Oct. 12, 2002
Final Stats
Poughkeepsie, NY - The Marist College football team rallied from a 22-13 third quarter deficit to defeat Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Football League opponent St. John's, 28-22, this afternoon on a rain soaked Leonidoff Field. The Red Foxes improve to 5-1 on the year, the best start in program history, and improve to 3-1 in MAAC play. The Red Storm fall to 1-4 on the year and 1-2 in league play.
St. John's scored on the third play from scrimmage of the second half, to take a 22-13 lead over the Red Foxes. From there Marist dominated play, scoring 15 points and shutting the Red Storm out.
Marist opened the fourth quarter with a 28-yard touchdown run by Alfredo Riullano (Callicoon, NY). Riullano finished with a game-high 87 rushing yards, and two touchdowns. After the defense held the Red Storm to just one first down on the their next possession, the Marist offense drove 67 yards for the game-winning score, capped by the second touchdown run of the day from Riullano.
Leading 28-22 with 7:55 remaining, the Marist defense enforced its will on the game, coming up with a pair of interceptions and a fumble recovery on the last three drives of the game for St. John's. Adam Ercoli (Carmel, NY) was the defensive standout for Marist, which held St. John's to just 17 rushing yards. Ercoli finished the contest with two quarterback sacks; a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two pass deflections.
Riullano had a pair of touchdowns for the fifth time this season, all Marist victories. Jason Hooper (Orange, NJ) caught three passes for a season-best 99 yards, while Chris Price (Danbury, CT) had a five-yard touchdown reception, to go with his 56 yards of rushing on the day. Kevin Bielen (Glen Rock, NJ) completed eight passes for 149 yards and a touchdown, while rushing the ball for 11 yards, including a touchdown run.
Marist returns to action on Saturday, October 19th, traveling to Jersey City, NY, to take on MAAC rival St. Peter's College in a potential second place battle in the MAAC. Game time is set for 7:00 pm at Cochrane Stadium.
