 |  Dan Mulrooney (23) had an INT, a force fumble and a fumble recovery |
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Sept. 24, 2011
Final Stats
Stony Brook, N.Y. - A sold-out crowd of more than 8,200 raucous fans were treated to a game filled with offense, defense and special teams as the Stony Brook football defeated Lafayette, 37-20, on Homecoming at LaValle Stadium on Saturday.
Junior Miguel Maysonet (Riverhead, N.Y.) rushed for a career-high 194 yards, and tied his own LaValle Stadium and school record with four touchdowns. He ran for scores of 35, 1, 30 and 9 yards, respectively, as the Seawolves earned their first win of the season (1-3).
The Seawolves rushed for 300 of their 335 total yards of offense.
Junior Wesley Skiffington (Brandon, Fla.) connected on three field goals and all four extra points, becoming Stony Brook's all-time leading scorer among kickers with 164 points. He broke Mike Soto's record of 156, set in 2003.
Junior Dan Mulrooney (Prospect, Conn.) led a tenacious Stony Brook defense with eight tackles, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and an interception.
"We talked about playing four quarters of football tonight," coach Chuck Priore said. "I really liked our effort tonight. We started to gain some momentum in the second quarter. We talked about going for some big plays at halftime, and I thought we played our best third quarter of the night."
Tied at halftime, 6-6, Stony Brook scored on its first possession. Good field position after the second-half kick went out of bounds set the Seawolves up with first down from the 40. Senior Brock Jackolski (Shirley, N.Y.) rushed for 25 yards to the Lafayette 35 followed by Maysonet's 35-yard touchdown, giving Stony Brook its first lead of the game, 13-6. Lafayette had second and one from the 43 when sophomore Jawara Dudley (Roosevelt, N.Y.), who led all players with 12 tackles, put a vicious hit on Leopards quarterback Andrew Shoop, whose fumble was recovered by Mulrooney at the Lafayette 42. "We have to be turnover savvy," Mulrooney said. "We attacked people tonight and made the right plays at the right time."The running game took things from there, running for two first downs before Maysonet's 19-yard scamper gave Stony Brook first and goal from the one. And again it was Maysonet, running one yard to the left for the score. "The offensive line opened some holes and the rushing game took it from there," said Maysonet, who moved into a tie for seventh place in school history with 17 rushing touchdowns.
Shoop found Mitchell Bennett for a 52-yard touchdown on the ensuing possession, but Skiffington's 46-yard field goal, a career best, put the Seawolves up 23-13. "I try to make the best of any opportunity," Skiffington said. "Obviously, I'd like to be kicking more extra points, but I'll do anything to help this team win." It was Stony Brook's fifth straight possession with a score.
Lafayette put together another solid drive, converting two third downs and a fourth down. On third and 11 from the Stony Brook 23, Shoop threw to the left corner of the end zone, but the ball was picked off by sophomore Davonte Anderson (Corona, Calif.).
The Leopards marched into Seawolves' territory, keyed by a 44-yard rush from Ross Scheuerman. On fourth down from the SB 24, sophomore Grant Nakwaasah (Richardson, Texas) blocked a potential 41-yard field goal. Junior Craig Richardson (Malden, Mass.) recovered the loose ball, and ran 25 yards to the Lafayette 42.
Maysonet took things from there, rushing for 12 yards before a 30-yard score gave Stony Brook its biggest lead of the game, 30-13. His fourth touchdown came on a drive in which he accounted for all 44 yards.
Lafayette tacked on its second field goal of the night to make it 6-0, but Stony Brook scored soon after. Jackolski took the kick-off 69 yards down the sideline to the Lafayette 26. Two three-yard rushes advanced the ball to the 20, and Skiffington converted the 37-yard field goal with 5:58 left in the first half.
A 43-yard completion to Kevin Doty gave Lafayette first and goal from the 10. On second and goal, senior Ryan Haber (Lafayette Hill, Pa.) picked off Shoop, recording Stony Brook's third turnover of the game.
The Stony Brook offense finally started to click as senior Michael Coulter (Yorba Linda, Calif.) found junior Jordan Gush (Dallas, Texas) for 35 yards down the right side. Maysonet followed that with a 22-yard rush of his own, setting up first down from the Lafayette 28.
A Jackolski 11-yard rush and Maysonet's five-yard gain advanced the ball to the 12. Coulter was sacked on the next play, but Skiffington converted the field goal, which gave him the record.
Down 3-0, Mulrooney came to the Seawolves aid again. A 52-yard pass play from Shoop to Scheuerman put the Leopards with first and goal from at the 6. On second and goal from the five, Mulrooney hit Jet Kollie, forcing a fumble at the Stony Brook six, which was recovered by Anderson.
Mulrooney picked off Shoop to end Lafayette's second drive of the game.
Stony Brook has a bye next week, and will open Big South Conference play against Presbyerian on October 8 at 6:00 p.m.
