BROOKVILLE, NY (Sep. 25) -- The Saint Anselm football team is young. The Saint Anselm football team is inexperience. The Saint Anselm football team can be expected to take its share of bumps bruises and losses this season. This afternoon's 50-7 setback at a much bigger and considerably more experienced CW Post squad proved just that.
Saint Anselm looked like the first year program it is as the Hawks struggled for the second straight week to find an offensive rhythm. Unlike last week however, when the defense held Hartwick and kept the team in the game, there was no such luck as a bigger CW Post Offensive Line kept the Hawks defense on their heels throughout the afternoon.
When the dust had finally settled on this long Saturday, CW Post had compiled 439 yards of total offense and had limited the young Hawks to 188. The Hawks were simply overmatched on the ground game where the Pioneers simply ran the ball down the Hawks throats and through their entire system, carrying the ball a whopping 50 times for 332 yards. Pioneer Rich Haering led the way with 170 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns, while Ian Smart added 69 yards in 14 carries.
Big plays were the story. Actually, big plays in the second quarter to be exact.
The Hawks held CW Post to 7-0 first quarter, the only score coming on a 70 yard scamper by Haering with 8:15 to go in the first. But it would be a bad, bad omen. The drive consumed just three plays starting on the Post 27.
In the second quarter, Post three touchdowns on drives that lasted less than one series. After finishing off a 10 play 73 yard drive that ate up 4:09 and ended with a 14 yard touchdown pass from Post quarterback Pat Rock to Matt Galasso for a 14-0 lead, the roof officially fell in.
The Hawks went four and out on their next series and Post answered taking the ball over at the Hawks 44. Two plays later, Rock connected with wide out Eddie Hardaway for a 42 yard TD and a 21-0 lead. After Saint Anselm's following drive stalled at their own 40, Post took over at their own 45 and this time three plays later, it was Haering running 55 yards with 2:40 to go in the half. Post tacked on another score with 28 seconds to go in the half and a commanding 34-0 lead at the break.
The Hawks opened the second half with a four and out. But Hardaway took Justin Silva's punt 61 yards back for another touchdown and the rout was on.
The Hawks lone highlight came midway through the third quarter when Kyle Van De Giesen connected with Mark Stevens for a 44 yard pass play that put the ball at the Post 1 and Jon Turner banged in for 41-7 game. Post later added a safety and final touchdown for the 50-7 final.
Van De Giesen again struggled against strong secondary coverage hitting on 7-24 (89 yds) with an interception, while Keith Comeau came on in the fourth going 4-9 for 78 yards. Freshman Robert Pike carried 17 times for 33 yards. Mark Stevens enjoyed a solid day, catching three passes for 111 yards.
The Hawks will look to turn things around next Saturday afternoon in front of what is anticipated to be a large crowd. The Hawks host longtime school rival Assumption at 1:00 P.M. in the Hawks first ever Homecoming Game. The Game is also the Hall of Fame game.
