Video Highlights
(courtesy of Kevin Gray, Union Leader)
Manchester, N.H. (September 5) -- After nearly
three and a half hours and five overtime periods, Saint Anselm
quarterback Michael Pierce (Andover, Mass.)
rambled into the end zone in the fifth OT for the game-winning
touchdown in a thrilling 41-35 final at Grappone Stadium. The score
capped off the second-longest football game in NCAA Division II
history.
The Panthers got on the board first midway through the first
quarter as freshman Tyler Long (Dover, N.H.)
capped off a 15-play, 52-yard drive with a seven-yard scoring run
to give the visitors a 7-0 advantage. After stopping the Hawks on
the ensuing drive, the Panthers used a 37-yard pass to get into the
red zone on their first play of the series. On the next play,
junior Chris Francher (Weare, N.H.) rumbled in
from nine yards out to make it a 14-0 Plymouth advantage.
Saint Anselm got on the board with 4:11 left in the first
quarter as Pierce connected with sophomore Marc Wilson
(Farmington, Conn.) for a 10-yard scoring pass. The score
was set up by a 66-yard completion to Wilson earlier in the drive.
The Hawks attempted the two-point conversion, but were stopped for
a 14-6 score.
Plymouth answered with a 14-play drive that covered nearly eight
minutes, capped by a 34-yard field goal from Christian
Mulcahy (Norwich, Conn.) for a 17-6 lead with 11:30 left
in the first half. The Hawks put up a field goal of their own
though with 3:26 left as freshman Zack McCabe (E. Freetown,
Mass.) booted a 30-yarder to make it a 17-9 score in favor
of the Panthers.
The Hawks started the second half with a five-play, 63-yard
scoring drive that was capped off by a 36-yard touchdown reception
by Wilson from Pierce. Pierce found Wilson quickly and Wilson
fought his way into the end zone to cut the lead to 17-16 just 1:54
into the second half.
It was the Saint Anselm defense that made the next big play in
the quarter as the Panthers had the ball in a first and goal
situation at the four-yard line late in the third. On fourth and
goal, the visitors attempted a 21-yard field goal that was blocked
by senior All-America candidate Dan Bohenek (Bridgewater,
Mass.). Plymouth converted its next field goal attempt
though with 13:25 left in the fourth as Mulcahy booted a 20-yarder
just inside the right upright to extend the Panthers' lead to
20-16.
After Mulcahy knocked a 27-yarder through with 2:24 left on the
clock, it looked like the Hawks were going to drop their second
straight to the Panthers in the all-time series. That was when the
Hawks embarked on a nine-play, 66-yard drive that was capped by a
spectacular over-the-shoulder catch by freshman Chris
Chapman (Bronx, N.Y.) in the corner of the end zone to
send the game into overtime. The game is the first overtime for the
Hawks since 2005 and just the third in school history.
In the first overtime, the Panthers scored on the first play as
Alex Smith found J.J. Brooks in the corner of the end zone for the
score and a 29-23 lead. Mulcahy's extra-point attempt failed
though, leaving the door open for the Hawks. The Hawks found the
end zone quickly on an 18-yard run from Pierce to get their first
chance for the win, but the extra-point attempt by Pierce went wide
and the game went to the second extra period.
Both teams came up empty in the second overtime, the Panthers
took the lead on a one-yard TD rush from Brooks and the two-point
conversion fell incomplete. On the ensuing Saint Anselm possession,
the Hawks were down to their final down on fourth and goal at the
14-yard line before Pierce found Marcel Bouie (Stone
Mountain, Ga.) for the tying TD and the game headed into
the fourth extra period.
The fourth overtime was a scoreless one as well as the Hawks
fumbled the ball on their sixth play of the possession, setting up
a potential shot at the victory for the Panthers. It was not to be
though as a 35-yard attempt by Mulcahy flew wide right.
In the fifth and final overtime period, Mulcahy again missed wide
on a 31-yard attempt and it was Saint Anselm ball at the 25-yard
line, nearly three and a half hours since the opening kickoff.
After Pierce completed a 12-yard pass to Wilson on first down,
Pierce dodged tacklers and barreled his way in for the game-winning
score and his sixth overall touchdown of the game.
The game was the longest game time-wise in Saint Anselm history
at three hours and 25 minutes and the second-longest game in NCAA
Division II history at five overtimes.
Pierce set a Saint Anselm single-game passing record with 374
yards as he completed 32 of 53 attempts with four touchdowns. He
also scored two on the ground as he gained 48 yards rushing. Wilson
set a pair of records on the after as he pulled down 12 passes for
187 yards, the school's single-game receiving record. Wilson also
set a single-game mark with 260 all-purpose yards.
Defensively for the Hawks, freshman Dale DeGraw
(Jamesburg, N.J.) won the leader with 15 total tackles,
including a game-best nine solo stops. Bohenek also added 11
tackles, while Kevin Flynn (Wakefield, Mass.),
Ethan Sylvain (East Montpelier, Vt.) and
Chris Bent (Dracut, Mass.) all had 10 tackles.
For the Panthers, Brooks led the ground attack with 96 rushing
yards and one TD, while also throwing for 82 yards and another
score. Smith was the leading receiver with 74 yards on three
receptions. On defense, Harry Fallon (Hampton Falls,
N.H.) had 13 tackles, while Christian Mulcahy had 11
tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one
interception.
With the win, the Hawks improve to 1-1 overall on the season,
while the Panthers are now 0-1 overall after their season opener.
Saint Anselm is back in action on Friday night as the team travels
to Bentley University for a 7 p.m. start under the lights.
