BANGOR- The UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs got a touchdown from Antonio Brown with 1:39 left in the fourth quarter on Saturday afternoon, en route to a 21-14 non-conference football win over the Husson Eagles in the season opener at the Winkin Complex.
As UM-D was driving early in the second quarter of a scoreless game, Husson linebacker Tucker Buzzell intercepted a pass and returned it 70 yards to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead. The Corsairs responded right back on a 10 play, 67 yard drive in 3:22 culminating in a three yard TD reception from Stephen Gacioch to Mike Vincent to even the game 7-7, which is where it stood at halftime.
A six yard scoring reception from Diondre Ellis on a pass from Dante Aviles-Santos gave UMass-Dartmouth the lead for the first time early in the third quarter. The Corsairs missed the extra point and it was 13-7. Husson had a chance to re-take the lead late in the third but failed to convert on a 4th and goal at the UM-D two yard line. Early in the fourth they did convert on a 4th down and goal play to jump back in front. Anthony Walker made a beautiful over the shoulder catch 10 yards out on a perfect pass by quarterback Nic Visser into the back corner of the endzone, and the extra point made it 14-13 in favor of the hosts with 11:19 left to play. The game winner came on a screen pass to Brown from Aviles-Santos, and Brown juked around the Eagles defenders for the 39 yard touchdown with 1:39 left on the clock. Aviles-Santos added a two-point conversion run. Husson had one more chance in the closing seconds getting to their opponents 22 yard line, but Visser would be intercepted at the Corsairs four yard line that sealed the win for UMass-Dartmouth.
Visser went 24-41 passing for 281 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Jordan Morcano had 11 carries for 54 yards, and Elijah Garnett added 14 carries for 45 yards to lead the Eagles ground attack. Tyler Halls had six catches for 87 yards, and Aidan Hogan had eight receptions for 67 yards. Kaleb Caron had seven total tackles to anchor the defense, while Frank Curran had two sacks. Aviles-Santos was 9-20 passing for 128 yards and two touchdowns, while Gacioch was 6-13 for 93 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Luis Gonzalez had 19 carries for 55 yards, and Douglas Machado had four catches for 84 yards to round out the Corsairs offense. JP Mason had seven total tackles. Husson plays on the road in non-conference next Saturday at Plymouth State.
