Bangor, ME. - In a game with eight turnovers, the Gallaudet Bisons held their charge for a 13-6 win over the Husson University Eagles at Husson's Homecoming. With the loss, the Eagles drop to 0-5 and 0-2 in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) while Gallaudet improves to 3-2 overall (1-1 ECFC).
In the first drive of the game, Jack Hersom (Jr., Sidney, ME) was picked off by Gallaudet's Gabriel Paulone (So., Fishers, IN) at the Husson forty-three yard line. Minutes later Gallaudet coughed the ball up in a fumble forced by Kyle Vanidestine(Jr., Bangor, ME) and recovered by Mike Gimeli (Jr., Deerpark, NY) and Vanidestine. The trend would continue as three plays later, Hersom was intercepted by Tony Tatum (So., Gardendale, AL) at the Galluadet 40 and downed at the 37 yard line.
Gallaudet reached the scoreboard two possessions later, facilitated by a 20 yard rush by quarterback, Jimmy Gardner (Sr., St. Augustine, FL). Justin Wilson drilled a field goal with 4:42 left in the first quarter for the first score of the game.
Six minutes into the second quarter, Gardner rushed for 29 yards to the Husson 3-yard line. Gimeli rushed for the 3-yard touchdown to push the Gallaudet lead to 10-0. The half would end with a 10-0 Gallaudet lead.
In the third quarter, Wilson hit his second field goal of the day with 5:19 to go in the third quarter and the wind at his back to push the Bison lead to 13-0.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Gimeli rushed for 72 yards to the Husson goal line but the Bison fumbled on the next drive for a touchback. Kyle Romick forced the fumble for the Eagles. Four plays later, the Eagles would turn the ball over following another fumble that was forced by Gallaudet's Pat Small and recovered by Shawn Holder at the Husson 34 yard line. In the following drive, the Bisons reached the Husson goal line when Ryan Bonheyo rushed for 4 yards and the Eagles were assessed a personal foul penalty, pushing the ball to the Husson goal line. With the ball at the goal line, the Eagles defense showed up big time with a fumble forced by Jimmy Gardner and recovered by Mike Hersom in the end-zone for a touchback.
On the next drive, the Eagles were able to march down the field thanks to good rushing by Justin Lindie and solid passing by Jack Hersom. Hersom was able to connect with Travis Barnies for a 34 yard pass bringing the Eagles to the Gallaudet 23 yard line. On the next play, Lindie ran the ball 23 yards into the end-zone for the Eagles first touchdown of the day. However; the extra point was missed by kicker Doug Dieuveuil, leaving the score at 13-6 in favor of Gallaudet.
Gallaudet then started their next drive at their own 25 yard line after an 8 yard punt return. Gallaudet was able to reach their 42 yard line until they had to punt the ball away. This is when Chris Dalecki came up big to block the punt, giving the Eagles excellent field position. Unfortunately, the Eagles were not able to amount the big play they were looking for due to an interception thrown by Jack Hersom and picked by Neal Dimarco.
Husson defense came up big again causing the Bison to go 3 and out after the interception, giving their offense one last shot to get that big play. However; with only 28 seconds left, the Eagles were not able to drive to the end-zone, ending the game with a score of 13-6, giving Gallaudet their third victory.
The Eagles will travel to Massachusetts next Saturday to take on Anna Maria at 1:00pm.