Sept. 3, 2010
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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. -- The Marist football team suffered a 28-25 loss to Sacred Heart in its season opener on Friday before 2,867 fans at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field. The Red Foxes scored the game's final 18 points, but were unable to recover an onside kick in the final minute.
Junior wide receiver James LaMacchia (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Red Foxes with 10 receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown. Senior free safety Rory Foley (West Roxbury, Mass.) paced the Marist defense with 11 tackles and an interception.
After a scoreless first quarter, Sacred Heart got on the scoreboard first with a two-yard touchdown plunge by Gregory Ibe, which put the Pioneers up 7-0 with 11:35 remaining in the second period. Marcel Archer added a six-yard touchdown run with 5:47 left until halftime as Sacred Heart took a 14-0 lead. Marist, however, rebounded with a 12-play, 80-yard drive, which culminated in a five-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback Tommy Reilly (Marlton, N.J.) to LaMacchia just 15 seconds before halftime, which cut Sacred Heart's lead to 14-7.
Touchdown runs by Archer and Ibe gave Sacred Heart a 28-7 lead with 48 seconds left in the third quarter. However, on the first play of Marist's ensuing drive, Reilly hit Rios for a 72-yard touchdown strike, which cut Marist's deficit to 28-14 entering the fourth quarter.
Just 1:45 into the fourth quarter, Foley intercepted a tipped pass at the Sacred Heart 36. The Red Foxes drove as far as the Pioneers' 14, and sophomore kicker Jason Myers (Chula Vista, Calif.) hit a 31-yard field goal to cut Sacred Heart's lead to 28-17 with 10:26 remaining.
After a Sacred Heart drive ended on downs at the Marist 22 with 3:16 to play, freshman quarterback Chris Ortner (Southington, Conn.) for a two-point conversion to make the score 28-25. However, Sacred Heart then recovered the ensuing onside kick, and then ran out the clock to end the game.
Reilly finished 19-for-27 for 201 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Looney was 6-for-12 for 62 yards and a touchdown. Sacred Heart quarterback Dale Fink completed 22 of 28 passes for 229 yards and an interception.
In addition to scoring two touchdowns apiece, Archer (22 carries, 104 yards) and Ibe (16 carries, 97 yards) combined for 201 of Sacred Heart's 227 rushing yards. The Pioneers outgained the Red Foxes, 456-289. Brian Flumere and Justin Embler led Sacred Heart with nine tackles apiece.
Marist will host Bucknell in its next contest, which will be held on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field. For ticket information, please contact the Marist Ticket Office at (845) 575-3553.
