Box Score Bangor, ME – Husson University football picked up its first win of the 2012 season in thrilling fashion on Saturday, as the Eagles came back to win on a 75-yard Ryan Dorso touchdown with less than two minutes to go in the game.
Scoring opened up in the first quarter as Husson won the toss and deferred to the second half. Anna Maria used up 2:35 on their opening drive, highlighted by a 36-yard Santino Simone keeper, bringing the AMCATs to the Husson 30. Robert Small then rushed twice for a total of 11 yards, bringing AMC to the 19. An 11-yard Simone pass to David Marsh set up an 8-yard Robert Small touchdown run with 12:25 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point attempt was botched and turned into an impromptu two-point conversion attempt which also failed.
The Eagles wouldn't be outdone however as on the very next drive Husson took the lead. Starting at the Husson 42, Dorso took handoffs on four of the first five plays of the drive, totaling 30 yards. Quarterback Kash Keezer ran on the other play, racking up 9 yards of his own. After their three first downs and a 9-yard rush by Byron Jackson, Keezer threw to a streaking Devin Sherman in the end zone for at 12-yard score. Week one rookie of the week Reece Attard came in for the extra point, making the score 7-6 in favor of the Eagles.
For the rest of the first quarter and into the second, both teams traded punts on failed drives. The next score would come in favor of the Eagles as Simone crucially fumbled at the Husson 40. Stephan Dance was first on the ball, scooping it up and running back 60 yards for the score. Attard added the PAT once again, pushing the Husson lead to 14-6.
The AMCATs then used a 29-yard pass play to Dom Concepcion bringing Anna Maria all the way to the Husson 9. AMC rushed on the next three plays, good for only 5 yards, forcing kicker Jamal Mitchell onto the field for a 20-yard field goal. Husson still lead, however, 14-9.
Anna Maria took the lead going into the half, scoring with just under three minutes to go in the frame. The 'CATs marched 92 yards downfield for the score, eating almost four minutes off the clock. AMC used plays of 14, 22 and 27 to fuel the drive, capped off with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Simone to Concepcion at 2:55. Anna Maria led at half, 16-14.
Dorso got himself into the mix again almost 9 minutes into the third quarter as the Eagles put together an efficient scoring drive in under three minutes. Doros ran for 19 yards on three carries and Keezer threw to Ben Foss for 18 and Casey Ford for 20. Dorso then capped off the drive he started by busting out a 33-yard touchdown to regain the lead for the Eagles, 21-16.
Fast forward to late in the fourth quarter, as AMC started their second-second-to last drive at the Husson 49. Robert Small rushed for 12 yards, Chris Bettano rushed for six of his own and Simone connect with Concepcion yet again, bringing the AMCATs to the Husson 21. Small had his number called again on the very next play, scampering into the end zone for a 21-yard score. Anna Maria seemed in control late, as they led 22-21.
On the very first play of Husson's next drive Dorso had his druthers, as Keezer handed off to the sophomore running back one last time at the Eagle 25. Dorso elected to cut through the middle of the offensive line, moving through a hole and then turned to his right to run up the Husson sideline. Dorso would not be touched again as he sped 75-yards for the winning score.
The Husson defense was also up to the challenge, stopping AMC on their next and final drive. Simone threw four incomplete passes, paired with a huge sack from Husson's Bryant Wade forcing Anna Maria to turnover on downs.
"I'm extremely proud of the team today," said head coach Sean Murphy. "The guys were really tested throughout different parts of the game and they had to respond late to a late score. The offense came back and didn't miss a beat; they came right back out there and on the first play had an explosive run by Ryan [Dorso]. Again, I couldn't be prouder of the way the guys played and competed against a team that was coming in off a big win for their program as well. We finally got some momentum and were able to capitalize. Now we look forward and move on to the next one."
Next week (week 4) the Eagles have a bye and then travel to Massachusetts to take on Becker College on the 29th at 4:00pm in Husson's first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference game of the year.
