Nov. 11, 2006
Final Stats
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - After honoring 24 seniors prior to Saturday's game against Iona, the Marist football squad won the last game on the "Old Leonidoff Field" with a 24-17 win over the Gaels. The win clinched a share of the MAAC Football League title for the Foxes, their second MAAC crown overall, with the last one coming in 1994. Senior quarterback Stephen McGrath (Manasquan, N.J.) completed 15 of 20 passing attempts in the contest for 203 yards and ran for 43 more in the win.
Marist got on the board first when Bradley Rowe (Stratham, N.H.) converted a 33-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 5:09 remaining in the first quarter. The kick capped off a eight play, 27 yard drive that took 4:20 off the game clock.
Iona would answer that score with a 11 play, 62 yard drive in 5:31 that ended with a 33-yard field goal by Chris Lofrese with just 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
The two teams would play a scoreless second period and went into halftime tied at 3-3. Marist would score the first touchdown of the game on its first possession of the third quarter on a 25-yard scamper by Will Brown (Windsor, Conn.). Rowe converted the point after to give Marist a 10-3 advantage with 10:33 remaining in the third quarter. The drive was highlighted by a 19-yard completion from McGrath to Tim Keegan (Middlebury, Conn.).
The Gaels would put another three points on the board on their ensuing possession on a 44-yard boot from Lofrese. The kick capped a 12 play, 54 yard drive highlighted by a 27-yard pass play from Iona quarterback Dustin Croick to Brian Watts on third and 10 from the Iona 19.
The game continued to go back and forth as Marist came right back on the Gaels, when McGrath scored on a one yard dive on third and goal. Rowe put the point after attempt through to put Marist up 17-6 just three seconds in to the fourth quarter.
Iona, however, would not go away. The Gales answered the Red Foxes' score yet again, this time with a 14 play, 72 yard drive that ate up 5:32 off the clock. The drive culminated on a 20-yard connection from Croick to Juan Chamba. The Gaels' two point try was converted on a pass when Croick found Watts to cut the deficit to 17-14 with 9:14 left to play.
Three points would be the closest Iona would get in the game, as Marist would not be denied its share of the league crown. On the kick-off Kevin Frederick (Meriden, Conn.) bolted up the middle for 36 yards, as the Foxes started the drive at the 50. On the first play following the kick McGrath hit Prince Prempeh (Hamilton, N.J.) down the right sideline for 37 yards, to give Marist a first down at the Iona 13 yard line. Three plays later McGrath found William Flooks (White Plains, N.Y.) on a 10-yard strike to seal the game and put the Foxes up 24-14.
Lofrese would convert his third field goal of the game on Iona's final possession, but Marist recovered the ensuing onside kick and was able to run the clock out for the historic win.
McGrath finished the day with 246 total yards, 203 passing. He completed passes to seven different receivers with Prempeh, Daniel Dulac (Newington, Conn.) and Frederick each catching three balls. McGrath led the team in rushing with 43 yards, with Brown and Frankie Farrington (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) finishing with 25 and 22 yards rushing, respectively. McGrath finished with two touchdowns in the game, one through the air and another on the ground.
Dan Smith (Reston, Va.) led Marist's defense with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. Smith also finished with two of Marist's four sacks on the afternoon. Defensive back Daniel Diaz (Newfield, N.Y.) finished the day with two tackles and an interception which he returned for 22 yards.
Croick finished 27-42 with a touchdown and an interception for 231 yards.
Marist wraps up the 2006 campaign with a 3-1 record in the MAAC football league, and a share of the league crown. The game marked the final time the Red Foxes would play a game on the current Leonidoff Field, as a major renovation project is underway and should be completed for the 2007 season.
