United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Football - Christian George Leads Bears Past Plymouth 35-7

NEW LONDON, CONN.--(9/16/06)--Coast Guard junior quarterback Christian George ran for a pair of first half touchdowns and threw for another in the third quarter and senior Josh Williams scored a pair of touchdowns as Coast Guard snapped an eight-game losing streak dating back to last season with a 35-7 win over Plymouth State in a game between the two new teams in the New England Football Conference (NEFC). The game is does not count in the standings because the teams are not in the same division.

Plymouth State had an impressive opening drive, which took up half of the quarter, as they took the kickoff and went 71 yards in 16 plays, but Chris Dopp missed a 31-yard field goal with 7:36 left in the first quarter.

The Panthers stopped Coast Guard on its first possession, but Kyle Clark fumbled a punt at his own 11 yard line and freshman Sam England recovered for the Bears setting up a George 6-yard run. David Lieberman’s extra point was good and Coast Guard led 7-0 with 3:57 left in the opening quarter.

Coast Guard (1-1) increased its lead to 14-0 on a 16-yard run by George with 6:36 left in the first half.

The Bears took the opening drive of the second half and Williams (10 carries, 63 yards) scored on a one-yard run capping a seven play, 49 yard drive giving Coast Guard a 21-0 lead.

George (8 of 16, 95 yards, 1 TD), threw his first collegiate touchdown pass, a 24-yarder to Mike Zielinski (3 catches, 39 yards), a spectacular one handed grab over the middle, to up the lead to 28-0 with 3:30 left in the quarter.

Williams (10 carries, 63 yards) had the final Coast Guard touchdown of the game, a 7-yard run with 12:12 left in the game.

Plymouth State (0-2) broke the shutout against Coast Guard’s second string defense as backup quarterback John DeMarco (11 of 23, 88 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) led the Panthers on a 15 play, 77 yard drive, capped by a 7 yard touchdown pass to Drew Richardson (6 catches, 58 yards) with 5:45 left in the game.

Plymouth State had the ball for over 36 minutes and ran 20 more plays than Coast Guard, but the Bears outgained the Panthers 341 to 293. Coast Guard had 246 yards on the ground while Plymouth rushed for 172 yards.

Lance Lynch carried nine times for 77 yards for Coast Guard while George totaled 56 yards on eight carries with the two scores.

Jeff Mack led Plymouth State on the ground with nine carries for 59 yards.