PLYMOUTH – The Curry Colonels’ offense moved like the wind in Currier Field at times as they handed Plymouth State its fifth loss of the season and continued their remarkable run to 8-0 overall and 5-0 in the New England Football Conference. PSU fell to 2-5 overall and 2-3 in the conference with the loss. Five turnovers, along with the great play of Curry’s sophomore quarterback, Ryan Van De Giesen, provided the win for Curry despite giving up 297 total yards to a resilient Panthers’ offense.
It was a tale of two halves as both teams scored at will in the first half and a defensive rumble ensued in the second. Plymouth’s first play from scrimmage resulted in a turnover, setting the offensive theme of the day for PSU. Five plays later, Curry running back Steve DiFabio scored on a three-yard run to give Curry the early 6-0 advantage. DiFabio would finish the day with 18 carries for 87 yards and one score. PSU answered quickly on their next possession with a two-yard touchdown run by junior running back Jeff Mack, set up by a 35-yard scamper from sophomore Brandon Clough, to knot things up at six. Mack finished with 52 yards and that one score and Clough led all rushers with 95 yards. Curry scored three more times including a 21-yard touchdown pass to Brian Taylor from Ryan Van De Giesen, one of his three touchdown passes on the day, to make it a 23-6 Curry lead.
The Colonels had PSU on the ropes when a couple of breaks that went the Panthers’ way gave them new life. A personal foul, late-hit call gave the Panthers a spark on a seemingly mortal drive. After a fourth and ten conversion, junior wide receiver Brad Largy made a spectacular touchdown catch from quarterback John DeMarco. DeMarco finished 11 of 31 for 112 yards and two touchdowns and one rushing touchdown, while his counter part Van De Giesen amassed 132 yards and three touchdowns.
On the ensuing kick-off, the wind held the ball in the air and pushed it back into the hands of Panthers’ special-teamer Shawn Durgin, to give the Panthers an unconventional onside kick recovery and a chance to get right back in this game. They capitalized with a touchdown pass to junior tight end Adam Long and cut the Curry lead to 23-19.
A stunned Curry team slammed the comeback door shut on the Panthers, however, as a 39-yard reception by sophomore receiver Brian Taylor led to a touchdown catch by junior receiver Felix Borukhov and pushed the Curry lead to 30-19. A David Vincent field goal then made it a 33-19 Curry lead with 49 seconds left in the half. It was a tough day for PSU kicker, Chris Dopp, as he missed two field goals; including one that ended the first half.
In the second half, the pace slowed considerably as neither team scored in the third quarter. A dismayed PSU squad watched as Curry pulled away and never looked back as an eight yard touchdown pass to Borukhov capped off Van De Giesen’s mastery of the Panthers’ defense. A late touchdown by John DeMarco would not be enough as Curry continued to roll. Senior linebacker Sean Crowley led the Curry defense with 12 tackles and one sack and sophomore Tim Bloniasz had an outstanding performance with eight tackles two interceptions and a fumble recovery. PSU’s defensive tandem of Mike Lannon and Tim Butler led the Panthers with seven tackles and Butler collected one sack.
PSU will visit MIT next Saturday and Curry will try to maintain its strangle hold of the conference as they play host to Nichols College.