The Mount Ida College football team used a 75-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the third quarter by junior linebacker David Green (Homewood, AL/Homewood) to seal their first victory of the season, 24-7, against Plymouth State University this afternoon at Mt. Ida Athletic Stadium.
The Mustang defense held Panther senior running back Jeff Mack (Milford, NH/Milford) to 98 yards on the ground, stopping his momentum from the previous week where he gained 204 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
The MIC defensive charge was led by linebackers Jordan Edinger (Key Largo, FL/Coral Shores) and freshman Theo McCummings (Natick, MA/Natick) who combined for 13 tackles. McCummings would be outstanding forcing three fumbles while Edinger had two tackles for a loss.
The hosts would strike first on an 11 play, 60 yard drive capped off by a 27 yard field goal by kicker Bobby Hemmann (Newington, CT/Newington). This would give the Mustangs the 3-0 advantage with 13:03 left in the second quarter.
Plymouth State would take lead on the ensuing possession off a seven play, 91 yard drive with 1:24 on the clock. Mack would pound in a nine yard touchdown run, giving the Panthers their first and only lead of the game up 7-3 right before halftime.
Mount Ida freshman quarterback Tony Tokarz (Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional) floated an eight yard pass to junior wide out Kyle Watkins (New Haven, CT/James Hillhouse) into the end zone to regain the advantage, 10-7, with 12:36 showing in the third.
The Panthers would be deflated and would turn to their star running back only for him to get shut down but the Mustang defense. Mack would cough up a fumble on the Mount Ida 25 yard line that squirted out of a pig pile into the hands of Green. He would pick up the ball and run 75 yards downfield for the TD to give his team the 17-7 lead, taking the air out of Plymouth's sails.
It was all but over at this point, while the Mustangs added another score with two minutes remaining in the game. Senior quarterback Michael Cloutier (Troy, NH/Lansingburgh) tallied his first TD pass of the season on a 35 yard strike giving MIC the outright 24-7 victory, their first of the year.
Watkins would have another outstanding performance hauling in 11 catches, 158 yards receiving, and two touchdowns while senior tailback Marc Skehan (Irvington, NY/Irvington) rushed for 54 yards on 18 carries.
The Panthers offense was shut down by MIC turning the ball over five times off an interception by freshman cornerback Shareff Champlain (Lisbon, CT/Briarwood College) and four fumbles lost while the Mustangs were flawless with zero turnovers.
PSU quarterback senior John DeMarco (Milford, NH/Milford/Bridgton Academy) threw for only 47 total yards on 4-14 passing and one pick.
Mount Ida football will head into a bye this coming weekend and will restart action September 27, 2008 at Becker College with kickoff starting at 2:30 p.m.