Oct. 13, 2001

Box Score

New Rochelle, NY-The Marist College football team dropped a 18-15 decision to host Iona College in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Football League action this afternoon on Mazzella Field.

Trailing 18-0 at intermission the Red Foxes (0-5, 0-2) rallied in the second half, scoring 15 points, while not allowing the Gaels (2-3, 2-2) to score over the final 34 minutes of play. The Red Foxes cut the lead to 18-7 when Kevin Bielen connected with Sean Stellato on a 41-yard touchdown pass with 9:38 remaining in the third quarter. Marist got to within three points when Alfredo Riullano scored on a one-yard rush. Bielen connected with Jason Hooper on the two-point conversion to make the score 18-15.

After kicking off the Marist defense forced Iona to punt after three plays and a penalty. Taking over on the Marist 41-yard line. The Red Foxes advanced the ball to the Iona 16-yard line, setting up a Brett Biggs, 36-yard field goal attempt, which went wide right, with 16 second left in the contest, ending the comeback.

After finishing the the first half with just 13 total yards of offense, Marist compiled 1192-yards in the second half, including 109 yards in the air. Hooper had eight catches in the second half of play, racking up 68-yards receiving, helping to set up the second touchdown, catching the two=point conversion, and making two catches in the final drive. Bielen, who entered the game in the second quarter threw for 109 yards on 9-25 passing, while running for 18-yards. Riullano led Marist with 47 rushing yards.

Iona was paced by the 126-yard rushing effort of Tom Adams, while Jason Collins was 9-18 for 178-yards and a pair of touchdowns.

The 0-5 start for the Red Foxes is the worst start since the 1978 season, the first varsity season, when Marist opened 0-7.