BANGOR, Maine — In a game that featured 811 total yards of offense, it was a defensive play that decided Saturday’s NCAA Division III college football game between Husson University and Alfred State of New York.
Husson senior strong safety Stephan Dance intercepted Ben Wilkerson’s pass in the first overtime series and Husson, needing just a field goal on its possession, received a two-yard touchdown run from junior quarterback Joe Seccareccia to beat the Pioneers 34-28 in a thriller at the Winkin Complex.
Wilkerson was being chased and tried to hit a well-covered Erik Simmons only to have Dance step in front and pick it off.
“I tried to make a play but I should have just lived for another down,” said Wilkerson.
“It was a great play by the safety,” said Simmons, who caught three TD passes from Wilkerson.
Husson, now 1-1, overcame a scintillating performance by elusive and determined Alfred State senior running back Rasheed Williams, who rushed for 234 yards on 27 carries including a 75-yard touchdown run.
Following the Dance interception, the ball was placed at the A-25 and Husson used a six-yard pass from Seccareccia to Ryan Stroud, a nine-yarder to Deon Wiggins and a pair of runs by Logan Steward to move the ball to the two before Seccareccia extended his 6-foot-5 frame over the goal line to end it.
The Eagles were fortunate to reach overtime as Keegan Phalen’s 41-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds remaining sailed wide of the left upright.
Alfred State, now 0-3, had put together a seven-play, 36-yard drive to move the ball to the H-24.
“I had been playing the wind the whole game. I was playing the left upright but the wind died and the ball went straight as an arrow,” said Phalen whose kick had plenty of distance.
The Eagles had tied the game with 3:45 remaining when they marched 62 yards on 11 plays.
Seccareccia completed a pass of 12 yards to his former Bangor High School teammate Josiah Hartley and another of eight yards to Wiggins in third-and-five situations to pick up crucial first downs and Steward capped the drive with a five-yard run around the left end off an option play.
“We had to keep drives alive. We made some big plays,” said Seccareccia, who completed 24-of-35 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns. Most of his passes involved quick throws to the wide receivers.
“Their corners were playing eight or nine yards off our receivers,” said Seccareccia.
Kyle McKinnon staked Husson to a 7-0 lead with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter before Wilkerson lofted a nine-yard fade pass to Simmons in the corner to make it 7-6.
The sure-handed Simmons was able to capitalize on his athleticism and height advantage against Husson’s small corners and safeties. Simmons is 6-4 and none of Husson’s defensive backs was over 6-feet.
Seccareccia and Wiggins hooked up on a 32-yard TD strike in the second quarter to make it 14-6 as Wiggins made a sensational diving catch in the corner of the end zone.
But the Pioneers answered just 21 seconds later when Williams weaved through traffic before busting loose for his 75-yard jaunt to slice the lead at the half.
“I don’t think we’re going to face a better running back (than Williams) all year,” said Husson standout linebacker Ellis Throckmorton. “We knew he was going to get the ball but he still ran all over us. That says something about how good he was.”
Seccareccia threw a 22-yard strike to Stroud to cap an eight-play 72-yard drive late in the third quarter but Alfred State tied it one minute into the fourth quarter when Wilkerson floated a 13-yard touchdown pass into the corner for Simmons before the duo hooked up again on the two-point conversion.
The Pioneers took their only lead in the game with 8:31 remaining when Simmons made a terrific play, ripping Wilkerson’s 35-yard pass out of the hands of 5-foot-7 Husson cornerback Marquis Jiminez for the TD.
Wiggins and Stroud each had eight receptions and a touchdown for Husson. Wiggins had 99 receiving yards and Stroud had 81 yards.
McKinnon gained 50 yards on 14 carries, Seccareccia had 43 on eight and Steward had 37 on 10. Dance was in on 11 tackles, including five solos, to pace the Husson defense along with free safety Jean Gabriel (6 solos), Throckmorton (5 solos, 2 assists) and Jiminez (4 & 2).
Wilkerson completed 14-of-26 passes for 175 yards and Simmons finished with five catches for 69 yards and his three TDs.
Free safety Phalen (7 solos, 1 assist) and middle linebacker Nick DePofi (6 & 2) led the Pioneer defense.