In their first ever appearance in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) post-season tournament, the Mount Ida College football program dropped a 26-17 loss in the North Atlantic Bowl to hosting Springfield College Saturday afternoon in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Mustangs put to bed a very successful 2010 season with an overall of 6-5 finishing their second season as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a 5-2 record.
Springfield drove down the field on the opening kick-off on a six play, 56 yard drive that finished with a four yard touchdown scamper by junior Alex Mendez (Cranston, RI) to take the 6-0 lead. A converted point after attempt by place kicker sophomore Ricky Peacock (Tucker, GA) made it 7-0 in the opening of the first quarter (13:24).
The Mustangs got on the board towards the end of the first quarter when freshman Jake Lawrence (Middletown, MA/Masconomet Regional) converted a 29 yard field goal trailing 7-3.
With 1:32 to go in the first quarter, the Pride scored their second touchdown of the game on a 29 yard run from freshman quarterback Austin Bateman (Gansevoort, NY). A blocked PAT attempt by Mount Ida senior Sean Simmons (Schenectady, NY/Schenectady) kept the score at 13-3.
Mendez would convert his second rushing touchdown of the game, this time from 24 yards out, with 9:03 to go in the second quarter to give the hosts a 19-3. The PAT was blocked by the Mustangs again, this time by freshman E.J. Murray (New Haven, CT/Wilbur L. Cross).
Neither team could convert a score due to stingy defense on both sides of the ball for the rest of the first half with the Pride leading 19-3.
The Mustangs came out with a totally different game plan and mentality for the entire half and it started in the opening of the third quarter. The Mount Ida defense stuffed the usually successful triple option attack by Springfield giving the Mustangs more chances on the offensive side of the ball.
Mount Ida struck with 7:31 on the clock in the middle of the third quarter on an impressive 49 yard strike from sophomore quarterback Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) to senior running back Paul Shaughnessy (Malden, MA/Northeast Metro Regional). Shaughnessy caught a perfectly thrown ball up the middle shredding the defense into the end zone. After a converted two point conversion from Drosendahl to Shaughnessy, Mount Ida would pull within eight (11-19).
After the Mustangs stymied the Springfield offense again, Mount Ida would storm down field on an 11 play, 75 yard drive finishing on a three yard out pass to the pile-on with brilliant catch by junior Nick Lynch (Hampton Bays, NY/Hampton Bays) pulling within two (19-17). Unfortunately, the two point conversion attempt failed leaving Mount Ida down by two.
The game went back and forth for over eight minutes with neither team able to convert a score with outstanding defensive play on both sides. With 8:39 showing in the fourth quarter, Pride sophomore Mike Davis (Madison, CT) scampered 20 yards out into the end zone to widen the margin (25-17). The Peacock point after attempt was good for the 26-17 lead.
Mount Ida had multiple opportunities in the final eight minutes of the game as well as Springfield but neither team could get anything going offensively. The Pride would ultimately capture the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl championship 26-17.
The Mustang defense was impressive led by senior safety Julien Baptiste (Greenlawn, NY/Elwood-John Glenn) with 11 total tackles (seven solo, four assist). Freshman defensive tackle Jon Proto (North Haven, CT/North Haven) added a forced fumble combined with eight total tackles. Murray was also outstanding with seven total tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Mount Ida offense was led by Drosendahl who went 34-57 with two touchdowns on 373 yards passing, his highest total of the season of attempts and yards. Lynch, who became the first receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season in the program's history, added 12 catches for 86 yards and a score. Shaughnessy chipped in 11 catches on 142 yards and a touchdown and ran for 44 yards on 21 carries.
November 15, 2010
Mount Ida will Travel to Springfield for ECAC North Atlantic Bowl Game
The Mount Ida College football program has gained their first ever berth into the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) post-season tournament to compete in the North Atlantic Bowl under the direction of third year head coach Michael Landers. The Mustangs, who finished the 2010 regular season with an overall record of 6-4, will travel to Springfield College (8-2) who will host their second straight ECAC Division III championship bowl game in as many years. Game time is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field on the campus of the Pride in Springfield, Massachusetts.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the program,” said third year head coach Michael Landers. “We’ve overcome so much adversity throughout this season to make it to this point; we’re starting to be rewarded for our efforts.”
The six victories the Mustangs posted this year ties the record for wins in a season in the program’s 11 year history when Mount Ida went 6-2 in 2005 under former head coach Edward Sweeney who was at the helm.
“You keep fighting for the things that you want,” said Landers. “The kids are getting older and have fought hard. They want to win, winning is what’s important to them.”
It will be the third straight year that Mount Ida will play Springfield. In 2008, the Pride defeated Mount Ida, 43-23, at Stagg Field. In 2009, Springfield defeated the Mustangs again on homecoming, 42-15, in Newton, Massachusetts at Mount Ida Athletic Stadium.
This will be Mount Ida’s first trip to any post-season including NCAA and ECAC tournaments. The Pride on the other hand has competed nine post-season games in a 16 year span between the two tournaments (NCAA, ECAC). The three times previous competing in the ECAC’s Springfield defeated Cortland, 49-26, in 1995, beat Fitchburg State, 53-7 in 2004, and defeated Plymouth State, 42-13, a year ago.
These two teams have had two common opponents this season. The Pride took home a 51-0 shutout over non-conference Husson University back in week two while Mount Ida defeated Husson 25-23 in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) play during week eight. Springfield defeated Hartwick 39-20 on October 30 while the Hawks beat Mount Ida 27-12 on November 13 in a non-conference match-up.
Mount Ida College sophomore quarterback Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) has been under center the entire season for the Mustangs. Drosendahl has been outstanding the entire year throwing for a record-high 21 touchdowns this season. He has averaged 216.2 yards a game through the air and has an efficiency rating of 142.19.
Most of his touchdown passes have found the hands of wide receiver Nick Lynch (Hampton Bays, NY/Hampton Bays) whose 11 touchdown catches this season have made him one of the most prolific offensive threats the Mustangs have ever had. After Saturday’s contest, Lynch, who needs 14 yards (986) to reach the 1,000 mark, will become the only Mount Ida receiver to have eclipsed the number as a receiver in a season ever in the record books.
After a season ending injury to Mount Ida’s CDS pre-season All-American Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney), senior running back Paul Shaughnessy (Malden, MA/Northeast Metro Regional) has filled in nicely with the departure of Bunch. Shaughnessy, who is offensive guru through the air or on the ground, has recorded a combined 12 total scores, six rushing and six through the air. Bunch, who was only able to play in six of the 10 regular season games played, ended 2010 with 13 total touchdowns averaging 137.2 yards rushing a game.
The Mount Ida offensive line has also been a key contributor to the success of the offense this season and will be a key factor in the match-up versus the Pride on Saturday.
The Mustang defense has been anchored by solid overall play at the line featuring outstanding individual play from sophomore defensive end A.J. Knibbs (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood) who is third in the country through all of NCAA Division III play with 12.5 sacks. Freshman E.J. Murray (New Haven, CT/Wilbur Cross) and sophomore Michael Brockenberry (West Haven, CT/West Haven) are the top two tacklers for the Mustangs this season both who reside in the linebacker position. Murray leads Mount Ida in tackles with 58.5 total, two fumble recoveries, and two forced fumbles. Brockenberry has been solid picking up where he left off last year with 57 total tackles, five sacks, and an interception.