WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Castleton University football team was defeated by Gallaudet, 20-17, in league action Saturday afternoon at Hotchkiss Field.
The Spartans' (2-4) conference record moves to .500 with the loss, while the Bison (4-1) improve to 2-0 after defeating Keystone last week. Castleton bested Gallaudet in nearly all categories in the nation's capital, but a pair of interceptions including a pick-six as well as poorly-timed fumbles moved the needle toward the Bison.
Evan Smith went 17-for-27 passing with two scores and two interceptions. Jackson Brand hauled in a team-high seven catches for 45 yards while Caezar Williams and Saijon McIntosh each had multiple-reception days. Lucas Morse and Dylan Shiland caught touchdown passes from Smith on their lone grabs. Devin Wollner led the ground game with 85 yards on 18 carries although Spartan rushers netted 78 yards due to sacks. Noah Crossman made a 39-yard field goal and converted both PAT attempts.
Jacob Griggs was the Castleton's most prolific tackler with nine, his second-best mark as a Spartan. Defensive ends Andrew Genier and Jordan Wright each collected eight tackles as Genier registered a team-best three tackles for a loss including two sacks. Six stops were tabbed to Kevin McDonough who has recorded six or more tackles in each contest this season. Jacob Gonzalez logged five tackles along with 2.5 in the backfield as Kristopher Carroll also stopped five ball-carriers and forced a fumble.
Gallaudet's Brandon Washington piloted the Bison offense with 23 carries for 122 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Nicholas Maccini completed 4-of-9 pass attempts for 32 yards but was sacked four times. Two of Maccini's passes went to Washington for 16 yards. Kicker Jonathon Waterman was 2-for-2 on field goal attempts with a successful extra point.
Stefan Anderson made eight tackles, two for losses, and picked off a pass while batting another down in the secondary. Jacob Hartman and John Werner Jr. also had strong performances with seven tackles apiece. Hartman added 2.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and broke up two passes. Werner Jr. intercepted a pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown.
The Spartans' second drive of the day began at Gallaudet's 31-yard line after a short punt and 19-yard return by Williams. Wollner rushed four times for 22 yards, setting up a nine-yard pass and catch from Smith to Shiland to give Castleton a lead midway through the first quarter. On the second play of the ensuing drive, Gallaudet fumbled at their own 18-yard line as Genier recovered in the Spartan red zone. The Bison defense stood tall and forced a field goal, but Crossman's 24-yard attempt deflected off the left upright and kept the game within a possession.
A drive by the Spartans that contained four first downs and lasted nearly nine minutes ended in a turnover on downs following an incompletion at the Bison 29-yard line. After trading unsuccessful drives, Gallaudet settled into striking territory and Waterman booted a 43-yard field goal for the home team's first score to make it 7-3 Spartans at halftime.
Receiving the second half kickoff, Smith started the drive with a 14-yard rush to around midfield. Wesley Cournoyer took over at quarterback for the ensuing snap as Tyler Williams forced the freshman signal-caller to fumble as Rodney Burford Jr. pounced on the ball to put Gallaudet in Spartan territory. Two plays later, Washington fumbled but regained possession to dash 46 yards for a touchdown, taking a 10-7 lead following the point-after.
Castleton's offense went three-and-out, punting to Gallaudet's 40-yard line. The Bison marched down to the Spartan three-yard line but were hit with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and an eight-yard tackle for a loss by Gonzalez. Waterman set up for a second field goal, nailing it from 40 yards and extending the lead to six points. The Spartans embarked on a slow-moving drive, going 36 yards on 11 plays, before Crossman put a 39-yard kick through to cut the margin to 13-10 just before the final quarter.
After stopping the Bison in their tracks two minutes into the fourth period, Matthew Rodriguez got a hand on Waterman's punt and Henry Robertson recovered at the Gallaudet 30-yard line. On third down, Smith found McIntosh who got to the 16-yard line before Zarek Nathanson knocked the ball free as Laron Thomas recovered for the Bison. Castleton regained possession with ten minutes to go before a six-play, 36-yard jaunt was ended by an interception by Werner Jr. returned 62 yards to paydirt.
Castleton started the following drive at their own 45-yard line thanks to a Bison personal foul as the first play, a 16-yard completion from Smith to Williams, thrusted the Spartans into Gallaudet's half. Smith's third pass of the drive was picked off by Anderson at the 36-yard line.
Forcing the Bison to punt with a backup punter following Waterman's disqualification, Ethan Sheppeck's kick went just six yards to put Castleton at Gallaudet's 44-yard line with 4:52 left. The Spartans drew an illegal block penalty, leading to Smith connecting with Morse to cap the drive with a 26-yard touchdown. Gallaudet gained three first downs, two coming on personal fouls, and ran out the clock to secure a 20-17 victory.
The Spartans continue ECFC play next Saturday, returning home to do battle with SUNY Maritime. Kickoff at Dave Wolk Stadium is slated for noon.
