Husson quarterback Cory Brandon drops back to pass during the first quarter of the Eagles home opener Friday night against Dean College. Photo by Chris Lessner.
BANGOR, Maine- Husson junior running back John Smith rushed for 280 yards and four touchdowns Friday night to lead the Husson University Eagles football team to a 43-23 victory over Dean College in the home opener before an announced crowd of 1,100 at the Winkin Complex.
Smith racked up the four scores with touchdown runs of 4, 1, 1, and 13 yards and ran for 175 yards in the second half alone to lead the Eagles to victory.
Husson (1-1) started quickly driving down the field on the opening possession and sophomore quarterback Cory Brandon finished off the opening drive when he found wide receiver Deon Wiggins in the corner of the endzone for a 15 yard touchdown to make it 7-0 just 1:30 into the game.
On the Eagles second possession the first quarter took a weird turn. Four turnovers would be committed, two by each team, in the next five and a half minutes. It started with Brandon getting intercepted, but then 2:20 later Dean College quarterback David Curry had his pass attempt deflected at the line and Husson defensive end Tarik Smith was able to catch it to give the ball back to the Eagles. However three minutes later, Dean defensive back Tyler Joseph intercepted another Brandon pass at midfield and returned it to the Husson 18 yard line.
With Dean threatening to tie the score and just two plays later, Husson defensive back Logan Steward picked off a second Curry pass and returned it 64 yards to the Dean 17 that would eventually set up the first score of the night for Smith who went in from four yards out to make it 14-0 with just 3:29 left in the opening quarter.
Husson got another Smith score from a yard out in the second to make it 20-0. A 12 yard touchdown pass from Curry to Justin White put Dean on the board for the first time late in the quarter and it was 20-7 going into halftime.
An early 44 yard field goal in the third quarter by Dean kicker Jordan Colleary cut the lead to 20-10 but Husson extended back to a 17 point lead when Smith dove in from one yard out for his third score.
The longest play from scrimmage in the game came late in the third quarter and it was the Bulldogs from Dean College who were backed up near their own goal line. Curry lost control of the snap and dropped the ball in the endzone but would scoop it up and roll to his right where he found his receiver Shafi Harris at the three yard line. Harris juked around several Eagles and took it 97 yards for the touchdown to make it 27-16.
After a 31 yard field goal from the Eagles Travis Tetreault to begin the fourth quarter made it 30-16, Harris picked up his second touchdown with a 49 yard catch from Curry to cut the Husson lead to 30-23. Smith went back to work with a 13 yard touchdown to put the game away for the Eagles just over two minutes later. Sophomore wide receiver Tyler Bassett finished off the scoring with a 10 yard touchdown run with six and half minutes remaining.
Smith led the offense with 39 carries and had two touchdowns in each half. Husson outgained Dean in the running game 354-27. Brandon finished 10/19 for 87 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions. Ellis Throckmorton led the Eagle defense with 10 tackles while Luke Washburn had 9.
Curry finished 9/28 for 228 yards, 3 TD and 2 interceptions for Dean College (0-2). Harris had the two long touchdowns and finished with the two receptions for 146 yards. Hasani Deli led the Bulldog defense with 12 tackles.
Dean College returns home next week to face Army Prep on Saturday at 1 p.m. Husson stays home and will host Alfred State on homecoming weekend Saturday with kickoff scheduled also for 1 p.m.
DEAN 0 7 9 7-23
HUSS 14 6 7 16-43
Total yards- Dean 255 Husson 441
Turnovers- Dean 3 Husson 2
Time of Possession- Dean 24:24 Husson 35:36
