United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Football - Game # 3 Preview: Bears Host Westfield State

WESTFIELD STATE (1-1, 0-0) at COAST GUARD (1-1, 0-0)

Sept. 22nd, Cadet Memorial Field, New London, Conn., 1 p.m.

ON THE AIR: Audio webcast at www.sportsjuice.com.

THE SERIES: Coast Guard leads 4-0.

LAST MEETING: Christian George and Josh Williams accounted for 443 yards in total offense and all five touchdowns to power Coast Guard to a 35-21 victory over Westfield State. It was the NEFC Bogan Division opener for both teams.

Both George and Williams rushed for career highs as Coast Guard held off a late comeback attempt. George carried the ball 12 times for 188 yards and a touchdown; he also completed nine of 15 passes for 113 yards and a touchdown. Williams scored three touchdowns, rushing for 142 yards on 15 carries.

Coast Guard took a 7-0 lead with 10:09 left in the first half on a 60-yard TD scamper by Williams. Williams scored less than four minutes later on a one-yard plunge to cap a 5-play, 44-yard drive.

Westfield scored its first touchdown of the season with 2:32 remaining in the first half on a seven-yard TD slant pass from sophomore quarterback Dan Cohen to junior receiver Scott McIntyre.

The Owls tied score at 14-all with 6:22 left in the third quarter on a beautiful over-the-shoulder 28-yard touchdown reception by junior Billy Stewart.

Coast Guard took the ensuing kickoff and quickly marched 78 yards in six plays, with George scoring on a four-yard run taking a 21-14 lead with 3:32 left in the third quarter.

The Owls came right back on the next possession to tie the score at 21-21. Junior fullback Tim Thomas capped the 51-yard drive with a one-yard TD plunge with 1:04 left in the quarter.

Westfield was unable to stop the potent Coast Guard offense led by George and Williams, who scored the game-winning touchdown with 11:59 remaining on an eight-yard run.

Coast Guard scored its final touchdown on a 41-yard TD reception over the middle by tight end Mike Zielinski on a third-and-long situation. The Bears racked up 526 yards in total offense to Westfield’s 352.

Dave Bergeron had a fine game for the Owls with 120 yards on 27 carries. Cohen completed 22 of 34 passes for 233 yards and two scores. Stewart had 10 catches for 154 yards; McIntyre seven catches for 60 yards.

Sophomore linebacker Jack Gill led Coast Guard with 13 tackles.

LAST WEEK: Coast Guard had its nine-game regular season winning streak snapped with a 38-19 loss at Plymouth State as the Panthers had 427 yards of total offense, 288 on the ground. The Bears, who turned the ball over four times, were held to 249 total yards, just 99 rushing yards on 30 carries.

Westfield State lost to four-time defending NEFC champion Curry in a shootout 42-27. It was the 22nd straight win against NEFC teams for the Colonels. Westfield State had 387 yards, 348 in the air as junior quarterback Dan Cohen was 23 of 36 for 348 yards and three touchdowns. The Owls, who led 13-0 and 27-21 at halftime, were held to just 39 yards on 37 rushing attempts.

SUCCESS IN LEAGUE PLAY: Coast Guard won all seven league games last season for the first time since the 1997 season when the Bears went a perfect 6-0 in the Freedom Football Conference and won their second straight league title. In 1997, Coast Guard also advanced to the NCAA Playoffs for the second straight season. Coast Guard was a combined 0-14 in league play as a member of the Liberty League in 2004 and 2005.

ONE STREAK ENDS ... ANOTHER LIVES: Coast Guard had its nine-game regular season win streak snapped in the loss to Plymouth State on Saturday. The Bears have however never lost a NEFC Bogan Division game, the defending Bogan Division champions are a perfect 7-0 vs. division opponents.

DEFENSIVE STRUGGLES: Coast Guard has allowed over 30 points per game in each of the first two games this season for the first time in 40 years. The last time the Bears allowed over 30 points in the first two games of the season was in 1967 when they lost to Springfield 62-0 and AIC 35-14. Going back to last season, the Bears have now allowed over 30 points in four straight games. Coast Guard allowed over 30 points in five straight games during the 1968 season.

BEARS LOSE ONE OF THEIR LEADERS: Coast Guard lost so much more than a football game on Saturday as senior left tackle Charles England, an All-conference selection last season, sustained both a leg and ankle injury which will cost him the rest of the season. Junior Mike Fiori will step in and start at left tackle.

SCOUTING COAST GUARD: The Bears look to put the Plymouth State game behind them as they begin defense of the NEFC Bogan Division championship at home against a Westfield State team that is playing its first road game of the season.

The Bears offense was slowed last week as senior quarterback Christian George was held to just 22 yards on nine carries while he completed just seven of 23 passes for 117 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Junior quarterback Niles Pierson was four of 14 for 22 yards with one interception.

George is the second leading rusher on the team with 26 carries for 149 yards and two scores and he is 19 of 42 for 302 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in the young season. Pierson is 10 of 26 for 101 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Senior running back Lance Lynch leads the team with 177 yards on 30 carries to go with his seven receptions for a team-best 128 yards.

Sophomore wide receiver Sam England leads the team with eight receptions for 125 yards and a team leading three touchdowns. Junior running back Matt Keith is also a threat in the passing game with seven receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Coast Guard had 528 total yards in the week one win before being held to 249 yards in the 38-19 loss last week.

The Bears are averaging 388.5 yards per game, 187 rushing and 201.5 passing while scoring 29.5 points per game.

Senior defensive end Chris Hunt leads the Coast Guard defense with 17 tackles, 10 solo, one for loss and a forced fumble. Sophomore defensive back Kevin Novick and junior linebacker Brian Yurovich are second on the team with 14 tackles. The Bears had just one sack last week after registering seven in the season opening win.

Coast Guard is allowing 431.5 yards per game, 198.5 rushing and 233 passing while allowing 34.5 points per game.

SCOUTING WESTFIELD STATE: The Owls feature the NEFC’s top passing offense led by junior quarterback Dan Cohen, who leads the conference with 314 passing yards per game. Cohen is 38 of 62 for 628 yards with four touchdowns and just one interception.

Sophomore David Benoit and senior Scott McIntyre lead the team with 17 receptions each. Benoit has a team-high 319 receiving yards and four touchdowns while McIntyre has 303 yards.

Sophomore running back Jason Proule leads the Owls ground attack with 37 carries and 135 yards.

Westfield State is averaging 439 yards per game, a league-best 327 in the air to go with 112 on the ground.

Junior linebacker Jay Fielding leads the defense with 26 tackles, 17 solo, one for loss. The Owls defense has three sacks in the first two games of the season.

The Owls are allowing 441.5 yards per game, 290.5 passing and 151 rushing while allowing 32 points per game.

Westfield State beat WNEC 34-21 in the season opener before losing to Curry last week.

NEXT OPPONENT: Coast Guard hits the road next Saturday to take on Mass. Maritime with kickoff set for 1 p.m.