CASTLETON, Vermont – John Smith and Logan Steward of Hampden each rushed for over 100 yards to lead the Husson University football team to a 47-26 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference win at Castleton State on Saturday afternoon.
Smith finished with 179 yards on 29 carries and two scores while Steward had 120 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns for the Eagles (5-1, 4-0 ECFC), who now are in sole possession of first place in the standings.
Husson built a 37-16 halftime advantage, receiving Jeff Turcotte’s tackle for a safety and a 37-yard interception return for a score from Parker Asselin, along with a nine-yard TD run by Smith.
George Busharis (27-for-56, 398 yards) threw to Zachary Howe for both of Castleton State’s scores in the half.
Husson quarterback Joe Seccareccia of Bangor (13-for-24, 173 yards) hooked up with Josiah Hartley of Bangor for a 25-yard score, then Steward added a one-yard touchdown plunge.
After a field goal by the Spartans (4-3, 2-2 ECFC), Smith capped a 92-yard march with a four-yard run.
The Eagles added Josh Gray’s 22-yard field goal in the third quarter.
Ellis Throckmorton of Bangor led the Husson defense with a game-high 12 tackles and a sack. Stephan Dance and Kenny Sweet also had interceptions.
The teams combined for 986 yards of offense.
MMA 62, Nichols 43
DUDLEY, Mass. – Freshman Jacob Doolan of Fairfield piled up 206 yards and three touchdowns and James Ferrar of Cumberland rushed for 110 more and another score to power Maine Maritime Academy to a New England Football Conference victory.
Quarterback Michael Fahey carried the ball 16 times for 79 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 145 yards and three scored on 5-of-9 accuracy as the Mariners (3-3, 2-2 NEFC) amassed 604 yards of offense (495 rushing, 145 passing).
MMA, which scored a touchdown on nine of its first 12 possessions, averaged 7.8 yards per rush. The Mariners survived four turnovers behind a defense led by junior linebacker John Doyon of Hampden, who registered 19 tackles, including 13 solos.
For Nichols, Brett Franciosi racked up 326 yards of total offense and Bryan Hummel scored five touchdowns. Hummel threw for 163 yards and three scores and ran for two more while Franciosi notched 125 rushing yards, 123 on kick returns and 78 on receptions.
Nichols featured a pair of double-digit tacklers in Brett McEvoy (14) and Orlando Vega (10).
The Bison led 16-14 after one quarter behind a one-yard TD run from Hummel, an 11-yard TD reception by Whitney, and a 26-yard field goal from junior Connor Haynes. Maine Maritime then hit on two big plays to account for its points – a 53-yard TD run from Doolan and a 67-yard scoring run from Ferrar.
The Mariners outscored Nichols 28-14 in the second quarter as Fahey tossed a 67-yard pass to Jordan Susi before Nichols answered when Franciosi caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Hummel.
In the closing seconds, Doolan caught a pass over the middle and scampered 61 yards for a touchdown.
Jordan Hevey opened the second-half scoring with a 28-yard reception that extended MMA’s lead to 49-30.