Freshman running back Emmanuel Johnson (Staten Island, N.Y.) pounded the ball over the goal line with 36 seconds remaining in the contest to lift visiting Morrisville State College football in a 34-33 come-from-behind thriller over host Western Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon in Danbury.
Morrisville State notches their first win of 2012 and improves to 1-5 overall, 1-3 in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) action, while WestConn has yet to find a win as they drop to 0-6 overall, 0-5 in conference play.
Johnson led all ball carriers on the ground, getting the call 14 times for 72 net yards, while posting two receptions for an additional 16 yards on the day. Sophomore Earl Snead (Wappinger Falls, N.Y.) added 67 yards on 17 carries for the Mustangs in the running game. Snead also added four catches for 51-yards to his tallies on the day.
Freshman quarterback Jory Tanner (Adams, N.Y.) registered his second straight 200+ yard passing game, connecting on 24-of-39 passes for 246 yards and three touchdown scores. Eight completions were to junior wide receiver AJ Latta (Middletown, N.Y.) who recorded 71 yards and a score, including the go ahead scoring pass play early in the fourth quarter.
Jack Glen (Syracuse, N.Y.) led the Mustangs defensive efforts with six total tackles, all solo stops, while six additional teammates recorded four tackles apiece, including Austin Erlwein (Jeffersonville, N.Y.) who registered four solo stops, a pass break-up and recovered a fumble. David Williams (Central Islip, N.Y.) also posted four total tackles, including a sack for a loss of four yards.
WestConn quarterback Will Arndt went 17-for-34 on the day for 281 yards and three scores, completing six to Falguerra for 107 yards and two scores. Octavius McKoy led the Colonials on the ground, posting 60 yards on 19 carries.
Tyrell Ballard led the WestConn defensive efforts, posting 12 tackles, including two for a loss of four yards, while teammates Corey Lawlor and Michael Lacaria each added nine.
WestConn took an early lead just 2:41 in, scoring on the first drive of the contest as Arndt found Falguerra on a nine-yard pass play for the touchdown. Morrisville State responded on the ensuing drive, as Tanner connected with Snead on a 14-yard pass to complete the 13-play, 76-yard drive with 5:20 showing on the clock in the first.
Morrisville State took their first lead of the contest at 10:59, as Snead capped off the 72 yard drive with a seven yard rushing score. The Colonials responded with a huge kick-off return into Mustang territory that was later converted into the tying score from Arndt to Falguerra.
WestConn took the lead just before the half and added another scoring drive with 4:27 to go in the third for a 27-14 advantage over Morrisville State, but Tanner struck quick, finding a wide open Robert Clarke (New York, N.Y.) for a 54-yard scoring pass to bring the Mustangs within six.
Moving the ball into the redzone early in the fourth, Morrisville State’s Jeremy Stewart (Moravia, N.Y.) forced a crucial WestConn fumble which was recovered by Erlwein, keeping the Colonials at length.
WestConn then forced a quick three and out series on the ensuing Mustang drive, but again coughed up the ball on the punt, positioning Morrisville State for the go ahead score with 9:33 to go. Stewart recovered the ball at the 50 yard line on a fumble by Falguerra, and Tanner found Latta 11 plays later on a nine yard scoring pass play to give the Mustangs the 28-27 lead.
The Colonials found the endzone with 3:43 to go, regaining the lead, but Tanner took control and completed six clutch passes for 52 total yards, including two straight to march the Mustangs down to the WestConn 11 yard line late in the contest. A 10-yard run by Johnson positioned Morrisville State on the one-yard line with under a minute to go, and on the next play, pounded the ball across the goal line for the game winning score.
Morrisville State returns to the field next Saturday, hosting William Paterson at noon on Drake Field. The contest will also be the Mustangs Take A Kid to the Game day.