PAXTON, Mass. - It was a pivotal Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) showdown between Gallaudet University and Anna Maria College here Saturday afternoon at Caparso Field with first place on the line.

Gallaudet (5-2, 3-2 ECFC) got off to a strong start and held a 21-13 lead at halftime before Anna Maria (6-2, 4-1 ECFC) outscored the Bison 24-0 in the second half en route to a 37-21 win. 

The Bison scored on the game's opening drive as they marched 72 yards down the field on seven plays. Sophomore Joseph Mendis (Brook Park, Ohio) rumbled in from two yards out to give GU the touchdown and early 7-0 lead. The AMCATS muffed the ensuing kickoff and on their next possession they fumbled the ball back to the Bison deep in their own territory. GU missed out on extending its lead on those two possessions.

Anna Maria got on the scoreboard at the 3:21 mark in the first quarter when quarterback Alex Cohen (21-for-31, 393 yards, three touchdowns) connected with Justin McMillian (eight receptions, 211 yards, three touchdowns) for a 73-yard touchdown. The AMCATS missed the extra-point kick as the Bison held a 7-6 lead.

GU responded with its second touchdown as it covered 57 yards on eight plays and concluded with a 1-yard touchdown plunge from senior quarterback Timel Benton (Columbia, S.C.). 

The Cohen to McMillian duo connected minutes later on a 9-yard touchdown pass to pull the AMCATS within one point, 14-13, with 10:56 left before the half. 

The score remained the same until the final minute of the second quarter when GU linebacker Jacob Hartman (Petersburg, W.Va.) intercepted Cohen and returned it 66 yards for the pick-six. Gallaudet led Anna Maria by eight, 21-13, at intermission.

In the second half, it was all Anna Maria as the AMCATS scored on four of its next six possessions to put the game away. On the other hand, Gallaudet fumbled the ball away twice and threw one interception as turnovers doomed the Bison. 

BISON TRACKS

• Benton led the rushing attack with 94 yards on 13 carries
• Sophomore linebacker Stefan Anderson (Faribault, Minn.) led the defense with 11 tackles (eight solo)
• Hartman finished the game with 10 tackles (seven solo), 2.5 tackles for a loss of nine yards
• Gallaudet held the ball for 29:07

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will close out the regular-season schedule next Saturday, Nov. 13, at noon on the road in Vermont as the Bison go up against Castleton University (5-4, 3-2 ECFC) in a conference game.