The Plymouth State football team sparked one of the greatest upsets in PSU history, as the Panthers dominated once undefeated Curry College 28-17 Sat., Oct. 25 at 1:00 p.m. in a NEFC Boyd Division match up at a packed and rowdy Currier Field.
The Panthers snapped a 37-game winning streak by Curry College and dominated most of the game with suffocating defense and long pass plays that opened up the offense. “Good accomplishment for the team, we played well. We knew it was going to be a good game. We learned from last years game, and they saw that when we played them,” said Coach Castonia, “We Prepared well, played well, and tackled. We came up big, a lot of stops and made them kick field goals as opposed to touchdowns.”
In what was one of the biggest games in PSU’s history, the Panther’s heart and determination pulled through in this game and captured first place in the Boyd Division. PSU also pushed their home winning streak to 11 and advancing to 7-1 on the season.
The crowd was at their all time high at Currier field. “The crowd was into it from start to finish they made it feel like a championship game by the intensity,” said Brandon Clough, “We knew as a team we needed to play like it was a championship to beat a team like Curry and I think the crowd knew that as well because it showed how much they were behind us the whole game.”
The Panthers started out the game pumped up and ready to go versus Curry College. Curry’s first drive started with a long pass to put the Colonials on the doorstep, but it only ended in a field goal. The next 5 possessions would really determine the first half as Curry went for all field goals in the red-zone. PSU’s defense came up big with great plays and solid tackling as it stopped the explosive Colonels offense time and time again.
The first quarter ended with the Panthers going 80 yards on 13 plays with a John Demarco touchdown, that gave the Panthers the lead 7-3. One of the biggest plays of the game came in the second quarter, as Demarco threw up a great pass down the side line to wide receiver J.J. Brooks on a fourth down conversion that made the crowd erupt with cheers. One play later, Demarco ran for the touchdown.
Curry would drive down the field again, only to attempt and miss a 37-yard field goal because of the Panther’s dominant red zone defense which is ranked 1 in the NEFC. PSU would take the ball over on downs and five plays later, Demarco would throw a 62-yard throw right down the middle of the field for a touch down to Brooks, to lengthen the lead to 14-3.
Curry would eventually get on the board again before the half with a five-yard run by Jamaal Woods for the score. PSU would head to the half on top 14-10.
The second half would prove to be the deciding factor, as the Panthers showed that they were not going down in this mach up. PSU would make crucial stops and run the clock down as much as they could in the second half. The running game was back as Baird came off the bench and ran for a 56-yard rush right up the middle, to be in the end zone for the first time in the half. Senior Jeff Mack would cross the line to make the score 21-10 just one play after.
Mack exploded for a 48-yard score late in the fourth quarter to put the game on ice. The team erupted with cheers all over the field for the decisive victory. “There’s a saying that goes, ‘big time players, come up with big time plays, in big time situations.’ This is exactly what a numerous amount of players did for us. J.J Brooks had some ESPN like catches from DeMarco and our defense played all out. Total team effort. We just fed off the big plays and kept the momentum to a high,” Mack said, “This was definatly one of the greatest wins I’ve been apart of. Although I have to say as big of a win as this was for us, we are not satisfied and we wont be until we’re wearing championship rings on our fingers.”
PSU would beat the best team in New England and further their chances to a Conference Championship this year. On Sat., Nov. 1, the Panthers would beat MIT in Cambridge, 27-14 to clinch a spot in the NEFC Championship game. Mack would run for 221 yards and two touchdowns, and sophomore cornerback Dan Kelly would lead the defense with 4 solo tackles and 2 interceptions.
PSU, now 8-1 in the season, will face Salve Regina next Sat., Nov. 8 at Currier Field. “They’re much improved, it’s going to be a tough game, it was tough last year,” said Castonia, “Their 4-4 and it’s their last game, they have a lot hanging on it.” MIT will face Endicott on Sat., Nov. 8.