McMillian’s Career Day Lifts Football Past Gallaudet

PAXTON, MA : The Anna Maria College football team improved to 6-2 for the first time in school history with a 37-21 win over against visiting Gallaudet University on Saturday afternoon in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action at Carposo Field in Paxton, Massachusetts.

THE BASICS:                                     

• Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021
• Score: Anna Maria 37, Gallaudet 21
• Records: Bison of Gallaudet 5-2, 3-2 ECFC | AMCATS of Anna Maria 6-2, 4-1 ECFC

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Anna Maria senior wide receiver Justin McMillian (Middletown, CT) had the game of his career, catching eight passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns, all career-highs. McMillian's receiving yardage total are the second-most in school history for a single game.
• Anna Maria senior quarterback Alex Cohen (Plymouth, MA) continued to put up video game numbers, passing for 393 yards and three touchdowns while going 21-of-31 on completion attempts. The signal-caller also rushed for a fourth touchdown on the day.
• Gallaudet quarterback Timel Benton (Columbia, SC) rushed for 94 yards on 13 carries with one score, averaging an impressive 7.2 yards per carry.
• Anna Maria grad student defensive lineman Jude Sampson (Waterbury, CT) was a titan for the AMCAT defense, tallying two sacks, 3.5 tackles-for-a-loss and one quarterback hurry.
• Anna Maria senior defensive lineman Alvin Martin (Philadelphia, PA) had a team-high eight tackles for the AMCATS.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The first half was highlighted by the Bison capitalizing on a series of AMCAT miscues to take an early lead. Benton picked up a rush of 49 yards on the opening drive, giving Gallaudet a first and goal from the ten. Three plays later, junior split back Joseph Mendis (Brook Park, OH) punched it through from the two, giving the visitors a 7-0.
• On their first drive of the game, the AMCATS fumbled to give the Bison excellent field position at the Anna Maria 26. With their backs to the wall, the Anna Maria defense rallied, driving the Gallaudet offense back. On third down, Anna Maria grad student defensive back Darrin Cooper (Fulton, NY) tackled the rusher for a five-yard loss, forcing a punt.
• On the ensuing drive, Cohen and the AMCAT defense showed off the explosiveness they had shown all season, with Cohen finding McMillian for a 73 yard touchdown. Anna Maria pulled to within one after a failed extra-point, 7-6.
• Gallaudet answered by once again going to the ground game, grinding down the Anna Maria defense with an eight-play drive, capped off with a one-yard rush from Benton, putting the Bison ahead 14-6.
• Not to be outdone, Anna Maria went right back to the air. Cohen found Wallace for a 31 yard gain to setup first and goal, then found McMillian on the very next play for the senior's second touchdown of the game. The AMCATS again trailed by one, 14-13.
• The Anna Maria defense showed their mettle on the ensuing drive, forcing a three-and-out. AMCAT grad student linebacker Swavaughn Small (Mattapan, MA) setup a third-and-long after tackling the ball carrier for a loss on second down, and ultimately the Bison punted.
• The AMCATS were driving deep into Bison territory on their next drive, but Gallaudet freshman linebacker Jacob Hartman (Petersburg, WV) made a huge play to sack Cohen on second down, setting up a third and long at the 30. Anna Maria was forced to settle for a field goal attempt, that coming up short.
• In the waning minutes of the first half, the AMCAT defense once again came to play, with Anna Maria senior defensive lineman Jarred Grant-Spann (Syracuse, NY) making the tackle on a third-and-short and forcing another punt.   
• The AMCATS took over with just 1:50 to go in the second, and after an 18-yard completion from Cohen-to-Wallace, were once again in Bison territory. That's when the playmaker Hartman again made the play for Gallaudet, intercepting Cohen and returning it 66 yards for a pick-six in the biggest play of the game up until that point. Anna Maria's Hail Mary at the end of the half was for naught and the teams went into halftime with Gallaudet leading 21-13.
• Taking a note from their opponents, Anna Maria started the second half by going to the ground game with grad student running back Johnathan Gomez (Sleepy Hallow, NY) getting the handoff on four straight carries. The senior finally punched it in from the ten, once again making it a one-point game.
• On the ensuing kickoff, the AMCATS got a huge break as the Bison fumbled the return, giving Anna Maria the ball at the Gallaudet two. But two plays later the home team would give it right back on a fumble at the one-yard line, as Bison freshman defensive back Miguel Pavao (Frederick, MD) recovered and returned it 32 yards in huge break for the visitors.
• Gallaudet was again driving into Anna Maria territory, only for the AMCAT defense to answer the bell again. As he has all season long, Sampson made the play, sacking the Gallaudet quarterback on third down for a nine-yard loss and forcing another punt.
• The following Anna Maria drive took the AMCATS into the fourth quarter where they reached the Bison 31-yard line before being forced to settle for a field goal. Once again, the kick was off, and the home team continued to trail. The Anna Maria defense refused to back down, however, forcing another three-and-out, with junior defensive back Lamar Wilkes (Philadelphia, PA) breaking up a pass on third down.  
• Given a short field and still trailing by one, Cohen and the AMCAT offense would not be denied. On the very first play from scrimmage, he found McMillian for a 59-yard touchdown reception, then caught the two-point conversion attempt to give Anna Maria their first lead of the game at 28-21.
• Trailing for the first time in the day, the rain started to pour on the Bison. Their very next snap from scrimmage, Gallaudet fumbled, with Anna Maria grad student defensive lineman Louis Costanzo (Lindenhurst, NY) recovering.
• The AMCATS, smelling victory with the score now in their favor, drove into Gallaudet territory, reaching a first-and-goal from the six. Desperately trying to keep their hopes alive, the Bison defense rose to the occasion. Gallaudet sophomore linebacker Stefan Anderson (Faribault, MN) broke up a third-down pass, and Anna Maria had to settle for a field goal, now leading 31-21.
• The Bison started near midfield on the ensuing drive, but now faced an AMCAT defense that had taken their measure. With time running out, Gallaudet was forced to go for it on fourth down, only for Sampson to sack Benton for a seven-yard loss.
• With Anna Maria attempting to consume as much time off the clock as possible, Cohen engineered an eight-play drive over the next 3:34 that saw the quarterback punch it in himself from the one-yard line. The AMCATS took a 37-21 lead with 3:06 to go.
• With Gallaudet down to their final chance, Wilkes picked off the Bison with 2:05 left, putting the cherry on top of an impressive performance by the AMCAT defense as they ran out the clock.

UP NEXT:

Anna Maria will be back on the field next Saturday in their regular season finale when they host SUNY Maritime in a pivotal 1:00 p.m. game. Hanging in the balance will be the ECFC Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to the game, the AMCATS will be recognizing their outgoing senior class as part of senior day.  

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