NEWPORT, R.I. – The Curry College football team fell to Salve Regina University by a 34-13 final in Commonwealth Coast Football (CCC Football) action on Saturday afternoon at Toppa Field. With the win, the Seahawks finished the season at 4-6 overall and 3-4 in conference action. The Colonels wrap up its campaign at 2-8 overall and 2-5 in league play.
Salve Regina tallied the lone score of the opening quarter as they put together an eight-play, 90-yard series, finished off by a 37-yard run by sophomore Connor Welsh (North Middletown, N.J.). Freshman Matteo Marasco (Delray Beach, Fla.) tacked on the extra point to make the score 7-0.
Following a Curry fumble, which set up good field position for the Seahawks, the home squad used three plays to get in field goal range for senior Angelo DiSanto (North Reading, Mass.). He set up and split the uprights from 42 yards out to extend the lead to 10-0.
The Colonels got on the board on the next possession, travelling 62 yards in 11 plays. The drive was finished off by a three-yard pass from senior Nick Juvelier (Centereach, N.Y.) to freshman Gabriel Desouza (North Andover, Mass.). The reception marked Desouza's ninth touchdown grab of the season. Freshman Evan Damian's (East Haven, Conn.) point-after was blocked by senior Brandon Caplan (Hopatcong, N.J.) and returned by junior Matt Sylvia (East Greenwich, R.I.) 98 yards to the end zone for two points to push the score to 12-6 in favor of Salve Regina.
The Seahawks got the ball back and went 67 yards in seven plays, capped off by a 15-yard pass by junior Jake Kelleher (Hopkinton, Mass.) to senior Mike Nestor (Danvers, Mass.). DiSanto found the end zone for a two-point conversion off of a rush to extend the lead to 20-6.
After a Colonels' three-and-out, Salve Regina regained possession and drove 65 yards in six plays in just 1:10. Junior Tyler McGovern (Attleboro, Mass.) connected with Nestor for his second score of the day on a 12-yard connection. DiSanto converted the extra point to make the score 27-6.
Neither team found the end zone in the third quarter and then traded scores in the final stanza.
On the opening drive of the fourth, freshman Robert Gomes (Plymouth, Mass.) scampered in from 11 yards out for the rushing touchdown. DiSanto added the PAT to send the score to 34-6.
Curry only needed one play to get its final score of the contest as Juvelier aired one out for classmate Nick Villanueva (Hanson, Mass.) for a 55-yard passing touchdown. Damian was successful on the extra point to make the score 34-13, the eventual final.
The Colonels were led offensively by Juvelier who threw 20 completions on 45 attempts for 182 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. Junior Zach Levy (Bellingham, Mass.) was the leading rusher for the team with 33 yards on 13 carries. Villanueva paced the receiving corps with 95 yards on five receptions and one score.
Defensively, sophomore Gregory Silvia (Coventry, R.I.) led Curry with six solo tackles and added one assisted tackle. Silvia also tacked one tackle for loss and one pass breakup. Freshman Kevin Peete (Boston, Mass.) was not far behind with six stops.
Salve Regina was paced by McGovern, who threw for 218 yards on 16-for-27 with one touchdown. Welsh led the ground game with 107 yards on 12 carries and also found the end zone once. Nestor tallied a game-high seven receptions for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Zack Catarius (Sandwich, Mass.) paced all players with nine tackles. Senior Drew Balestrieri (Lynnfield, Mass.) and junior Matt Messner (Midland Park, N.J.) each finished with the second-most tackles for the Seahawks, tallying seven each.
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