USAFOOTBALL.COM Game Report

Springfield wins battle of unbeatens

by Mike Warwick, Sports Information Director, Ithaca

Springfield College (4-0) remained unbeaten by holding off host Ithaca College (3-1) to win 55-34. The Pride's 55-point outburst marked the most points the Bombers have given up in 20 years. Thomas Allen (Cohasset [Mass.]/Ewing, N.J.) intercepted three Ithaca passes and returned two for touchdowns. Springfield finished with five interceptions. Allen's first score, an 83-yard return, gave the Pride a 26-7 lead with 39 seconds left in the first half. Springfield's first two touchdowns came on long touchdown passes from senior quarterback Kevin Cahill (New York Mills/New York Mills) -- a 46-yard completion to Tim Hanley (Bishop Feehan) and a 50-yard throw to Jay Curtis (Princeton/Princeton, N.J.). Senior fullback Jay Miller (Marian Framingham/Marlboro, N.J.) ran 74 yards for a second-quarter score. The Bombers erased Springfield's lead by scoring three touchdowns in the first seven minutes of the second half. Junior quarterback Brian Young (Hornell/Almond) ran seven yards for a score, five plays after Springfield fumbled the second-half kickoff. Young threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to senior running back Tommy Giorgio (Sachem/Holtsville) on the next Bomber possession and two minutes later a fumble recovery by Bomber linebacker Larry Jones (John Adams/Jamaica) set up a one-yard run by junior fullback Kyle Tedeschi (McQuaid Academy/Fairport) Springfield regained the lead for good on a one-yard run by Cahill. Allen's second touchdown -- this one on a 17-yard return -- ended the next Bomber possession. Miller and Bob Sedlor (Groton/Yonkers) scored on touchdown runs to close out Springfield's scoring. Ithaca pulled to within 47-34 on an 11-yard touchdown reception by Giorgio. Giorgio also scored the first Bomber touchdown, on a one-yard run in the second quarter. Sedlor and Demetrius Dunn (Brick/Brick, N.J.) ran for 114 and 105 yards, respectively, for the Pride, who entered the game as Division III's top-ranked rushing offense. Miller ran for 98 yards and Cahill threw for 109 yards. Giorgio carried Ithaca's offense, rushing 33 times (two short of the school record) for 143 yards and catching a career-high nine passes for a career-best 113 yards. He became the first Bomber to reach 100 yards rushing and receiving in the same game and raised his career total to 150 points, fourth on Ithaca's all-time list. Allen led Springfield's defense with 11 tackles. He also had one of the Pride's nine pass break-ups. Rich Moran (Hartford Public/Hartford, Conn.) and Jason Perkins (Peabody/Peabody, Mass.) added 10 and nine tackles, respectively. Senior free safety Ron Amato (Solvay/Solvay) recorded a career-high 16 tackles, including two for loss. He extended his school record with his 17th career interception (his fifth of the season). Senior middle linebacker Julian Forbes (Elmont/Elmont) added 10 tackles. Both teams face nationally ranked opponents next week: Springfield hosts 12th-ranked Western Connecticut and Ithaca travels to 18th-ranked Brockport.

Where are the D-III 20th Century All Stars? Where is the NCAA Division III 20th Century All American Team? As usual, the student/athletes who have played the game for fun have been ignored by everyone who has selected Teams of the Century - but that will be corrected by usafootball.com. See story.....

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