Late Touchdown Sinks Mount Ida's Comeback Hopes

Posted: Sep 13, 2014

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Mount Ida fought back from a 14-point deficit to tie Plymouth State at 24 on Saturday in non-conference football action at Currier Field, but saw the Panthers score with 23 seconds remaining to send them to a 30-24 loss, their second straight to start the 2014 season.

The outcome spoiled an outstanding comeback attempt by Mount Ida. Trailing 24-10 with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the Mustangs rallied on a pair of touchdown passes by senior QB Jawad Yatim (Shrewsbury, Mass.) to pull even with 3:30 to play. Yatim led the team on an 11-play, 73 yard drive, capped by a six-yard scoring pass to freshman Jaleel Battle (Buffalo, N.Y.) to make it 24-17 with 6:43 to play, and needed just three plays to go 60 yards for the tying score, a 50-yard strike to sophomore Matt Greenman (Portsmouth, R.I.).

Mount Ida's defense then stood firm, allowing just one first down and forced a fourth down situation for the Panthers (1-1) on the ensuing possession, and it looked as though the Mustangs were about to get the ball back in a tie game.

The difference, Plymouth State senior Mark Hennessy's (Westford, Mass.) second touchdown of the day with 23 seconds remaining, was set up by the Panther special teams, which forced a Mustang fumble on the punt deep in Mount Ida territory with 54 seconds remaining.

Senior Sean Kunkel (Haskell, N.J.) stripped the Mustang punt returner and junior RJ Kasper (Killingworth, Conn.) recovered at the five yard line. Hennessy scored the game-winner three plays later.

Yatim finished 19-of-28 for 217 yards and two touchdowns for Mount Ida, while also running in a score. Greenman and sophomore DJ Williams (Newark, N.J.) caught five passes each for 87 and 69 yards, respectively.

PSU took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a two-yard run by sophomore quarterback Ryan Perron (North Attleboro, Mass.). The Panthers pushed the lead to 10-0 on a 20-yard field goal by senior Rob Giles (Derry, N.H.) with 4:37 to play in the second quarter.

Mount Ida got on the scoreboard two minutes later on a 27-yard field goal by sophomore Tyler Rodgers(Bridgewater, Mass.), making it a 10-3 PSU lead at halftime.

Hennessy scored his first touchdown of the day early in the third quarter on a 16-yard run, and PSU took a 17-3 lead into the fourth quarter.

The teams traded scores in the first five minutes of the final frame. Yatim scored on a one-yard run on the first play of the quarter, which he set up on the last play of the third quarter with a 41-yard completion to Williams.

PSU answered with a 14-yard TD run by junior Andrew Vollaro (Higganum, Conn.), which gave the hosts the 24-10 advantage.

Hennessy finished with 89 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Vollaro wound up with 67 yards and one score. Perron completed 8-of-13 passes for 95 yards.

Senior Kalyn Smithson (Vilseck, Germany) and sophomores Mamour Samb (Pawtucket, R.I.) and Johnny Quinones (Hyde Park, Mass.) led Mount Ida with nine tackles each.

Senior Kyle Wilson (Dover, N.H.) led the PSU defensive effort with eight unassisted tackles, including two sacks and one other for minus yardage. Sophomore Will Perotti (East Canaan, Conn.) also made eight tackles and sophomore Joe Walsh (Taunton, Mass.) made seven tackles and recovered a fumble.

Mount Ida travels to Springfield next Saturday for a non-conference encounter (1:00 p.m.).

PSU opens Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play next Saturday with a visit to Western Connecticut State University (3:00 p.m.).