NEWTON, Mass. - The Mount Ida College football team used a 75-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter by junior David Green (Homewood, Ala.) to seal its first victory of the season, 24-7, over Plymouth State University Saturday afternoon at Mt. Ida Athletic Stadium.

            The Mustang defense held Panther senior running back Jeff Mack (Milford, N.H.) to 98 yards on the ground, stopping his momentum from the previous week where he gained 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The defensive charge was led by linebackers Jordan Edinger (Key Largo, Fla.) and Theo McCummings (Natick, Mass.), who combined for 13 tackles.  McCummings forced three fumbles while Edinger had two tackles for loss.

            The hosts struck first early in the second quarter, putting together an 11-play, 60-yard drive, capped off by a 27-yard field goal by Bobby Hemmann (Newington, Conn.).  PSU took the lead on the ensuing possession with a seven-play, 91-yard touchdown drive.  Mack would pound in a nine-yard touchdown run with 1:24 left on the first-half clock, giving the Panthers their first and only lead of the game, 7-3.  Key plays on the drive included a 23-yard run by Mack and a 30-yard run by senior QB John DeMarco (Milford, N.H.), setting up first-and-goal at the 9-yard line.

            Mount Ida freshman quarterback Tony Tokarz (Holden, Mass.) floated an eight-yard pass to junior wide out Kyle Watkins (New Haven, Conn.) into the end zone to regain the advantage, 10-7, with 12:36 showing in the third.  Green picked up a Panther fumble and ran 75 yards downfield for the TD to give his team the 17-7 lead a minute into the final frame.

            The Mustangs added another score with two minutes remaining in the game when senior quarterback Michael Cloutier (Troy, N.Y.) tallied his first TD pass of the season on a 35-yard strike to Watkins, giving MIC the outright 24-7 victory. 

            Watkins had an outstanding performance, hauling in 11 catches, 158 yards receiving, and two touchdowns while senior tailback Marc Skehan (Irvington, N.Y.) rushed for 54 yards on 18 carries.

             The Panthers offense was shut down by MIC, turning the ball over five times off an interception by freshman cornerback Shareff Champlain (Lisbon, CT/Briarwood College) and four fumbles lost while the Mustangs were flawless with zero turnovers.

            Mount Ida football has a bye this week and will restart action Sept. 27, at Becker College.  PSU visits Coast Guard next Saturday at 1:30 p.m.  

(Courtesy of Mount Ida Sports Information) 

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