 to go in the third that would represent the eventual game-winning touchdown.
• Anna Maria sophomore linebacker Sam Jakana (Coto De Caza, CA) led a stellar AMCAT defensive effort, recording ten tackles and forcing two fumbles, including one recovery.
• Anna Maria junior defensive back Lamar Wilkes (Philadelphia, PA) prowled the secondary, with one pass breakup and one interception. Wilkes' pick with 4:51 to go in the first quarter was returned fifty yards for a pick-six, giving the AMCATS a 14-7 lead and setting the tone for the rest of the game.
• Anna Maria senior wide receiver Justin McMillian (Middletown, CT) scored the first touchdown of the game, a 20 yard catch from Cohen with 11:48 left in the first. The senior finished with five catches totaling 60 yards.
• Anna Maria sophomore running back Eric Pino (Hartford, CT) had his best game as an AMCAT, leading the team with 45 rushing yards on nine carries.
• Alfred State senior quarterback Aaron Jenkins (Canfield, OH) threw for 200 yards, while rushing for 99 more on 25 carries and two scores.
• Alfred State first year linebacker Joel Smith (Livonia, NY) led the Pioneers' defense with 15 tackles, including two for a loss.

TURNING POINT:                           

• The game was decided with 6:39 to go when – with the Pioneers driving and at midfield – Anna Maria senior defensive lineman Alvin Martin (Philadelphia, PA) dropped back in coverage and intercepted Jenkins' pass, giving the ball back to the AMCATS and allowing them to run out the clock.

UP NEXT:

Anna Maria will be back on the field next Saturday when they play host to Dean College in a 1:30 p.m. game.   

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