Milton, MA - The Curry Football team defeated UNE on Saturday 47-30 to move to 8-1 on the season, and 6-0 in CNE play. The Nor'easters are now 7-2 and 4-2.

In a battle between two of the top teams in the conference, the game did not disappoint. The Nor'easters kicked things off with a quick TD on their first drive, but missed the XP. The Colonels had a quick response, which was set up by a 67-yard kickoff return by Jordan Depina. On the first play of the drive, Anthony Santino found Karim Chaplin II for a TD, but the Colonels also missed the XP, so it was 6-6. The Colonels would then add a nine-yard TD rush by Montie Quinn towards the end of the quarter, capping off an eight play, 70 yard drive. Curry then added a FG early in the second to go up 16-6. But the Nor'easters stormed back and scored the last 17 points of the half, and opened the second half with a TD, putting them up 30-16.

Facing their second largest deficit of the season, the Colonels looked towards their graduate student QB Anthony Santino. On the next drive Santino completed all three pass attempts, and ran for 14 yards, including a TD. The Colonels then looked towards their defense for a crucial stop. They seemingly did just that, stopping UNE on a 3rd and six, but a late flag was thrown for pass interference, and the Nor'easters would later line up for 30-yard FG. But the kick, on the 18th play of the drive, was no good, and gave the ball back to the Colonels.

After being quiet for a majority of the game, All-American Montie Quinn kicked the drive off with a 32-yard run to get into UNE territory. Then a wild Santino run where he ran around the pocket, then took off, gained 12 yards, it set things up for a 21-yard strike to Wesley Williams. Williams caught the Santino pass with one arm, and a defender all over him, but was able to come down with it. The ensuing XP tied things up at 30 just seconds into the 4th.

The Colonels defense then got a quick three and out, and got the ball back right around midfield. It only took a few plays, and then Quinn raced off for 28 yards to give the Colonels a 37-30 lead. The Curry defense then forced another quick punt, and the Colonels got the ball back with about eight minutes remaining. Once again Quinn led the drive off with a long run, this time a 45 yarder. This set up a 41 -yard FG for Omar Aboutoui, which the kicker nailed to put Curry up 40-30.

The Nor'easters would drive to the Curry 25-yard line, but a Jathan Greene interception stopped that drive, and all but ended the game. The Colonels would close things out with a four yard Jordan Depina TD, which was set up by a Montie Quinn 60-yard run.

Quinn moved up quite a few DIII rankings with his performance. He now has 6,645 career rushing yards, and passed Justin Beaver (2004-2007) of Wisconsin Whitewater for the 6th most rushing yards in a DIII career. He also crossed the 2,000 yard mark, the 28th such season in DIII history. His season total of 2,210 currently places him in 12th. He is currently averaging 245.6 yards per game this season, which would break the DIII record of 238.5.

Quinn was not the only Colonel to get things done on the ground, as Santino ran for 88 yards on 11 carries. He also added 133 yards in the air on 9-16 passing.

Defensively, both Leo Yardumian and Shane Field each had 10 tackles, while Pete Jurovich had two sacks.

Prior to the game the Colonels recognized their 20 seniors.

Up Next - The Colonels will travel to Endicott next Saturday for a defacto CNE Championship game, with the winner clinching the conference championship. The Gulls have won each of the last four conference championships. That game will kickoff at 12pm. The Colonels have lost 13 of the last 14 matchups between the two teams, including the last six.