Box Score CASTLETON, Vt. - The Gallaudet University
football team racked up 477 yards of total offense as the
Bison ran past Castleton State College, 49-18, on Saturday
before a Spartan Homecoming crowd of 3,400. The win is the first
for the Bison in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference.
Gallaudet (2-2, 1-1 ECFC) ran for a program best 448 yards,
average of 8.5 yards per rush, as the Bison ran past the Spartans
(1-2, 0-1 ECFC), who began Division III football this season. The
new rushing yards in a game mark is the best during the Gallaudet
football modern era, which dates back to 1947. The loss is the
first for Castleton State in its new Spartan Stadium.
"To get a conference win, like this, early in the season is
big," said GU coach Ed Hottle, in his fifth season
at the helm. "We played really well in a tough environment. When
you take an eight-hour road trip it is a challenge for the team."
Sophomore running back Phillip Hayes (Baton
Rouge, La.) had a breakout game as he ran for 128 yards and three
touchdowns. Hayes ran the ball 10 times and averaged 12.8 yards per
carry.
"Phillip got his first start of the season today. He has been
working real hard," said Hottle. "He had a breakout day today and
stepped up. I am proud of him."
In addition to Hayes' breakout game the Bison received a strong
game from fellow sophomore running back Justin
Arrigo (Trenton, N.J.) who ran the ball 11 times for 145
yards (13.2 average per rush). The Bison were able to run the ball
so well behind the senior offensive line of Benjamin
Bottoms (Chesterfield, Va.), Michel Daze
(Frederick, Md.), Joshua Doudt (Medina, Ohio),
Philip Endicott (Philadelphia, Pa.) and
William Jacobs (Austin, Texas).
The Bison defense delivered the first blow to Castleton's
offense early in the first quarter after GU had just turned the
ball over to the Spartans at the 25-yard line. Junior defensive end
Richard Bailey (Willingboro, N.J.) burst through
the Spartan line and sacked quarterback Shane Brozowski (24-for-37,
242 yards, two interceptions). Bailey's hit forced the ball to come
free and allowed Joshua Doudt to scoop up the ball and run 68 yards
for the game's first touchdown.
"The big swing of momentum in the game came early on when Josh
returned the fumble for the first touchdown. That gave us
confidence and from there we played great consistent Bison
football," said Hottle.
Three minutes later, Gallaudet struck again as senior
quarterback Jimmy Gardner (St. Augustine, Fla.)
connected on a 29-yard pass to senior wide receiver Ryan
Lentz (Fremont, Calif.) to give the Bison a 14-0 lead
after one quarter of play. Gardner finished the day with 64 rushing
yards, one touchdown and complete 1-of-4 passes for 29 yards and
one touchdown.
"Jimmy really bounced back today after not having a great week
against Mount Ida," said Hottle.
The Bison scored three straight times in the second quarter as
junior Cole Johnson (Edina, Minn.), Gardner and
Hayes capped off quick strike drives of six plays or less to help
give Gallaudet a 35-15 lead at halftime.
The Bison put the game away in the third quarter as Gallaudet
pounded the ball on the ground and used up nine minutes and 25
seconds of the clock. Hayes ran in two touchdowns in the quarter as
Gallaudet increased its lead to 49-15.
Gallaudet's defense stepped up and held the Spartans to 78
rushing yards as the Bison made five sacks, two interceptions,
forced a fumble and Joshua Doudt's fumble return for a touchdown.
Freshman linebacker Tom Pangia (Hammonton, N.J.)
led the team with 13 tackles followed by Joshua's brother Calvin's
11 tackles. Bailey finished the game with six tackles, one and a
half sacks, and two and a half tackles for a loss of 13 yards.
Sophomore Jon Van Wey (Alexandria, Va.) made five
tackles and one and a half sacks while Joshua Doudt (six tackles)
and freshman Joe Conard (Austin, Texas) added a
sack each.
"We challenged our defense this week. We knew Castleton State
would do things to challenge us. They are a well coached and
overall solid team. We wanted to work with our base plays and stay
vanilla on defense," said Hottle. "Since I have been here that was
the most dominating performance by a Gallaudet defense against the
run."
The Spartans added a second field goal from Luis Robitaille with
34 seconds left in the game to close out the game.
GU posted a 2-1 record during its three-game road trip. The
Bison return home for four consecutive games at Hotchkiss Field. GU
will begin the extended home stand against ECFC foe Husson
University on Saturday, October 3, at 12 p.m.
NOTE: The GU coaching staff wore special
patches for today's game as part of the Coach to Cure MD, a
national charity project of the American Football Coaches
Association (AFCA). Thousands of coaches nationwide, at all
levels of collegiate football, wore a "Coach to Cure MD" logo patch
on the sidelines in an effort to raise awareness and research
funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the most prolific genetic
killer diagnosed in childhood.
Also see:
