SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Salve Regina University football trailed 20-14 with nearly seven minutes left in the fourth quarter after Thomas Fallon (Freehold, N.J.) connected with Spencer Chapman (Needham, Mass.) on a 44-yard pass play, but Springfield College iced the game with an ensuing six-play, 70-yard scoring drive that consumed nearly four minutes and included a two-point conversion for a 28-14 final at Stagg Field.

The Seahawks (4-1, 1-1 NEWMAC), ranked No. 1 in the Grinold Chapter New England Division III Football Coaches' Poll for the second straight week, trailed 13-0 at intermission and opened the second half with a nine-play, 75-yard drive to get on the board with a seven-yard run by Fallon. Justan Luzzi (Belleville, N.J.), who finished with a game-high 92 yards rushing on 14 carries, ripped off his long of 28 yards on a 1st-and-10 from the Pride 39 and three plays later Fallon finished with his run.

Springfield (3-2, 2-0 NEWMAC), which netted 416 yards on the ground across seven different ball carriers, responded with a 10-play, 85-yard scoring drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. The Pride dominated time of possession nearly 2-to-1.

On its final scoring drive, Fallon completed a pair of passes to Jacoby Smith (Middletown, R.I.) for 11 and three yards, respectively, before dialing up long distance on 4th-and-3 at the Pride 44 to send Chapman to the end zone.

Bode Dunn (Stockton, N.J.) had a 62-yard run on 3rd-and-6 from his own 34 before Christian Pereira (Hopkinton, Mass.) caught him four yards from a score. On 1st-and-Goal from the four, Stanford Davis (Montague, N.J.) was stopped by Billy Schwanewede (Oradell, N.J.) after three yards and then for no gain by Dylan DeAngelis (Duxbury, Mass.) on 2nd-and-Goal. A false start penalty against the Pride before the next snap gave the Seahawks a glimmer of hope, but on 3rd-and-Goal from the six, Springfield scored its fourth touchdown on a TJ Welch (Shrewsbury, Mass.) toss to Trey Rios (Northampton, Mass.) over the middle.

On its final possession, Salve Regina moved the ball with Fallon completing passes to James Haveron (Verona, N.J.) for 11 and six yards, respectively, and to Ethan Lemos (Wethersfield, Conn.) for seven yards into Springfield territory. Back-to-back sacks by junior defensive lineman Tyler Sordillo (Hull, Mass.) backed the Seahawks up to their own 45 needing 24 yards for a first down, but two incomplete passes ended the series.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Final: Springfield 28, Salve Regina 14
Records: Salve Regina (4-1, 1-1 NEWMAC), Springfield (3-2, 2-0 NEWMAC)
History: Today's game marked the fifth all-time meeting between the two football programs. Springfield has won all five meetings including the first ever in 2003, 69-0. The following year on the grass at Toppa Field, the Pride took a 38-7 decision against the Seahawks. In the first ever NEWMAC meeting in 2023 in Springfield, the Salve Regina football team put together a tremendous second-half rally after trailing 24-0 in front of a Springfield College homecoming crowd, but the Pride held on for a 31-21 final score at Stagg Field.

SUMMARY

• 1st | 04:31 | SPR - Bode Dunn 14 yd run (kick failed), 9 plays, 82 yards, TOP 05:20 | PRIDE 6, SEAHAWKS 0
  2nd | 07:50 | SPR - Trey Rios 43 yd pass from TJ Welch (Ian Wernik kick) 8 plays, 94 yards, TOP 05:24 | PRIDE 13, SEAHAWKS 0
  3rd | 10:35 | SRU - Thomas Fallon 7 yd run (Nathan DiRado kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:25 | PRIDE 13, SEAHAWKS 7
  3rd | 03:36 | SPR - Emeka Yearwood 11 yd run (Ian Wernik kick), 10 plays, 85 yards, TOP 06:52 | PRIDE 20, SEAHAWKS 7
  4th | 06:47 | SRU - Spencer Chapman 44 yd pass from Thomas Fallon (Nathan DiRado kick) 10 plays, 87 yards, TOP 04:35 | PRIDE 20, SEAHAWKS 14
  4th | 02:53 | SPR - Trey Rios 6 yd pass from TJ Welch (James Green rush) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 03:54 | PRIDE 28, SEAHAWKS 14

NOTEWORTHY

• Nathan DiRado made both of his PAT kicks.
• Justan Luzzi (14 carries) and Bode Dunn (seven carries) both gained 92 yards on the ground.
• TJ Welch completed two of four passes and both went for touchdowns (43, 6).
• Thomas Fallon went 17-for-29 through the air for 163 yards and one touchdown (44).
• There were no turnovers in the game.
• Seven different ball carriers helped the Pride total 416 yards on the ground.
• Springfield scored a touchdown in each quarter.
• James Minotti led all players in tackles (14) including four solo.

ON THE HORIZON
Salve Regina enjoys a bye week before hosting Merchant Marine Academy on Saturday, October 18, with a noon kickoff at Toppa Field.