Nov. 5, 2005

Final Stats

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.-Sophomore running back Obozua Ehikioya (West Hempstead, N.Y.) ran for a pair of touchdowns to lead the Marist football squad to a 28-27 victory Saturday at Iona on the New Rochelle, N.Y. campus. The Red Foxes, ranked fifth in the I-AA Mid-Major National rankings by Don Hansen and CollegeSportsReport.com, improved to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the league, while Iona dropped to 3-6 overall and 1-3 in the MAAC. The Red Foxes finished second in the MAAC for the second consecutive season, falling only to league champion Duquesne both seasons. Marist picked up just its fourth victory at Iona in 13 career meetings.

The homestanding Gaels took advantage of Marist's first turnover of the game when senior quarterback James Luft's (Lake Peekskill, N.Y.) first pass of the game was picked off near midfield by sophomore defensive back Ed Loscalzo, who returned the ball to Marist's 16-yard line. The Gaels capped the short drive with a one-yard touchdown by sophomore running back Greg Bielski, his second of the season, to make the score 7-0 Iona just over four minutes into the game.

Luft atoned for his early error right after the score when he took a four-yard bootleg into the end zone for Marist's first touchdown at the 6:48 mark. The score was Luft's fourth rushing touchdown of the season. Junior quarterback Michael Sangiorgi (Wyckoff, N.J.), the holder on the Red Foxes' extra point team, took the snap on the conversion attempt and beat the Iona defenders to the goal line to put Marist up 8-7.

Marist extended its lead to 14-7 at the 11:31 mark of the second quarter when Ehikioya rumbled over from six yards out over left guard for the score. The touchdown was set up by junior running back Frankie Farrington (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.), who took a handoff and jetted 50 yards down the right sideline to put the Red Foxes in scoring position. Farrington's run was a welcome momentum change after Iona junior Chris Lofrese bombed a 73-yard punt to get the Gaels out from the shadow of their own goalpoasts and pin the Red Foxes back near their own 10-yard line.

Iona senior quarterback Michael Biehl would not be outdone by Luft, however, as he quickly found senior wideout Dennie Calacione on a 73-yard post pattern to put the Gaels in business inside Marist's 10-yard line. After continuous attempts by Bielski to dive into the end zone, Biehl took matters into his own hands with a one-yard sneak on third down to tie the game at 14 with just 39 seconds remaining in the first half.

Biehl showcased his arm on the next Iona score when he found senior wideout Greg Asplint for an 18-yard touchdown reception in double coverage to put the Gaels up 21-14 with 3:43 left in the third quarter.

Marist senior defensive back David Snell (Madison, N.J.) then sent a bolt of lightning through the crowd in attendance when he snared a Biehl pass and scampered 41 yards down the left sideline to tie the score with 15 seconds left in the third quarter. The interception was Marist's second pick for a score in its last three games.

After displaying its quick strike offense in the 52-34 win over Saint Peter's last week, the Red Foxes buckled down for a 15-play, 77-yard drive to go up to stay on a one-yard run by Ehikioya with 7:36 left in the contest. The score was Ehikioya's 12th touchdown of the season and 20th of his career.

Iona raced down the field with just over two minutes to play and scored on a 22-yard touchdown pass from Biehl to Calacione with 20 seconds left to pull to within 28-27. However, Biehl threw his two-point conversion pass behind Calacione and the ball fell incomplete to seal the win for the Red Foxes.

Marist was led on the ground by Farrington's 61 yards on six carries, while Iona was led by Bielski's 66 yards on 15 carries with one touchdown.

Luft finished the game going 16-of-32 with one interception and 177 yards, while Biehl's final numbers were 12-for-27 with two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ehikioya led the Red Foxes' receiving attack out of the backfield with four catches for 21 yards, while junior wideout Prince Prempeh (Hamilton, N.J.) finished with 53 yards on three catches. Iona was led Asplint's 67 yards and one touchdown on four catches, while Calacione finished with 119 yards and one score on just three catches.

Junior defensive lineman D.J. Ford (Mahopac, N.Y.) led the Red Foxes with eight tackles, including one tackle for loss, one sack and one forced fumble.

Luft set more records in Saturday's games, including Marist's all-time passing attempts mark with 611 after Satuday's contest, passing Brian McCourt's total of 582 set from 1990-93. He now has 129 completions this season, breaking his own school I-AA mark of 120 set during the 2003 season. He needs three to break Dan O'Donnell's mark of 131 set during the 1990 campaign.

Sophomore also defensive back Daniel Diaz (Newfield, N.Y.) recorded an interception for the third consecutive contest for the Red Foxes.

Marist will travel to San Diego on Saturday for a 4 p.m. EST kickoff, while Iona closes out its season on Saturday at New Hampshire at noon. The Toreros, coached by former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh, are the top-ranked team in all three of the I-AA Mid-Major national polls.