SPRINGFIELD, MA -- The Springfield College football team notched a 20-17 win over Union College on Saturday afternoon at Stagg Field in Liberty League action. Springfield improved to 3-2, 1-1 in Liberty League play, while Union remained winless and dropped to 0-5, 0-2.
The Pride finished with 319 yards of total offense, including 276 on the ground. Jake Eglintine carried the ball 20 times for 174 yards and a touchdown in his first career start at home, Blake Heller hit a pair of field goals in the second half, and Joe Festo snagged a 33 yard touchdown. Defensively, Dominic Traversa made a team-best 10 stops, while Max Nacewicz registered eight stops, including 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Springfield forced a pair of Union turnovers in the second half, including interceptions by Nick Welsh and Joey Racioppi.
For Union, Nick Cascione went 16-for-38 for 282 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 82 yards. Kyle Reynolds caught seven passes for 158 yards and two scores, while A.J. Baker snagged four balls for 52 yards. On the defensive side of the ball, Jake LaRovera led all players with 16 stops and Tyler Valenti added 10 tackles of his own.
Reynolds' first touchdown catch was the 20th of his career. He became just the third Dutchmen to record 20 receiving TDs in a career, joining Justin Gallo '11 (34) and Steve Angiletta '06 (22). He now ranks fourth in career receiving yards with 1,754, as he passed Gene Ray '92, who had 1,750.
After Union's defense delivered a goal line stand to keep the Pride off the scoreboard midway through the first quarter, Springfield's defense pinned the Dutchmen inside the five with a three-and-out. Festo returned the ensuing punt 28 yards, and the Pride made the most of starting its drive on the Union 23. Six plays later, Eglintine scrambled in from four yards out for the score, putting Springfield up 7-0 with 3:28 remaining in the opening quarter.
Springfield doubled its lead with 7:13 left in the half after a nine-play, 70 yard drive that lasted 4:59. Facing a 4th and 15 from the Union 33, Eglintine scrambled free and fired the ball into the endzone. Festo elevated above two Union defenders, winning the jump ball for the score, as Springfield went into the half with a 14-0 advantage.
To begin the second half, Union came up empty following a 12-play drive as their field goal bid from 28 yards was wide left. Springfield took the ball and chewed up over five minutes off the clock, using eight plays to add to its lead as Heller buried a 34-yard field goal to make it a 17-0 contest with 5:08 left in the third.
The visitors responded with a field goal of their own as David Pope cashed in from 38 yards with 1:10 on the clock to give Union its first points of the day. After a three-and-out by Springfield, Union made it a one-score game as it marched 84 yards in 10 plays, finishing with a Cascione 22 yard touchdown toss to Reynolds on a 4th and 1, Reynolds' 20th TD catch of his career.
Springfield regained some breathing room on Heller's second field goal of the game, this time from 32 yards, with 6:29 remaining in regulation. The bid was set up after Welsh produced a key interception as he snagged a tipped ball across the middle.
The Dutchmen needed to just one play to answer back, with Cascione connecting with Reynolds for a 64 yard catch and run to bring the score within 20-17.
The teams traded possessions, and after Springfield was forced to punt, the visitors benefited from a touchback that gave them ball with 54 seconds left. Back-to-back completions totaling 45 yards through the air brought Union to the Springfield 35. Cascione kept the game alive as he cashed in on a 4th and 10 with a 12 yard completion to the Springfield 23, only to have Racioppi make a huge play for a game-sealing interception in the end zone.
Union hosts WPI Saturday, October 10 at 1:30 p.m. at Bailey Field for Homecoming.
