Saint Anselm College

MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College football team dropped a 56-28 non-conference decision to Franklin Pierce University on Saturday at Grappone Stadium.

Highlights

• Sophomore Tyler Villalta posted 181 all-purpose yards, including 158 yards on seven kickoff returns.
• Sophomore Jermaine Sheppherd Jr. rushed for 91 yards on 21 carries, producing his first collegiate touchdown.
• Junior Gus O'Gara scored a 14-yard rushing touchdown and added four receptions for 55 yards.
• Sophomore James Pepper Jr. led the Hawks defensively with seven tackles and recovered a fumble.
• Junior Liam Stack recovered a fumble in the end zone for his first collegiate touchdown.
• Senior Aris Xerras added nine tackles, two for a loss, four quarterback hurries, and a fumble recovery.
• Junior Nick Caro completed 14 of 25 passes for 158 yards, while sophomore Lucas Despot completed three of 10 passes for 25 yards.
• Senior Michael Guarnieri went 4-for-4 on PATs.
• Saint Anselm recorded 279 total yards, with 96 rushing yards and 183 passing yards.

·       The Hawks converted three of four fourth-down attempts and held a 32:52-27:08 advantage in time of possession.

How it Happened

Franklin Pierce jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the opening 11 minutes of play. Shawn Brown connected with Joseph Mugovero for a 64-yard touchdown before Jaden Griffin added a one-yard rushing score.

Saint Anselm answered with a 92-yard scoring drive, capped by an eight-yard touchdown run from O'Gara with 6:37 remaining in the opening quarter. The Hawks then tied the game at 14-14 with seven seconds left in the quarter when Stack recovered a fumble in the end zone.

The Ravens regained the lead early in the second quarter when Kevin Leal found Mugovero for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Anthony Johnson followed with a 12-yard rushing touchdown to make it 28-14 before Brown connected with Tristan Evans for a 29-yard score with 5:42 remaining in the half as Franklin Pierce carried a 35-14 advantage into halftime.

Johnson added his second touchdown of the afternoon early in the third quarter, breaking free for a 58-yard rush before scoring from 16 yards later in the drive to give the Ravens a 42-14 lead. Franklin Pierce added another touchdown late in the quarter when Brown connected with Kha'lil Eason for a 29-yard touchdown, pushing the lead to 49-14.

Saint Anselm mounted a pair of scoring drives in the fourth quarter. Sheppherd Jr. capped a 48-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run with 13:41 remaining, and the Hawks recovered a blocked Franklin Pierce punt at the Ravens' seven-yard line before Despot scored on a two-yard rushing touchdown to cut the deficit to 49-28.

Franklin Pierce answered with a 92-yard touchdown drive, capped by a four-yard rushing score from Johnson with 4:10 remaining to account for the final margin.

Up Next

Saint Anselm (0-3) opens Northeast 10 Conference play on Saturday, Sept. 26 at Pace University. Kickoff is set for noon at Northwell Stadium in Pleasantville, N.Y.