BY KATIE STRANG caitlin.strang@newsday.com
Just one week after Stony Brook amassed an astounding 635 rushing yards in a 59-point win over Iona, the dynamic running back tandem of Conte Cuttino and Ed Gowins overpowered again in a 40-26 win over Virginia Military Institute.Cuttino had 234 yards yesterday, making him Stony Brook's all-time rushing leader with 2,807 yards, surpassing Ralph Melendez (2,623, 1997-2000)."It was destined to be broken," Cuttino said of the rushing record. "Now, I'm trying to make it a little harder for Eddie."Cuttino's 234-yard effort also elevated him to 1,196 yards on the season, making it the first time in Stony Brook history that two running backs have rushed for 1,000 yards in the same season. Freshman standout Gowins, who entered the game with a stellar 8.8 yards per carry, rushed for 250 yards on 20 carries to finish the season with 1,310 yards.
"I've been coaching 25 years and performances they've put on the table the past six weeks have been special," head coach Chuck Priore said. "But more importantly, they enjoy each other doing it."To foreshadow another big day for the Seawolves' backfield, Gowins scored on the fourth play from scrimmage, blazing past VMI defenders for a 36-yard rushing touchdown.Stony Brook scored again on its next possession as quarterback Dayne Hoffman faked a handoff to Gowins, rolled left and hit Dwayne Eley for an 8-yard touchdown pass. After a missed extra point, the Seawolves had a 13-0 lead.VMI, which entered the game ranked No. 2 in the country among Football Championship Subdivision (former Division I-AA) teams in rushing, answered back when quarterback Tim Maypray bounced off a couple of defenders at the line near midfield and broke to the open field for a 60-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 13-7.Down 20-10 entering the second half, VMI kept Stony Brook contained early in the third quarter and capitalized on a couple of Seawolves penalties to score and cut the lead to three points.On the next possession, however, Gowins resurrected his earlier rhythm, and tore down the sideline for a 65-yd rushing TD, although VMI blocked the extra-point attempt and Bryant Youngblood recovered the ball and ran it back for two points to stay within a score.The Seawolves tacked on an insurance TD as Hoffman connected with wide receiver Donald Lee for a 27-yard score, but VMI kept chipping away, turning a Hoffman interception in the fourth quarter into a scoring drive to make the score 33-26.In fitting fashion, however, Gowins ripped a seam at the line for a 32-yard touchdown run with less than 5 minutes remaining to ultimately bury VMI."The line did an outstanding job today," Gowins said. "We needed to put some points on the board, so we did some things to make it happen."
"I've been coaching 25 years and performances they've put on the table the past six weeks have been special," head coach Chuck Priore said. "But more importantly, they enjoy each other doing it."To foreshadow another big day for the Seawolves' backfield, Gowins scored on the fourth play from scrimmage, blazing past VMI defenders for a 36-yard rushing touchdown.Stony Brook scored again on its next possession as quarterback Dayne Hoffman faked a handoff to Gowins, rolled left and hit Dwayne Eley for an 8-yard touchdown pass. After a missed extra point, the Seawolves had a 13-0 lead.VMI, which entered the game ranked No. 2 in the country among Football Championship Subdivision (former Division I-AA) teams in rushing, answered back when quarterback Tim Maypray bounced off a couple of defenders at the line near midfield and broke to the open field for a 60-yard touchdown run to cut the score to 13-7.Down 20-10 entering the second half, VMI kept Stony Brook contained early in the third quarter and capitalized on a couple of Seawolves penalties to score and cut the lead to three points.On the next possession, however, Gowins resurrected his earlier rhythm, and tore down the sideline for a 65-yd rushing TD, although VMI blocked the extra-point attempt and Bryant Youngblood recovered the ball and ran it back for two points to stay within a score.The Seawolves tacked on an insurance TD as Hoffman connected with wide receiver Donald Lee for a 27-yard score, but VMI kept chipping away, turning a Hoffman interception in the fourth quarter into a scoring drive to make the score 33-26.In fitting fashion, however, Gowins ripped a seam at the line for a 32-yard touchdown run with less than 5 minutes remaining to ultimately bury VMI."The line did an outstanding job today," Gowins said. "We needed to put some points on the board, so we did some things to make it happen."
