DANBURY, Conn. — In a heavy game defensively, the Western Connecticut State University football team prevailed in an 18-3 Landmark Conference contest over the visiting Juniata College Eagles at the Westside Athletic Complex on Saturday. The Wolves improved to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the league, while the Eagles dropped to 2-6 and 1-3. WestConn hits the road for another conference contest against Susquehanna University on November 7 at noon.
After the Wolves made two mistakes, an opening kickoff-offside call and a quarterback fumble, Juniata kicked a field goal for its only points of the game. The Eagles held on to that 3-0 lead until the second half, when
Dylan Jackson (Monroe, Conn.) threw an easy four-yard touchdown to
Quasim Benson (Wilmington, Del.).
Serge Lagardere (Stamford, Conn.) ignited the scoring drive for the hosts with a 20-yard catch to the right before being tackled by Spencer Cachara at Juniata's 19-yard line. The offense used Benson in chunk plays to inch closer to the redzone, including a 14-yard rush to the right to the 6-yard line. The score remained at 6-3 in favor of the Wolves after a missed PAT.
Two plays after the Eagles' kickoff,
Jordan Tyler (Bay Shore, N.Y.) recovered the ball off a Buck Daiquan fumble, but the Wolves couldn't score off the turnover after Jackson was sacked on fourth and four at the 17-yard line. Jackson threw a 26-yard dart
Camrin Jean-Pierre (Stamford, Conn.) to put the Wolves up 12-3 at 11:03 in the third quarter. WestConn attempted a two-point conversion, but the play fell incomplete. Jackson completed his third passing touchdown of the day to yet another receiver as
Dallas West's (East Hartford, Conn.) two-yard touchdown padded the home team's lead to 18-3 with six minutes remaining in the game. Again, the Wolves attempted a two-point conversion, but the throw was batted down by Danny Dixon.
Luis Jaquez (Holbrook, N.Y.) had a team-high six tackles and a sack on the day.
Peter Ramos (Holbrook, N.Y.) also took down the Eagles' quarterback.
Corey Rock-Blanco (Bronx, N.Y.) had a team-high five tackles, while
Tafari Johnson (Bronx, N.Y.),
J.D. Harrison (Huntington Station, N.Y.) and
Eamon Moran (Stratford, Conn.) each recorded four. Juniata's Canyon King dealt 11 tackles on the day. The defense on either team continued to be fed as Juniata lost three out of four fumbles and WestConn went 2-2 on fumble recovery.
