POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Despite a stout defensive effort and a 100-yard receiving game from junior wide receiver Bartley Leneghan (North Royalton, Ohio), the Marist football team fell to Jacksonville University 21-9 Saturday afternoon at Tenney Stadium in a Pioneer Football League (PFL) matchup.
Leneghan had three catches for 103 yards, including receptions of 17 and 59 yards on the Red Foxes' lone scoring drive, which was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from senior running back Ryan Dinnebeil (River Vale, N.J.).
The Marist defense gave up just 228 yards of total offense to a high-powered Jacksonville offense and also registered two sacks. However, the Red Foxes were once again victimized by turnovers, as they committed five on the day.
Jacksonville's first scoring drive was set up by a fumble recovery from linebacker Joseph Barnett at the Marist 7. On a fourth-and-goal play from the Marist 1, J.J. Laster ran for a touchdown to give the Dolphins the first points of the day with 3:24 left in the first quarter. After a Jacksonville fumble recovery by safety Lacy McDougald brought the ball to the Marist 1, Laster scored again as the Dolphins went up 14-0.
With 2:06 left in the first half, Dinnebeil's scoring run capped a five-play, 80-yard drive as the Red Foxes trailed at halftime 14-7.
An odd turn of events in the third quarter brought the Red Foxes to within 14-9. With Marist driving at the Jacksonville 22-yard line, Reilly threw a pass that was tipped and intercepted by Andy Sainvil at the two-yard line. Sainvil tried to get away from Red Fox' tacklers, running into the end zone where he was tackled by Marist wide receiver Kevin Fitzpatrick (Columbia, Md.). The officials conferred and eventually awarded the Red Foxes a safety.
After the ensuing free kick, Marist advanced to the Jacksonville 35 before being forced to punt. The Dolphins responded with their only extended scoring drive, a 15-play, 89-yard march that ended in Laster's third touchdown of the day, a four-yard scamper that put Jacksonville up 21-9 with 11:07 to go. On the drive, Jacksonville converted a third-and-12, a third-and-14 and a fourth-and-five.
Keith Dawson led Jacksonville with 69 yards on 11 carries. Laster finished with 35 yards on 18 carries and three catches for 15 yards. Quarterback Josh McGregor was 11-for-19 for 112 yards. Safety Leonard Smith led the Dolphins defensively with 10 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
For Marist, senior quarterback Tommy Reilly (Marlton, N.J.) was 15-for-26 for 179 yards passing and two interceptions. Senior running back Calvin McCoy (Bronx, N.Y.) led the Red Foxes in rushing with 40 yards on eight carries. Fitzpatrick and sophomore wideout Armani Martin (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) had a team-high four receptions apiece. Junior safety Nick Mainiero (Croton, N.Y.) had a team-high 10 tackles.
Marist fell to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in the PFL while Jacksonville improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the PFL.
Marist heads back to the road next Saturday for a PFL contest at Davidson. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Notes: Leneghan's 100-yard game made him the fourth Marist wide receiver to go over 100 yards in a game this year, following Martin, Fitzpatrick and senior Michael Rios. ... Marist is now minus-12 in turnover ratio this season. ... Of the 18 touchdowns Marist has allowed this season, 12 drives have started in the Red Foxes' territory. ... Marist has been outscored 35-0 in the first quarter this season. ... Dinnebeil now has 21 career touchdowns. All have come from 10 yards and in. ... Marist had eight tackles for a loss of yardage in the game. ... McCoy's 25-yard run in the third quarter was the longest by a Red Fox this season.
