PAXTON, Mass. - It was tough sledding for the Gallaudet University football here Saturday against Anna Maria College in an Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) contest. 

Gallaudet (3-5, 2-1 ECFC) entered the matchup atop the conference standings and ranked 10th in NCAA Division III for rushing (263.6 yards per game) but both marks took a hit against Anna Maria (4-4, 2-1 ECFC).

The AMCATS turned the tables on Gallaudet and ran for 313 yards on 32 carries and limited the mighty Bison rushing attack to just 208 yards on 55 carries. Anna Maria scored touchdowns on its first four possessions and never looked back as the AMCATS won going away, 49-14.

The loss drops GU into a two-way tie with the AMCATS atop the ECFC standings with one conference game left for each team. 

GU could not get its rushing game to break through the stout Anna Maria defense. Junior quarterback Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) was held to 89 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown (seven-yard run) in the second quarter as GU trailed 28-7. 

Junior superback Dre'Vaughn Mackall (Prince Frederick, Md.) ran 21 times for 78 yards and one score. Mackall ran in from 11 yards out at the 9:26 mark in the fourth quarter as Gallaudet trailed 42-14.

Anna Maria quarterback Ryan Russell finished the game 15 of 24 for 147 yards and two touchdowns. AMCATS running backs Jamal Carigila (154 rushing yards) and Justin Brown (116) carried the ball nine times each and surpassed 100 rushing yards. The pair also found the end zone several times as Brown scored twice and Carigila had a 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring. Brown had a 68-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to give the AMCATS an early 21-0 lead. Brown added a 15-yard touchdown run right before the half. GU threw three interceptions including a pick-six when Lamar Wilkes ran back an interception 39 yards with 18 seconds left before halftime. Anna Maria took a 42-7 lead into intermission.

UP NEXT
Gallaudet faces a must win next Saturday, Nov. 4, at home against Dean College (2-6, 1-1 ECFC) if the Bison have any admiration to try and win a share of the conference title. The game will mark Senior Day for a handful of Bison, who will graduate later this year. The Athletics Department will also recognize the graduating senior fall cheerleaders prior to the game.