BANGOR- Nathan Napier hit three field goals, including the game winning 35-yard boot with 56 seconds left in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon as Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) spoiled the Husson home opener with a 15-13 non-conference football win at the Winkin Complex.
Husson had a very slow start in the first half, not picking up a single first down until the second quarter. Napier had a pair of field goals for WPI, and Jack Schuck (Bangor High) also tossed a 12-yard touchdown pass to Josh Castro as the visiting Engineers led 12-0 at the break.
The Eagles got going in the second half, and after the Engineers stalled on the opening drive of the third quarter on a turnover on downs, Husson got on the board for the first time. Max Clark (Bangor) connected on passes to Jacob Lenz and Imari Montgomery of 19 and 15 yards respectively to set them up in scoring position. He then found Cam Holmes in the back of the endzone for a 22-yard touchdown to cut it to 12-7. The hosts took their only lead in the fourth, set up by a 52-yard pass from Clark to Lenz all the way to the WPI 9-yard line. The next play he went to Holmes again for another touchdown. The two-point conversion would fail as the Eagles had a 13-12 advantage with 12:15 left to play.
Husson got the ball back with a chance to put a good dent into the clock with just over four minutes remaining and clinging to a one point lead, but a three and out would force a punt. The kick by Danny Scarlotta, Jr. only netted 14 yards giving WPI prime field position at the Eagles 36. The Engineers drove to the 13-yard line but were forced into another Napier field goal attempt to try to take back the lead, as the kick was true from 35-yards to make it 15-13 with under a minute showing on the clock. The Eagles got to their opponents 44-yard line in trying at at least get into field goal range to try to win it. With no timeouts left a grounding penalty on Clark on a big pass rush, an incompletion, and then a third interception thrown in a hailmary situation by the senior quarterback would end it.
Clark finished the day 20-37 passing for 284 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Husson ground game was shut down, only gaining 15 yards on 17 attempts. Holmes had six receptions for 92 yards and his two second half touchdowns. Lenz reeled in five for 96 yards, while Caden Crocker (Foxcroft Academy) added in four receptions for 34 yards. JT Wright led the defense with 17 total tackles (11 assisted), including one for a loss. James Boyd (Nokomis), Drew Crouse (Hampden), and Joseph Dube (Lewiston) all had one sack each. Schuck went 28-39 for 231 yards and a touchdown in the win for WPI. Dante Atwood and Garrett Ranieri had six catches each, while Ty Csencsits and Castro both hauled in four. Castro led in receiving yards with 97 and had a second quarter touchdown. The Engineers improve to 1-2. The Eagles (1-2) stay at home to begin league play next Saturday as they welcome in Endicott College in the Conference of New England opener at 1 p.m.
