Wilson shines in Saint Anselm loss
EASTON, Mass. - Senior Marc Wilson recorded a game-high 13 catches, including a touchdown, but the Saint Anselm College football team suffered a 35-7 defeat against Stonehill College in the sixth annual Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk on Saturday afternoon at W.B. Mason Stadium.
The Hawks drop to 1-8 on the season, including 1-6 in Northeast-10 play. The Skyhawks up their record to 3-7, 2-5.
After Stonehill quarterback Logan Meyer hooked up with John Gomes and Zaire Reiph on respective 54- and 60-yard touchdown passes in the first quarter, Wilson reeled in a pass from junior quarterback Mike Pierce and sprinted 14 yards up the right side before slipping inside the pylon for his fourth receiving touchdown of the year. The point-after by junior Shea Cerio sliced the Saint Anselm deficit to 14-7 1:28 into the second quarter.
The Skyhawks added to their lead with 2:54 remaining in the opening half when Jamal Johnson capped an eight-play, 55-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. Michael Kielbasa's extra point made it 21-7.
Stonehill was not finished in the first half, however, as it forced a quick three-and-out before driving 50 yards in four plays with just 38 seconds coming off the clock to widen the lead to 21. Justin Willis finished off the drive with a 31-yard touchdown run with 1:02 on the clock and after a Kielbasa extra point, the Skyhawks led, 28-7.
The game stayed that way through the third quarter before a 13-yard touchdown pass from Meyer to Thomas Sullivan closed a five-play, 77-yard drive that made it 35-7 after the Kielbasa point-after just 2:55 into the fourth.
Willis rushed for 136 yards on 22 carries, while Meyer was 20 for 37 for 285 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Senior Kyle Hayes picked off his second pass of the season in the first quarter, while sophomore Ethan Sylvain pulled in his team-leading fifth interception in the third quarter.
Wilson racked up 158 yards of all-purpose offense, including 59 through the air. Pierce, who went over 2,000 yards passing for the season, was 19 of 38 for 85 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. In relief, freshman quarterback Stephen Cuipa was 5 of 6 for 18 yards, with his lone misfire coming on an interception late in the fourth.
Junior linebacker Chris Bent tallied a game-high 14 tackles, including five for a loss and a sack. Bent also recovered a fumble in the first quarter after freshman Isaac Jorgensen jarred the ball loose after Gomes made a 2-yard catch. Hayes made eight stops, including 1.5 for a loss.
The Hawks return to action in the regular-season finale Saturday at noon when they play host to 10th-ranked University of New Haven at Grappone Stadium on Senior Day.
