Football Takes Charge in NEFC Boyd Division After 20-9 Win Over Plymouth State

October 24, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Ken Golner
(617) 333-2324
kgolner@curry.edu

CURRY TAKES CHARGE IN NEFC BOYD DIVISION AFTER 20-9 WIN OVER PLYMOUTH STATE

MILTON, Mass. – Senior quarterback Zach Cavanaugh (Marshfield, Mass.) ran for a 13-yard touchdown and threw a 48-yard scoring strike, leading Curry College past visiting Plymouth State, 20-9. The Colonels extended their win streak to six in improving to 6-2 overall. Curry also moved to 5-0 in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Boyd Division and took over sole possession of first place. The Panthers (6-2, 4-1) had their six-game overall winning streak snapped, as well as a 13-game Boyd Division winning streak dating back to 2007.

Plymouth State took the opening kickoff, drove 59 yards in nine plays, but was forced to settle for a 29-yard field goal from sophomore Chris Mulcahy (Norwich, Conn.) when the drive stalled at the Curry 12. The Colonels responded at 3:26 of the opening frame, evening the game at 3-3 on a 25-yard field goal by junior Matt Alksninis (Mansfield, Mass.).

On the Panthers’ next drive, junior quarterback J.J. Brooks (Seabrook, N.H.) threw the first of his three interceptions on the day, picked off by Curry senior linebacker Mike Murray (Brockton, Mass.) at the Colonels’ 44. With just two second remaining in the first quarter, Cavanaugh gave the hosts a 10-3 edge after his 13-yard scoring run.

The second quarter was a scoreless duel until Curry’s last possession of the half. Brooks’ second interception came with 43 seconds remaining, and a 17-yard return by sophomore cornerback Chris Haddad (Bellingham, Mass.) set the Colonels up at the Panthers’ 48. After a pair of incompletions, Cavanaugh connected with senior tight end Jeff Hibbard (Dedham, Mass.), who found the end zone after rumbling down the left side, giving Curry a 17-3 advantage at the break.

The only scoring in the third frame came at 7:57 when Alksninis extended the Curry lead to 20-3 by making good on his second field-goal attempt of the day, this time from 28 yards out. At 5:07 of the third, an Alksninis punt was downed at the Plymouth State 1-yard line. The Panthers then put together a 20-play, 99-yard, 10 ½ minute drive, finished off at 9:37 of the closing stanza when Brooks found paydirt from a yard away. That accounted for the 20-9 final, as the Curry defense later intercepted Brooks a third time and forced two turnovers on downs to preserve the win.

The Panthers held a slight edge in total yards (269-240) and a more significant edge in first downs (17-10) and time of possession (33:33-26:27). But Plymouth State committed four turnovers to Curry’s none.

Cavanaugh finished 5 of 12 for 87 yards. He also rushed nine times for a game-high 63 yards. Brooks went 7-for-21 for 120 yards, and also rushed 20 times for 50 yards. Defensively, Curry was led by senior linebacker Dan Dawson (Stoneham, Mass.), who amassed a game-high eight tackles (6 solo), including one tackle for loss, and a forced fumble. Junior safety Zach Parsons (Florence, Mass.) and senior defensive end Jim Sestito (Foxborough, Mass.) collected six tackles apiece to lead the Panthers. Sestito’s six hits included a pair of sacks for -6 yards.

Next Saturday, Curry travels to Nichols College for a 1 p.m. tilt, while Plymouth State returns home for a noon match-up with M.I.T.