Bangor, ME – The Eagles pushed their record to 1-1 with a 34-17 win over Utica College, NY falling to 0-2. The running duo of Justin Lindie (So, Winslow, ME) and Julius Williams (Jr. Boston, MA) combined for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Bobby Gilbert (Jr, Beaver Cove, ME) had a great day on defense with 12.5 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Lindie scored Husson first touchdown with a 6 yard rush of the right side four minutes into the game. Darren Gauthier (Sr, Brunswick, ME) added the point after to make it 7-0. Two minutes later the Eagles special teams pitched in to make it 13-0. Doug Blades (Jr, Norwich, CT) got through the middle and blocked the punt and Keith Runne (Sr, Jefferson Twp, NJ) picked it up and ran 32 yards for the touchdown.

Utica answered in the 2nd quarter, QB Keith Barone (SO, Point Pleasant, NJ) capped off a 5 play 26 yard drive with a one yard keeper. Casey McNulty (Jr, Red Hook, NY) added the point after. The drive was set up by an Eagle miss cue. Lindie was back to punt and the snap sailed over his head and Utica was there to cover it up at the Husson 26.

The Pioneers looked to be taking control of the game. Taking over at their own 20 they would chew up 7:35 of game clock taking the ball to the Husson 5. Gilbert stalled the drive when he tackled Brian Jones (Fr, Waterbury, CT) for a 5 yard loss and then sacked Barone for a 6 yard loss pushing the Pioneers back to the 16. They would settle for a 32-yard McNulty field goal making 13-10 at the half.

Husson scored on the 6th play of the second half as Eagle QB James McCandless (Fr, Hollywood, FL) connected with Ben Grant (Fy, Winslow, ME) on a 81-yard touchdown pass. It was Grant first touchdown and McCandless first touchdown pass of their career.

On Utica's next possession their drive stalled again at the Husson 18 and McNulty missed a 25 yard field goal attempt, giving the Eagles the ball at the 20. The Pioneers backed the Eagles up and on 3rd and 21 from Husson's own 9 McCandless scrambled to the end zone and fumbled the ball. Terrel Cunningham (SO, Rochester, NY) picked it up for the Pioneer touchdown. After McNulty's extra point it was 20-17.

The Eagles scored the next two touchdowns. It took the Eagles only 6 plays to move the ball 60 yard in 2:11 to answered the miscue. Williams had 48 yards on the drive and capped it off with a 3 yard run. Guathier added the extra point to make it 27-17. Husson scored again on a Lindie 2 yard run capping a 12 play, 80 yard drive which ate up 5:07 on the clock.

The Eagles ended the day with 345 yards of total offense 238 yards on the ground. McCandless finished 4-8 and 107 yards with 1 touchdown. Roderic Johnson (So, Bloomfield, CT) had 2 catches for the Eagles for 11 yards and Grant had 1 catch and a touchdown for 81 yards. Gilbert paced the defense along with Kyle Vanidestine with 7.5 tackles and 1 interception.

The Pioneers were paced by Cody Elliot (Jr, Sloan, NY) who seemed to be everywhere on the field. Elliot had 88 yards receiving on 7 catches, 26 yards rushing on 3 carries, and 83 return yards on punts and kickoffs. Barone finished 22-40 for 190 yards and one interception, along with 31 yards rushing on 17 carries. Peter Vano (Jr, Mahopac, NY) led the defense with 8.5 tackles and Sean Dixon (Jr, Sherrill, NY)

Both teams are in action next Saturday, September 20th. Husson travels to Norwich University, VT with kick off at 2:00 pm while Utica hose RPI at 1:30 pm.