PAXTON, MA. – On Saturday, September 2nd the Anna Maria College Football Team hosted the Owls of Westfield State for their Home opener at Caparso Field. The AMCATS beat the owls 51-26.

Just thirteen seconds into the game, Eric Pino scored off a 77 yard kickoff return giving Anna Maria the Jump on the Owls early. After a good field goal from Ryan Kent, the AMCATS led 7-0, just seconds into the game. Less than five minutes later the AMCATS were back on the board after Kent kicked in a 24 yard field goal to improve the AMCATS lead to 10-0. Deandre Wallace would close out the scoring for the AMCATS in the first quarter off an 11yard pass from Ryan Russell with a little over a minute left in the quarter. Dominating the first fifteen minutes of the game, the AMCATS led 17-0 going into the second quarter.

Scoreless for almost ten minutes in the second quarter, the Owls finally found themselves on the board after Corey Jackson ran in a touchdown off a 23 yard pass from Colby Pires. With a good field goal, the Owls reduced the AMCATS lead to just ten with more than five minutes left to play in the half. The AMCATS scratched back however, with a touchdown from Russell with two and a half minutes on the clock. Just when the quarter appeared to be over the Owls managed to put up their second touchdown of the night off an 89 yard run with just 17 seconds on the clock. Deandre Wallace couldn't end the quarter on a low note so with just four seconds left on the clock the AMCATS struck again to add some insurance to their lead as they headed into halftime.

Leading over the Owls 31-14 at the start of the second half, the AMCATS quickly added to their lead after David Robinson picked up Anna Maria's fifth touchdown of the day just over 3 minutes into the quarter. Harold Beckford joined in on the fun scoring yet another AMCAT touchdown increasing their lead to 45-14. The Owls couldn't find themselves back on the board until the last minute of the third quarter. After scoring their third touchdown of the day, the Owls attempted to go for the 2pt conversion but couldn't get it done.

Going into the fourth quarter with a comfortable lead over the Owls, the AMCATS gave up a quick touchdown making things interesting at the start of the quarter. Just under 6 minutes later Mark Johnson added some insurance to help secure the AMCATS win, closing things out 51-26 over the Owls.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Ryan Russell threw 424 yards with 5 touchdowns in the season opener.
• Mark Johnson led the AMCATS receiving with 137 yards and one touchdown.
• Ryan Kent went 6/7 on extra point opportunities.