AmCats set offensive records in seventh loss;SPORTS
COLUMN: COLLEGE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP
Castleton State 49, Anna Maria 35: The teams combined for more than 1,100 yards as the AmCats set school records for rushing yards (396) and total offense (584). Despite those big numbers, Anna Maria fell(0-7, 0-4 ECFC) in Paxton.
Freshman Robert Small rushed for 256 yards on 24 carries and scored on runs of 74 and 80 yards for the AmCats, while Santino Simone completed 16 of 37 passes for 188 yards and a TD. The former Holy Name standout also gained 146 yards and scored a TD on the ground.
Sophomore Domenique Concepcion had six receptions for 60 yards, while freshman Gregory Caldwell caught his first TD pass, a 5-yarder inthe second quarter.
On defense, freshman Jordan Koehler had a game-high 13 tackles andforced a fumble for the AmCats. Junior Richard Brandt had 11 stops and Nii Quartey had seven tackles and forced a fumble.
Freshman Kevin McCoy's 69-yard return was the first kickoff returned for a touchdown by an Anna Maria player.
Bridgewater State 25, Worcester State 9: The Lancers (3-4, 1-3 NEFC Bogan) lost two fumbles, had an interception and botched a snap that resulted in a safety, costly mistakes in a loss at Bridgewater.
With 2:50 left in the first quarter, a snap sailed over freshman punter Alex Blakeslee, who kicked the ball through the back of his ownend zone to concede the safety. The Bears (4-3, 2-2) capitalized, driving 51 yards after the free kick, with Mike McCarthy throwing a 39-yard scoring pass to Chris Constantine for an 8-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Worcester State trailed, 18-0, before freshman Erich Perfetti kicked a 37-yard field goal with 3:36 left in the third quarter.
Junior Tony Tokarz of Holden threw a slant to classmate Kenny Russell in the fourth quarter for a 13-yard scoring strike. Tokarz was 15of 33 for 127 yards and rushed 18 times for a game-high 68 yards. Russell had seven catches for 84 yards.
Senior linebacker Tyler Russell of Princeton led all players with 15 tackles, all solo, including one for a loss. Senior defensive backPaul Lewis and sophomore linebacker Cameron Brigham, both of Worcester, each added nine tackles, with Brigham forcing a fumble.
UMass-Dartmouth 9, Nichols 7: Sophomore Edgar Osols' third field goal of the game, a 24-yarder with 1:22 left, gave the Corsairs an NEFC Boyd Division win in Dudley.
The Bison took the early lead with 3:10 gone in the first quarter when Mike Rubalcaba intercepted a pass at the Corsairs' 41 and returned it for a touchdown.
Nichols threatened again late in the first half, but Justin Martinwas intercepted at the UMD 2-yard line.
Mass. Maritime 34, Fitchburg State 7: The Falcons (1-6, 1-3 NEFC Bogan) spoiled the shutout when senior quarterback Jordan Cannava connected with junior Jeremy Kimber of Fitchburg on a 3-yard touchdown pass with 8:49 left.
The score was set up by a fumble recovery by senior Anthony Bizzotto of Leominster at the Bucs' 6.
Merrimack 49, Assumption 23: The Warriors (3-3, 3-1 Northeast-10) returned two interceptions for touchdowns while turning back the Greyhounds (5-2, 2-2) in North Andover.
Assumption trailed only 21-16 in the second quarter and were driving deep into Merrimack territory when Michael Jones ran back an interception 90 yards for a score. Garrett Boyd's 23-yard interception return was the Warriors' final TD in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Andrew Kupec finished 24 of 61 for 365 yards and two touchdowns.
Senior David Canney of Templeton had 11 catches for 150 yards. Forthe season, he has 76 receptions for 859 yards and 219 for 2,825 in his career.
Junior linebacker Scott Loiseau of Shrewsbury had nine tackles and2-1/2 sacks for Merrimack.
Assumption seniors Ethan Maxfield and Matt Chalmers each were in on seven tackles. Junior defensive back Dan Conrad, who starred at St.Peter-Marian, had his first interception of the season.