WNE rallies, exacts revenge on Pride in Pynchon SAW game

Date: 9/12/2014

SPRINGFIELD – The Western New England University (WNE) football team stormed back with two touchdowns in the final 5 minutes and 30 seconds to edge city rival and host Springfield College, 38-34, in the inaugural Pynchon SAW Game at Stagg Field on Sept. 5.

The Golden Bears and Pride were both playing their season openers, and the all-time series is now even at one win apiece.

The second installment of the rivalry was newly named the Pynchon SAW Game, and is derived from city founder William Pynchon and the acronym of “SAW” is for the first initial of both schools, Springfield And Western New England. Springfield won 49-40 at WNE in the final minutes last season.

A Max Nacewicz 40-yard fumble return for a touchdown and 2-point conversion gave the Pride a seemingly comfortable 34-23 lead with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter.

But the Golden Bears came right back on the ensuing drive, capped by a Tyler Ward 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle to Tucker Schumitz that covered 64 yards on four plays in just 44 seconds.

After the successful 2-point try to pull within 34-31 with 5:30 left, a resilient WNE squad got the ball right back by recovering an onside kick at its 45-yard line.

WNE marched quickly down the field, capping an 11-play drive with a 2-yard TD plunge from Kevin Cook for a 38-34 lead with 1:22 remaining.

A critical 19-yard pass completion on 4th-and-4 and another of 12-yards on 4th-and-9, along with a costly Pride pass interference penalty at the 2, kept alive the 'Bears final possession.

Nacewicz finished the contest with a team-leading 14 tackles, while Nick Welsh had 10 of his own, including a tackle for a loss.

Springfield College’s Louis Fenaroli picked up 149 yards on 19 carries and one touchdown, and quarterback Jonathan Marrero finished the contest with 175 total yards of offense, including 101 yards in the air and 74 yards on the ground.

Cook finished the game with 98 yards on 28 carries and three scores for the Golden Bears, while quarterback Ward went 18-for-25 for 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Schumitz had seven catches for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Defensively, Dean Soucie led the Golden Bears with 12 tackles (10 solo) while Zachary Fleming chipped in nine. Robert Sihlanick added seven tackles.

Springfield finished the night with 327 yards on the ground and outgained the Golden Bears, 428-425. WNE owned the time of possession, 31:05-28:47 while going a perfect 5-for-5 on fourth down conversions.

WNE will make its season debut at Golden Bear Stadium on Sept. 13 against Westfield State University at 1 p.m. for a non-conference showdown, signaling its Homecoming game.

Springfield will play again next Friday night under the lights at  the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a 7 p.m. kickoff.