Hawks Soar Past Utica In Opener

For Immediate Release
September 6, 2008

Hawks Win First Game At Alumni Field

Leicester, Mass. - It didn't take long for the new Becker College Head Coach Bill McDonald to get his first Gatorade shower on the sidelines, as the Hawks defeated Utica 26-13.

Becker scored the first points of the game when Thomas Pearson(Fort Washington, MD) scampered in for an eight yard touchdown run, putting the Hawks up 6-0. Becker didn't waste any time adding to their lead. Just 3:36 later Gabriel Prophet(Washington, D.C) connected with Jacques Faublas(Canton, MA) on a sixty six yard touchdown strike, putting the Hawks up 12-0. Utica would get on the board when Brian Jones(Waterbury, CT) leaped in for a one yard touchdown, putting the Pioneers within five at the half.

After Utica kicker Casey McNulty(Red Hook, NY) missed a twenty seven yard field goal attempt, the Hawks marched eighty yards. Gabriel Prophet connected with Ryan Mercado(New London, CT) in the back of the end zone, putting the Hawks up for good 19-7.  The Hawks would add insurance points when Gabriel Prophet scored from one yard out on a quarterback keeper. Utica would drive sixty yards in 1:02 to score their final points of the contest. The drive was started when Utica Quarterback Keith Barone(Point Pleasant, NJ) connected with Dayne Bennett(Minoa, NY) on a forty six yard pass; which was capped off with another Barone to Bennett completion for the Pioneers final tallies.

Jacques Faublas finished the game with three receptions for 103 yards. In addition to 198 yards passing, quarterback Gabriel Prophet passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one. Paul Casimir(Worcester, MA) led the Hawks rushing attack with 59 yards.

The Hawks Defense was led by Vincent Rucker(Rockville, CT) who had seven tackles and an interception. Senior Captain Julian Turner(Boston, MA) also had seven tackles on the day. The Utica defense was led by Captain Eric Kahl(Lockwood,NY), with ten and a half tackles and an interception. Peter Vano(Mahopac, NY) added ten tackles and an interception, in a losing effort.

Becker College (1-0) will travel to Maine to play Maine Maritime (0-1) next Saturday at 1pm. Utica College will also travel to Maine next Saturday to play Husson College at 1pm.
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