SALISBURY, N.C. – For the second time in three years, Saint Augustine's College surprised Catawba College 20-17 in the Indians' home football opener Saturday at Shuford Stadium.
Two years ago, the Falcons topped the Indians 14-7 at Shuford Stadium to snap the Indians' 13-game win streak in home openers. They became the first CIAA team to defeat the Indians.
The Falcons won again this year behind two touchdown passes by Joaquin Green (Redshirt Soph./Pittsboro, NC) and a defense which held firm late. It all added up to a victory for the Falcons in their season opener.
“Our guys didn't quit,” Falcon Head Coach Michael Costa said. “I see some fight in the guys. And we do have talent. We got some guys that can make some big plays. The good thing is they made the big plays at the right time.”
Walter Sanders (Sr./Baltimore, Md.) clinched the big win with a 23-yard scoring run on fourth down and inches. His touchdown with 2:04 left sealed the win for the Falcons.
The Indians (0-1) scored on a late drive with 14 seconds left to pull within three points. Charles McKenzie (Sr./Warner Robins, GA) of the Falcons recovered the anticipated onside kick and the Falcons ran out the clock.
Green, the 2009 CIAA offensive rookie of the year, was efficient at quarterback. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 202 yards. He tossed touchdown passes to Jone' Harris (Sr./Fairfield, CA) and Jamain Smith (Jr./Kenansville, NC), whose 25-yard catch with 9:05 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Falcons a 14-10 lead which they kept for good.
Harris finished with five receptions for 87 yards including a 10-yard touchdown grab. Sanders rushed 17 times for a team-high 60 yards.
Defensively, preseason All-CIAA linebacker Steven Stanback (Sr./Temple Hills, MD) led the Falcons with 14 tackles. Linebacker Mark Hall (Sr./Suitland, MD) added nine tackles and Jamil Berry (Jr./Fayetteville, GA) had an interception.
The Indians almost gained the lead in the fourth quarter. Down 14-10, Patrick Dennis found a wide open receiver in the end zone but the receiver dropped the pass.
The Indians opened the second half with a 43-yard field goal by Thomas Trexler to extend their lead to 10-6. The Falcons responded with an impressive drive which led to Green's touchdown pass to Smith. Brian Richards (Fr./Walfdorf, MD) ran in the two-point conversion to put the Falcons ahead 14-10 in the third quarter.
The score was 0-0 for most of the first half before the Falcons scored after taking advantage of a Catawba penalty in the second quarter. The Indians were whistled for illegal participation on fourth down which gave the Falcons first-and-ten on the Indians' 10-yard line.
The Falcons only needed one play to strike as Harris made a leaping 10-yard grab over a defender in the end zone for a touchdown. The lead stayed at 6-0, however, as a bad snap prevented the Falcons from kicking the extra point.
The missed extra point proved costly in the first half. The Indians scored on the next possession when Dennis found Gerron Bryant for a 21-yard touchdown with 1:15 left in the half. Trexler's extra point put the Indians ahead 7-6 at halftime.
But the Falcons bounced back in the second half.
“We played a better second half then first half,” Costa said. “We dealt with adversity, overcame it and got it done. The guys were hungry.”
