Bangor, Maine – John Smith rushed for over 100 yards for the seventh time this season and the 15th of his career, leaving him two shy of the career mark as the Eagles defeated Mount Ida, 20-7, in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action on Saturday afternoon at Winkin Sports Complex. With Norwich losing to Castleton today, Husson clinches a share of their second-consecutive ECFC Championship as Norwich will represent the ECFC in the 2015 NCAA DIII Football Championship Tournament due to ECFC predetermined tiebreaking procedures.
Husson (7-2, 6-1 ECFC) wins its first back-to-back games in the series for the first time in seven years, while Mount Ida (2-8, 2-5 ECFC) loses its fourth-consecutive game on the season. The Mustangs lead the all-time series 8-5.
The Eagles struck first with 8:29 remaining in the first half when John Smith punched in his 16th rushing touchdown on the season setting a new single-season school record with a 3-yard run. Husson led 7-0 going into the intermission.
Husson extended their lead to 14 after Rick Orio intercepted a Junior Smith pass at the Mustang 29. Four plays later Cory Brandon connected on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Robenson Saintard with 1:59 left in the third quarter.
The Eagles put the game out of reach on Smith's second rushing touchdown of the game when he broke loose for an 18-yard score at the 14:54 mark of the fourth quarter.
The Mustangs only score on the day came with 10:02 left in the game, a Travis O'Brien 2-yard run capping off a 7 play, 72-yard drive.
Husson totaled 299 yard of offense in the victory with 110 via the air and 189 on the ground. The 5th ranked Eagle defensive held Mount Ida to 108 yards of total offense the second lowest allowed on the season by the Eagles.
Smith carried the ball for a game-high 39 times for 198 yards and two scores giving him 262 attempts for 1,457 yards on the season. He now has the most attempts and yards by any Eagle player in program history for a single-season.
Cory Brandon in his first collegiate start of his career connected on 12-of-21 passes for 110 yards with one touchdown.
Saintard was Brandon's main target on the day, catching four passes for 18-yards and one touchdown giving him six on the season.
Andrew Light, Smith, Chris Toyloy and Mike Whitsett completed 7-of-17 passes for 90 yards and two interceptions. Cedric Baker caught two passes for 70 yards and Melquawn Pinkney rushed for 24 yards on 17 carries.
Ellis Throckmorton paced the Husson defense with 13 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss (tfl), 0.5 sack and two quarterback hurries. Bryant Wade added ten tackles and 0.5 tfl, while Alonzo Connor record 6 tackles and two sacks. Orio and Jean Gabriel each had an interception.
The Mustang's defense saw 13 tackles from Sean Chinova, 12 from Matt Martin, 9 from Daniel Billy and 8 from Armand Rivera. Rivera added a game-high 5.5 tfl.
Husson recognized 18 seniors prior to the game for their accomplishments with the Husson University football program: Matt Archer, Alex Cardenas, Stephen Colvin, Seth Freudenberger, Jon Geagan, Jack Goldberg,Tobey Harrington, Josiah Hartley, Jordan Hersom, Tyler Lyle, Derek Miller, Ian Palmer, Matt Pellerin, Joe Seccareccia, Tyler Shanklin, Jared Shufeldt, Jordan Shufeldt and Wade.
With the win the Eagles put themselves in good standing for one of the 12 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference bowl bids for next weekend at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn. With the loss the Mustangs will conclude the 2015 season.
