Oct 18, 2003

Box Score

New Rochelle, NY - The Marist College football team dropped its third consecutive game, a 38-21 loss to Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Football League opponent, Iona College, this afternoon at Mazzella Field. The Red Foxes drop to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in MAAC play, while the Gaels improve to 3-4 on the year and 2-1 in conference action.

Sophomore wide receiver Guy Smith put his name into the school record book in three more spots on the afternoon. He made 12 catches, a new school all-time single game record, eclipsing the 11 catches he made against Saint Peter's on September 11th. On those dozen catches, he had 145 yards, the fifth-best single-game effort in program history, a mark he also set, 196 yards, against Saint Peter's.

Smith moved into the top spot for receiving yards in a single-season, bringing his seven-game total to 736 yards. That breaks the all-time mark of Dan DelPrete, who had 694 yards in 10 games in 1990. It shatters the school's I-AA school record, set in 1998, by Joe Calabria of 624 yards. Smith's 46 catches ties the school I-AA single-season mark held by Jon Reed, set over 10 games in 1998. DelPrete holds the all-time record, making 48 catches in 1990.

Junior quarterback James Luft was not to be out done in the record setting category, as he went 22-40 for 226 yards and two touchdowns, both to Smith. The 22 completions are the most by a Marist quarterback since the program elevated to the I-AA level. Luft held that mark when he completed 20 passes in the September 20th home win over Siena. He now also has 84 completions on the year, surpassing Brian McCourt's I-AA single-season record of 81 completions in 1993, the program's first year at the I-AA level. The 84 completions is the third most in a single-season by a quarterback in program history, with only Dan O'Donnell completing more, 131 in 1990 and 130 in 1989.

The Red Foxes struck first when Alfredo Riullano plunged in from one-yard out midway through the first quarter to take a 7-0 lead. The Gaels would answer with 17 consecutive points, 14 in a 2:55 span in the second quarter to take a 17-7 halftime lead.

Marist answered at the start of the third quarter, when on third down and 15 to go, Luft found Smith for a 20-yard touchdown, making the score 17-14. Iona answered to take a 10-poinjt lead, and on the first play of the next drive, Luft laid a pass into Smith's hand, for a 71-yard touchdown strike. Iona would not allow the Red Foxes another point the remainder of the game, scoring 14 of its own in the final quarter, to earn the win, 38-21.

John Healy and Payton Rogers keyed the defensive effort for the Red Foxes. Healy finished with a game-high 13 tackles, including one for a loss of yardage. He extends his career I-AA school tackle record, recording 251 with three games remaining in his career, 27 shy of Chris Keehan (1984-87) for third all-time in program history. Rogers had 11 tackles on the day, three for a loss of yardage and a quarterback sack. His 8.5 sacks for the year is the 5th best single-season total, four behind the school record, 12.5, of Reid Ellis. Rogers has 16 tackles for loss on the year, needing two more to crack into the I-AA top five and nine to tie Adam Ercoli's 2003 high-water mark of 25.

Riullano scored his the first touchdown of the game, his fifth of the season, finishing the day with 32 yards on 16 carries. He also had four receptions for 22 yards. Mike Marshall had four catches for 43 yards, and Prince Prempah and Brad Newton added a reception each in the contest.

Marist was out-gained 281 to 267, but Iona held a 20-15 advantage in first downs. Marist had just 41 yards rushing, while holding the Gaels to 97 passing yards. For the third straight game Marist lost the turnover battle, giving up the ball three times, two interceptions, while earning an interception and recovering a fumble.

Marist returns to action on Saturday, October 25th as it travels cross-country to take on San Diego. The Red Foxes, making their first trip to the West Coast, will kick-off at 10:00 pm eastern time, and the game can be heard live on WKIP 1450AM and on the internet at www.GoRedFoxes.com.