Mount Ida College football sophomore pre-season All-American running back Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) broke two school records in a 41-6 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) victory over visiting Becker College Saturday on a blustery afternoon in Newton, Massachusetts. Bunch, who tallied six rushing touchdowns adding 216 yards on the ground, broke the school record for scores in a game surpassing his old record of five that was set last season against Castleton State College. Bunch also eclipsed the career touchdowns record passing Mount Ida alumnus Antwan Harris (31 TD's) tallying 34 scores in his three year career as a Mustang so far. Mount Ida improves to 3-2 for the season and pulls into a three way tie for second place in the conference standings (Mount Ida, Norwich, Castleton State) at 2-1.
The Mustangs got on the board quickly at the eight minute mark in the first quarter on Bunch's first score of the day off a two yard off tackle run following a five play, 37 yard drive. Senior kicker Billy Beauzile (Brooklyn, NY/Samuel J. Tilden) converted the point after attempt giving the Mustangs an immediate 7-0 advantage. The Mount Ida offensive line opened some huge holes for Bunch to run through for the entire afternoon.
On the ensuing possession, the Hawks were stopped cold on the Mustangs eight yard line setting up a 25 yard attempt that was missed wide left for a failed opportunity for the visitors toward the end of the first stanza.
Two plays into the second quarter the Mustangs struck again on another Bunch scamper from 10 yards out converting an 11 play, 80 yard drive giving the hosts a commanding 14-0 lead after another Beauzile PAT.
Following another failed field goal attempt by the visitors on the ensuing drive from 41 yards out that landed short, the Mustangs drove down field quickly on a six play, 80 yard drive capped off by another Bunch score on a 19 yard run. This inflated the Mustangs lead even more up 21-0 after Beauzile was successful on his third point after attempt.
The visitors finally got on the board immediately following on a six play, 57 yard drive finished off on a 10 yard scamper from senior running back Paul Casimir (Miami, FL/Archbishop Carroll) for the Hawks first points of the game trailing 21-6 with 3:38 to go before the break. The PAT was not converted after a botched kick.
Neither team could do anything offensively to start the second half turning the ball back over to each other multiple times for the first eight minutes of the third quarter.
After a failed fourth down attempt by the visitors on the Becker 26 yard line, the Mustangs were set up with ideal field position setting up Bunch's fourth score that would eclipse the career touchdown record. A botched snap on the punt attempt by the Hawks followed by an intentional grounding penalty on a throw by the punter set Mount Ida up on the Becker four yard line. Bunch punched in the score giving the Mustangs a 27-6 advantage after the Hawks blocked the PAT attempt by Beauzile.
Another failed fourth down conversion attempt by the visitors on their own 45 yard line set up the Mustangs again with perfect field position. Bunch did the rest with four rushing attempts during the short drive finishing things off with a three yard scamper for his fifth touchdown on the day for the 34-6 lead following a Beauzile point after with 3:18 remaining in the third quarter.
Mount Ida eventually added their final score of the day and Bunch's sixth touchdown run of the afternoon on a four play, 48 yard drive finished with an impressive 39 yard rush from Bunch to the end zone for the 41-6 lead.
It was a defensive battle for the rest of the day with neither team able to put any more points on the board for the latter part of the fourth quarter handing the Mustangs their second ECFC win of 2010.
Bunch was not the only Mustang that played today; sophomore quarterback Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) completed five passes for 103 yards with senior Paul Shaughnessy (Malden, MA/Northeast Metro) adding two catches for 55 yards.
The Mount Ida defensive stymied the Hawks all day long with five total sacks and only 153 yards of total offense. Mustang junior defensive end Sean Simmons (Schenectady, NY/Mohonasen) led his squad with six solo tackles and three tackles for a loss. Sophomore A.J. Knibbs (Spotswood, NY/Spotswood) was also outstanding with two sacks, a forced fumble, and five solo tackles. Senior Kyle Lawson (Middlesex, VT/U-32) and sophomore Michael Brockenberry (West Haven, CT/West Haven) added five solo tackles a piece as well. Junior Shareff Champlain (Lisbon, CT/Norwich Free Academy) had the only interception for the Mustangs towards the end of the game.
Casimir had the best day statistically for the visitors adding 58 yards rushing with a touchdown. The Hawks were only able to muster 32 yards through the air between three different quarterbacks.
Mount Ida football will travel to ECFC opponent Gallaudet University this coming Saturday in Washington, DC starting at 12:00 p.m.