Manchester, N.H. (November 8, 2003)—Amidst heavy winds, Saint Anselm College used a stifling defense and a decisive advantage in turnovers to win its second straight contest, 10-3, over Bryant College in a Northeast-10 Conference game played at Grappone Stadium on Homecoming Weekend.
Saint Anselm improves to 2-7 on the year, 1-7 in Northeast-10 Conference play, while Bryant falls to 3-6 both over and the NE-10.
The lone touchdown was the difference in the game and occurred on the opening kickoff of the third quarter. Kicking to start the half, Saint Anselm's Joe Imparato ( Natick ,
Mass.
/ Xaverian Brothers) recovered a fumble on the Bryant 22 yard line. The Hawks then drove the distance on five plays, capped by a bruising four-yard run by Derek DiMartino ( Amherst ,
Mass.
/ UMass Amherst) to put the home team ahead 10-3.
Saint Anselm had taken a modest 3-0 lead into halftime on a 36-yard field goal straight into a heavy wind by Michael Garcarz (New Britain, Conn./ New Britain). The field goal was the ninth of the season, setting a new single season record at the College.
The game was controlled by the defense however, as the Hawks held Bryant to 107 yards on 39 carries (2.7 ypc), 143 yards of total offense (2.5 ypp), and just 2-for-15 on third down conversions. The Hawks also forced four turnovers (two fumble recoveries, two interceptions) and came up with big stops in key situations late in the game.
In the third quarter, Bryant's longest drive of the game, a 13-play 63-yard drive, resulted in an 18-yard field goal by Mike Lajetrman (Ramsey, N.J./ Ramsey) at the 6:55 mark. The Bulldogs had the ball on the four yard line but were turned back three times as the Saint Anselm defense made the first of several big stands. After that field goal, the Hawks allowed just eight more yards of offense on six drives and 19 plays, while intercepting a pair of passes.
Both interceptions came deep in Saint Anselm territory, including a pick by Michael Demasi (New Canaan, Conn./ New Canaan) on the five yard line, which he returned 47 yards into Bryant territory.
Saint Anselm then turned the ball over to DiMartino, who ran out the clock and finished the day with a workman-like 119 yards on 37 carries (single game record). Other Saint Anselm runners touched the ball just 11 times for seven yards but fellow back Kevin Ridgley (Amesbury, Mass./ Amesbury) led all players with four receptions for 65 yards. The game marked the first time this season that the Hawks did not commit a turnover.
James Ward (Westerly, R.I./ Westerly), Aaron Jeanson (Acton, Mass./ URI), and Brian Sundell (N. Easton, Mass./ Oliver Ames) all had nine tackles to lead the Saint Anselm defense with Ward recording 2.5 tackles for a loss.
David Boak (Oradell, N.J./ Bergen Catholic) led the Bryant defense with 11 tackles, while Che Perez (Bridgeport, Conn./ Central) had 10 tackles (eight solo).
Saint Anselm returns to action next Saturday in the season finale when the Hawks host Pace University in a 12:00 PM Northeast-10 Conference game. Bryant also finishes at home next weekend with the Bulldogs taking on Gannon University at noon.
