MILTON, Mass. – Curry College downed visiting Bridgewater State University 28-24 in non-conference action Friday night at Walter M. Katz Field. The Colonels improve to 1-0 on the season while the Bears fall to 0-1.
Bridgewater got on the board first, putting together a 16-play, 54 yard drive that ended with a field goal by Sophomore Jack Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.). On the ensuing drive, Curry answered with a 10-play, 62 yard drive that was capped by a 31-yard touchdown run by Junior Alex Corvese (Cranston, R.I.). Sophomore Marc Mrozek (Stratford, Conn.) would tack on the extra point to give the Colonels a 7-3 lead.
The Bears would punt on the following drive, pinning the Colonels back to their own 11-yard line to start the drive. Corvese and the Colonels would string together a 10-play, 89-yard drive that spanned the rest of the first quarter and two minutes into the second. On a 1st and 10 from their own 46- yard line, Corvese would connect with Senior Nate Chartrand (Pelham, N.H.) for a 49-yard completion to get the Colonels down to the Bridgewater five-yard line. Freshman D'Aundray Burcy (Hyde Park, Mass.) would go on to catch a five-yard touchdown pass from Corvese. The point after was no good and the Purple and White would take a 13-3 lead.
After a three-and-out by Bridgewater, the Colonels looked to capitalize, but an interception by Junior Cristian Rivera (Lawrence, Mass.) on the following drive by would give the Bears the ball back on the Bridgewater 39-yard line. Curry's defense stood tall, forcing the Bears to punt for third time in the half.
Curry tacked on a field goal after a 17-play, 71-yard drive that ate up six minutes and a half minutes. Mrozek connected from 30-yards out to give the Colonels a 16-3 lead going into the half.
Curry received the kick to start the second half, but couldn't put much together, as the Bears forced a punt. On the following drive, Senior Joseph Grogan (Forestdale, Mass.) broke through the line and hit Senior Danny Higgins (Manahawkin, NJ) forcing the ball to pop loose. Senior Sean Conroy would jump on the loose ball, giving the Colonels that ball back on the Bears 18-yard line.
Curry extended their lead to 19 when Corvese found Senior Jake Cawlina (Danvers, Mass.) for a seven-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. Bridgewater would put together a 13-play, 73-yard drive that would span just over five minutes, ending with a three-yard touchdown run by Junior Alex McLaughlin (Littleton, Mass.). Lavanchy would tack on the extra point to cut the Colonels lead down to 12 with one and a half minutes left in the third quarter.
The teams would trade the next two possessions back and forth, until the Colonels would nab their final score of the game, a 23-yard touchdown run by Burcy would extend the Colonels lead to 18 with nine minutes remaining in the game.
On the ensuing drive, Bridgewater put together a 6-play, 73-yard drive that took just under two minutes off the clock. Higgins would find Lavanchy on a 16-yard catch-and-run. The Bears would attempt a two-point conversion and be successful with the try. Higgins would find Junior Travis Basset (Littleton, Mass.). Curry's lead would be shortened to ten with seven minutes remaining in the game.
Bridgewater looked to make the most of a Corvese fumble that would give the Bears the ball on the midfield line with just under six minutes to play. The Bears drove down the field, but a strong goal-line stand by the Colonels would force Bridgewater to go for it on fourth and one. Junior Steven Grogan (Forestdale, Mass.) and Senior Christian Braga (Acushnet, Mass.) would stuff McLaughlin on the one-yard line, giving the Colonels the ball back with three minutes remaining in the game.
The Colonels offense would go three-and-out, but not before eating up a minute and forty four seconds of clock. Mrozek would get off a 46-yard punt from deep in his own end zone, giving the ball back to the Bears with just over a minute remaining in the game. Bridgewater would waste little time, as they would string together a three-play, 46-yard drive in just 17 seconds finishing with a touchdown pass to Bassett from Higgins. Levanchy had a chance to put the Bears down by just a field goal, but missed the extra point.
Bridgewater would attempt an on-side kick, but Senior Anthony Nastasi (River Edge, NJ) would fall on the ball, securing the victory for the Colonels.
The Colonels offence was led by Corvese, who went 27-36 for 259 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Freshman Tyler Furey (Atkinson, N.H.) led the Colonels backfield with 40 yards on the ground. Nastasi reeled in 12 passes for 96 yards. On the defensive side, Curry was led by Junior Devin Williams ( Gardner, Mass.) who totaled 11 tackles (seven solo).
For the Bears, Higgins completed 29 or 44 attempts for 258 yards and two touchdowns. McLaughlin led the charge on the ground, rushing 14 times for 51 yards and one touchdown. Lavanchy was the leading receiver for the Bears, grabbing ten passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. Senior A.J. Pascuzzo (Wallingford, CT.) and Senior Elvis Romero (Wayne, NJ.) both tallied eight tackles on the night. Romero also forced a fumble.
Bridgewater returns to action September 10, when the welcome Kean University. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 PM.
Curry returns to the field on Saturday, September 17 when the welcome the Amcats of Anna Maria College to Walter M. Katz Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
