Morrisville State seniors end career with 48-25 win over WestConn

The Morrisville State College football team posted a 48-25 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) victory over visiting Western Connecticut State University Saturday afternoon on Drake Field in Morrisville.



Morrisville State was first to strike, putting six up on the scoreboard with 11:24 to go in the first quarter as Kaylin Johnson (Jamaica, NY) blocked the Colonials punt attempt which set up a 24-yard pass from senior Joe Shue (Fulton, NY) to AJ Latta (Middletown, NY) for the score.



WestConn responded just over three minutes later, completing a six play 75-yard drive with a Tyler DeRosa (Miller Place, NY) four-yard run.



Less than a minute later, Shue found senior Kyle Gordon (Riverhead, NY) for a 53-yard completion and senior fullback Sean Barrett (Hopewell Junction, NY) carried the ball 11-yards into the endzone, to regain the led for the Mustangs with just over seven minutes remaining in the quarter.



With 1:08 to go, Shue capped off an eight play, 80-yard drive with a three-yard run to increase the Mustang lead to 20-7 at the end of one.



In the second, DeRosa tallied his second of three scores on the day on a five-yard run to cut the Morrisville State lead to seven.



An interception by defensive back Walter Miles (Coram, NY) midway through the quarter, led to a second Barrett touchdown on the ensuing drive, as the Mustangs took the 27-13 lead into the half.



The Mustangs defensive unit and special teams took over midway through the third quarter to extend Morrisville State's lead to 41-13. Just over five minutes to go, Jeremy Stewart (Moravia, NY) intercepted Kevin Smolensky (Lyndhurst, NJ) and returned the ball 25-yards for the score. Less than a minute later on the ensuing WestConn drive, Stewart blocked the punt attempt and Johnson recovered in the endzone for the special teams score.



DeRosa posted his third touchdown of the afternoon with just 40 seconds remaining in the third, capping off an 80-yard drive with a 27-yard run.



In the final quarter, Smolensky found Dave Plaskon (Milford, CT) on a 28-yard pass play to cut the lead to 41-25.



After an on-side kick recovery by the Colonials, Smolensky threw deep to Plaskon, but Stewart intercepted his second pass and returned it 34-yards to set up a five play, 42-yard drive, capped off by a one-yard scoring run from senior Peter Enriquez (Staten Island, NY) with 49 seconds remaining.



Smolensky moved the Colonials quickly up field in an attempt to post a late score, but his final pass of the afternoon landed in the hands of senior defensive back Tommy Moyon (Woodside, NY), who returned the ball 37-yards to the midfield.



Barrett led the Mustangs with 106-yards and two scores in the running game as Enriquez added 56 and a score for Morrisville State. Shue connected on 8-for-18 passes for 174-yards and a touchdown, four to Gordon for 118-yards.



Sam Pelham (Voorheesville, NY) and Anthony Brown (Rochester, NY) each posted 10 total tackles to lead the defensive unit, while Moyon added nine. Stewart recorded five total, while intercepting two for 59-yards.



DeRosa led all ball carriers with 110-yards on the ground for three Colonial touchdowns, while Smolensky went 21-for-47 for 323-yards and a score, throwing four interceptions. Plaskon tallied 156-yards on seven receptions for a score to lead the receiving corp.



Greg Galasso (Brewester, NY) led the defensive efforts with 14 total tackles, eight solo, as Pete Johnson (Hartford, CT) added eight as WestConn closes out the 2010 campaign with a 0-10 record, 0-9 in conference action.



Prior to the start of the game, Morrisville State's senior class of Enriquez, Shue, Barrett, Moyon, Pelham, Gordon, Matt Percoski (Altamont, NY), Justin Balducci (Merrick, NY) and Nick Omilanowicz (Cicero, NY) were honored.



Morrisville State concludes the 2010 season with a 2-8 overall record, 2-7 in NJAC play.