PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College football team suffered a heartbreaking 14-12 loss to the Mustangs of Mount Ida College on Saturday afternoon in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference action.
Trailing 14-6 with 3:27 left to play in the game, the AMCATs took control at Mount Ida's 30-yard line following a short punt by the Mustangs. The AMCATS netted four first-downs on the drive and ran seven plays inside the red zone before quarterback Gregory McGoldrick (Brooklyn, N.Y.) found St. Clair Ryan (South Easton, Mass.) in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown pass to bring the score to 14-12.
Down by two, the AMCATS attempted a two-point conversion and McGoldrick connected his pass to Will Ricard (Billerica, Mass.), but the Mustangs defense brought him down short of the goal line.
Anna Maria's kicker Kyle Simons (Swansea, Mass.) placed a perfect onside kick which brushed the leg of a Mount Ida defender, resulting in a pile on the ball, which was ultimately retained by Anna Maria at the Mustangs' 49-yard line with nine seconds still to play.
The AMCATS had time for two plays; the first, an incomplete pass attempt soared over the head of Ricard, was followed by a second pass attempt that was caught by the intended receiver but was stripped away by Mustangs' defender Jovan Wilkins (Poughleepsie, N.Y.) to end the game.
The AMCATS trailed 7-0 at halftime but came within one, at 7-6, following a 13-yard pass from starting quarterback Daniel Faison (Bowie, Md.) to Ricard at the 2:57 mark of the third quarter. Simons extra-point attempt was blocked, and the Mustangs opened up an eight-point gap with a 32-yard pass from Jawad Yatim (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to Idris Drayton (Montclair, N.J.) 1:16 later.
After a scoreless first quarter that saw both teams attempt three drives, the Mustangs got on the board just 1:56 into the second quarter as quarterback Yatim found Nick Hewitt (Killingly, Conn.) in the end zone for a 32-yard touchdown pass.
The AMCATS regained the momentum two Mount Ida drives later when Joe Colao (Westerly, R.I.) caught Yatim in the act of passing and forced him to fumble at Anna Maria's 48-yard line. The ball sailed all the way to Mount Ida's 35-yard line, where Anna Maria's Manny Suarez (Lawrence, Mass.) jumped on the ball to claim possession.
Despite the spot, the AMCATS went three-and-out, but Anna Maria punter Stefano Marzaile (Cranston, R.I.) sent the ball to the 12-yard line, giving the Anna Maria defense plenty of room, and time, to hold the Mustangs scoreless as time expired.
Colao had an impressive day on defense for the AMCATS. In addition to the forced fumble, he totaled six tackles, five of which were behind the line of scrimmage, including two sacks and three tackles-for-loss.
The AMCAT defense also saw 10 tackles apiece from Mike Sinto (Long Island, N.Y.) and Victor Sambola (Worcester, Mass.) Tyler Rocha (Cranston, R.I.) aided the Anna Maria defense with four tackles and a forced fumble.
Mount Ida's defense saw 10 tackles from Sean Chinova (Watertown, Conn.) and eight from Mamour Samb (Pawtucket, R.I.).
Offensively, the AMCATS totaled 212 offensive yards, including 197 passing yards. Faison completed nine of his 17 pass attempts for 153 yards and a touchdown, while McGoldrick completed seven of 12 attempts for 44 yards and a touchdown. Ryan McCarthy (Deer Park, N.Y.) was the favorite target today, as he totaled 136 receiving yards on eight catches. Trai Weaver (Waterbury, Conn.) totaled 31 yards on three catches.
Christopher Bettano (Lawrence, Mass.) finished second for the AMCATS in all-purpose yard with 42 from 28 rushing yards and 12 yards on a kickoff return.
The Mustangs saw a game-high 113 rushing yards on 29 carries from Jaleel Battle (Buffalo, N.Y.). Yatim completed six of 14 pass attempts for 124 yards and two touchdowns. Hewitt totaled 62 yards and a touchdown on three catches, while Draydon recorded 43 yards and a touchdown on two catches.
Prior to today's coin toss, the team honored eight seniors participating in their final home game; wide receiver Daniel Dortch (Melrose, Mass.), defensive end Michael Kennedy (Naugatuck, Conn.), safety William Bishop (Uxbridge, Mass.), fullback Bobby Payer (Needham, Mass.), defensive end Jonathan Joseph (Marlborough, Mass.), full back Michael Petrino (Staten Island, N.Y.), defensive end Kevin Card (Deer Park, N.Y.), and team manager Billy Maradei (Dracut, Mass.).
The AMCATS wrap up the 2014 season next weekend as they travel to nearby Worcester for a 12:00 p.m. game against Becker.