The Plymouth State University football team improved their record to 2-1 and extended their home winning streak to 14 games with a 28-17 win over the Coast Guard Academy last Saturday at Currier Field.
The CGA Bears brought a 0-1 record to PSU after losing a double overtime game to Merchant Marine Academy. “They are very athletic on defense and do a good job getting off of blocks,” said Head Coach Paul Castonia. They brought a no huddle spread style offense to PSU and the defense was up to the task of shutting it down, “On offense they have the potential for big plays,” said Castonia.
The game opened with PSU getting on the board first by capping off a 15-play drive with a touchdown pass from junior J.J. Brooks to senior Alex Smith. After the first score it was a defensive showdown with neither team producing any kind of points offensively. “Defensively we were looking to do the fundamentals better and limit big plays.” PSU would take their 7-0 lead into the half and would look to come out firing in the second half.
It would be Coast Guard who would come out and score first with a pass from Jesse Karr to Casey Paris to tie the game at 7 points. In response, Brooks would lead PSU on another drive and cap it off with his first running score of the day, bringing the score to 14-7. The momentum would swing again when Coast Guard booted a 31-yard field goal from Jacob Shackleford, cutting the score to 14-10 with 28 seconds left in the 3rd quarter.
Coast Guard would continue their scoring ways in the 4th quarter when Cale Cooper made a diving catch in the end zone, bringing the score to 17-14 Coast Guard. The Panther’s were trailing but not for long because on the ensuing kickoff sophomore Christian Mulcahy, who already has a touchdown by way of kickoff return this season, would find a seam and take the kick deep into Coast Guard territory. Two plays later, Brooks would find junior John Creamer in the end zone for his second touchdown pass of the day bringing the score to 27-17 for PSU. The kickoff return would prove to be the turning point of the game for PSU,” The kickoff return, at that point was huge. We were down at that point and it was a big momentum boost followed by the interception,” said Castonia.
The interception would come on Coast Guard’s next possession when junior defensive back Dan Kelly would jump in front of a Jesse Karr pass giving PSU the ball back going into Coast Guard territory. A few plays later first year Tyler Long would peel off a 34-yard run, bringing the ball down to the 6 yard line, setting up Brooks’ second rushing score of the day.
Coach Castonia had nothing but good things to say about Kelly and his play, “Dan Kelly has improved in coverage the last few weeks for us.” Dan has 14 tackles on the season, 11 of which were solo; he also has to pass break ups and an interception. The score would put the game on ice with the final score of 28-17. Senior Harry Fallon would pace the defense with 11 tackles on the day and the offense would account for 238 yards on the ground and 77 yards through the air. Brooks was named the NEFC Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts during the game.
After a two game home stretch in the friendly confines of Currier Field, they will take their game on the road for the next two weeks with games at UMass Dartmouth and Western New England College. UMass Dartmouth is 0-3 but is a very dangerous team,” On defense they are going to blitz every snap. They are always physical and that’s big for the offense and them sustaining drives,” said Castonia. ” And their option game has potential for big plays every time,” he added.
As the Panthers begins another week of practice they are looking to keep with the fundamentals,” We need to get better with the fundamentals. Being more consistent and our defense needs to get better preventing big plays,” concluded Castonia.