Football runs down Mount Ida, 31-21

PLYMOUTH – The Plymouth State University Football team closed their 2005 season on a promising note, rushing past the Mustangs of Mount Ida College by a final score of 31-20 last Saturday at Currier Field. The Panthers did most of their damage on the ground, rushing for 280 of their 348 total yards on the day. Sophomore John DeMarco carried the ball 24 times for 146 yards and one touchdown, while sophomore Brent Gallant ran 15 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. The Mustangs got most of their offense from junior Antwan Harris, who gained 141 yards on 27 carries while scoring two touchdowns in the losing effort. The victory gave the Plymouth State three wins in their final five games to finish 4-6, while Mount Ida dropped its fifth in a row to fall to 1-8. Both teams put themselves on the scoreboard on their first drives of the game. Mount Ida opened with an impressive 71-yard drive on seven plays, finishing with a 15-yard rush by Harris to put the Mustangs up early 7-0. The Panthers’ offense responded with a 69-yard drive of their own, finishing with an 11-yard TD pass from junior Tye Seastedt to sophomore Drew Richardson to tie the game at seven. Late in the first quarter, Mount Ida saw their commanding offensive drive cut short when a snap to senior quarterback Corey Doe was overthrown, leading to a recovery by Plymouth State senior Jake Meserve. The Panthers would then take the lead for good as Gallant completed a successful 5-yard rush to give PSU the 14-7 lead. An interception by freshman Jermaine Jordan set the Panthers up for their next possession, taking the ball on their own three-yard line. The Panthers went on to produce their most impressive drive of the season, going 97 yards on 16 plays, including twelve rushes from Gallant and DeMarco. Gallant finished off the drive with a 15-yard run on fourth-and-one, giving the Panthers a 21-7 lead. Plymouth State extended their lead again just two minutes later, when Mount Ida fumbled deep in their own territory. Junior Dan Fallon recovered the ball for the Panthers, leading to another DeMarco carry for two yards and the touchdown, putting the Panthers up 28-7 heading into intermission. The Mustangs narrowed the lead early in the third quarter when Seastedt’s pass was intercepted by junior William Smith. Mount Ida capped the turnover with a four-yard run by Doe, cutting the Panthers’ lead to 28-14. Plymouth responded on the very next drive, with junior Chris Smith kicking a season-best 39-year field goal to extend the lead to 31-14. Both teams displayed tough back and forth offensive and defensive efforts through most of the fourth quarter, but Mount Ida made one final push to close the gap before time expired. Antwan Harris completed a 19-yard touchdown run with 1:22 remaining to make it 31-21, but the Mustangs saw any chance for a comeback quelled when Meserve intercepted another pass in the final minute to give the Panthers the ball for good. Plymouth State’s 4-6 record is a major improvement over recent seasons for Panther football. Once a .500-or-better team for 22-straight seasons, Plymouth State went 1-27 before their rebuilding process made its first big leap this year.”We took a big step forward,” said senior Caleb Hooker. “Soon we can get back to how we used to be.” Rounding out Plymouth State’s successful finale was another solid performance from the Panther defense. Meserve celebrated Senior Day with a team-leading ten tackles, one forced fumble, an interception and two fumble recoveries while senior DL Pat Quinlan collected eight tackles and batted down one pass. PSU’s other two seniors playing in their final game were Hooker and OL Sean Elwood. The victory is also Plymouth State’s final game as a Division III independent, a status they’ve held since the disbandment of the Freedom Football Conference in 2003. The Panthers will return to conference play with the New England Football Conference in 2006.