Castleton, VT - Husson University defeated Castleton State College 35-20 toin Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action Saturday afternoon at Spartan Stadium. Husson amassed 339 rushing yards on 37 carries to improve to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in ECFC play.  Castleton falls to 0-4 in conference play and 2-5 overall. Husson travels to Mount Ida  next Saturday for a pivotal ECFC match-up at 1:00 pm. The Spartans will travel to Becker for a 12:00 pm ECFC kick-off with the Hawks.

Castleton held a first-half advantage in time of possession (21:31-to-8:29) and total plays (46-to-20), but while Castleton was grinding out drives and settling for a pair of field goals, Husson was using the big play to set up four touchdowns.  Julius Williams (Boston, MA) ran Husson's first play from scrimmage 73 yards down the left sideline before being dragged down by Castleton's Preston Jones (Fryeburg, ME) at the Castleton two-yardine. On the next play freshman Byron Jackson (Bridgeport, CT) plunged in for the touchdown. Carlos Romero (Coral Springs, FL) tacked on the extra point to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead just 47 seconds into the contest.

Castleton answered on the ensuing drive, running 13 plays for 55 yards, capped by a Luis Robitaille (Poughkeepsie, NY) 38-yard field goal. After a Husson three-and-out series, the Spartans put together a 12-play 45 yard drive that spanned 5:42 for yet another Robitaille field goal, this time good from 40 yards. Castleton had a great opportunity for a touchdown after Shane Brozowski (Rensselaer, NY) hooked up with Tyler Carpenter (Fort Edward, NY) for a 16-yard gain and a first down to the Husson 16-yard line. A pair of Chris Dalecki (Elliot, ME) sacks pushed the Spartans back to the 29, making it third down and 23 yards to go, extinguishing the threat.

Williams then exploded for three second quarter touchdowns, putting the Eagles out in front at halftime 28-6. The senior had scoring runs of four, 59 and 40 yards, all followed by Romero extra points in the quarter. Williams' first touchdown came after he had already had a rush of 57 yards called back by an illegal blocking penalty. Jackson gained 52 of those back on rushes of 25, six and 21 respectively, before Williams capped the drive from four yards out. After a Castleton punt, Williams took the first play from scrimmage 59 yards for his second-straight score. Castleton put together another lengthy drive that spanned 3:53, going 48 yards on nine plays, but Robitaille hit the crossbar on a 36-yard attempt. Williams capped a five-play, 81-yard drive with a 40-yard touchdown for the final tally of the half.  After a scoreless third period, Castleton opened the fourth quarter with a 10-play, 54-yard drive capped by a Carpenter touchdown from two yards out. Farmer and Brozowski hooked for a 21-yard completion on a second-down-and-12 to set up the score. Robitaille booted the extra point to make it 28-13.

Husson answered with nine-play scoring drive, finished off by a Jack Hersom (Sidney, ME) quarterback keeper into the end zone from seven yards out. Romero was once again good on the PAT and Husson led 35-13.

A botched snap on a punt attempt gave Castleton great field position at the Husson 36 yard line for the final scoring drive. Carpenter capped the drive with three-straight runs, spanning 10 yards, culminating in a one-yard score.

Williams went off for 223 yards rushing on 15 attempts to lead the Eagle offense. Jackson added 95 yards on 11 carries. Dalecki led the defense with 10 tackles, including 4.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. Dalecki also added a tipped pass late in the game to complete and all around performance.