United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - 2008 Season Review

After going 8-1 and winning back-to-back New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division championships in each of the last two seasons with perfect 7-0 records in division play, Coast Guard did something it had not done in each of the last two seasons, the Bears dropped a close game, in fact, the team dropped a pair of close games, the final two game of the season, and finished 3-6 overall and 3-4 in division play.

Coast Guard had won all six games that were decided by seven points or less, three in each of the last two seasons and after posting a 16-13 win over Westfield State in the Bogan Division opener on a 32-yard field goal by freshman Jacob Shackleford with 16 seconds left, the Bears pushed their Bogan Division winning streak to 15 games while notching another nail biter.

The Bears would follow up that win with a 30-6 win over Mass. Maritime on Homecoming Weekend for their 16th straight Bogan Division win and improved to 2-2 on the season after losses to Merchant Marine and eventual NEFC champion Plymouth State to start the season.

The Bogan Division winning streak would end at 16 as Coast Guard was beaten 44-29 at Fitchburg State in week five.

Coast Guard would win just one game the rest of the season, a 17-14 come-from-behind win over Worcester State as senior quarterback Niles Pierson threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to junior Cale Cooper with 5:30 left in game. Pierson had a solid season at quarterback as he was 124 for 212 for 1,230 yards and eight touchdowns with eight interceptions with a 58.5 completion percentage.

The Bears dropped a pair of close games in the final two games of the season losing a 42-34 shootout at eventual Bogan Division champion Maine Maritime, a game the Bears led 24-14 in the third quarter. In the season finale, Coast Guard saw Framingham State score a touchdown with just 10 seconds left for a 25-23 heartbreaking loss.

Junior running back Steve Arguelles tied a school-record with three touchdown receptions in the loss at Maine Maritime and he finished the day with four scores as he added a touchdown run.

Coast Guard placed seven players on the NEFC All-Bogan Division team including five on the first team in voting by the division’s eight head coaches.

Senior linebackers Brian Yurovich and Brian Field along with junior cornerback Pat Bennett were named first team from the defense. All three were second team All-division selections in 2007.

Yurovich led the team with 89 tackles, 57 solo, 8.5 for loss and 5.5 sacks. He also had two interceptions. Field was third with 68 tackles, 41 solo, 2.5 for loss and two sacks. Bennett was tied for the NEFC lead with six interceptions to go with his 63 tackles.

Junior offensive tackle Justin Brooks was named to the first team for the second straight season.

Shakleford, who was 8 for 9 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 45 yards was also named to the first team. He made 18 of 20 extra points and his only missed field goal was from 49 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Kyle Ennis and junior wide receiver Sam England were both named to the second team. Ennis was a first team All-division selection last season.

Ennis, who led the NEFC in tackles for most of the season, but missed the final two games with injury, was second on the team with 73 total tackles, 52 solo. He was also second on the team with six tackles for loss to go with one sack.

England led the team with 53 receptions for 552 yards and three touchdowns.