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Lexington, Va. - Junior Kyle Essington (Chino Hills, Calif.) threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns, and Stony Brook's defense allowed only 267 yards of total offense in the Seawolves' 42-14 win over VMI on Saturday at Foster Stadium.
Essington, who recorded his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, completed 18 of 23 passes, eight to junior Kevin Norrell (Los Angeles, Calif.), who totaled 129 yards and a touchdown. Norrell has caught 16 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns in the last three games.
The defense forced five three-and-outs, allowed just three drives to go longer than five plays and only gave up two big plays. Stony Brook also forced VMI to punt 11 times.
"We played a solid first half," coach Chuck Priore said. "Our defense and special teams keyed us early, and then we turned it on offensively in the second half. We moved our tight ends to take them out of their blitzes, and that allowed Kyle to be effective out of the pocket."
The Seawolves (4-3, 2-0 Big South) scored 21 points in the third quarter and 35 of their 42 in the second half. Of the 483 yards of total offense, Stony Brook totaled 220 yards in the third quarter and 383 yards in the second half.
Stony Brook scored on four of its five third-quarter possessions and five of six to start the second half.
Essington found Norrell for a 31-yard touchdown to give Stony Brook a 14-0 lead. After a three and out from VMI, the Seawolves drove 70 yards in five plays, capped by a seven-yard run from senior Brock Jackolski (Shirley, N.Y.). On the ensuing kick-off, sophomore Jawara Dudley (Roosevelt, N.Y.) leveled VMI's Tracy Hairston, who fumbled. Sophomore Grant Nakwaasah (Richardson, Texas) recovered the loose ball, and ran it 29 yards for the touchdown and a 28-0 lead. It was the Seawolves' second fumble recovery for a touchdown this season. Stony Brook led by as many as 35, 42-7, after junior Miguel Maysonet (Riverhead, N.Y.) scampered 60 yards for his team-leading sixth rushing touchdown of the season. Maysonet finished the game with 141 yards on 15 carries.
With Stony Brook starting its final possession of the first half on its 49, Essington found Norrell for completions of 16 and 10 yards. On third and 10 from the 25, Essington found Brevi, who dragged a couple of defenders down to the two. Three plays later, Essington, who faked the give to Jackolski, rolled out to his left, stutter-stepped #99 Emilio Calvin and ran it in for the score.
Sophomore Junior Solice (Hackensack, N.J.) had four tackles, including a sack, to lead the defense. Seniors Andrew Nelson (Uniondale, N.Y.) and Roosevelt Kirk (Oakland, Calif.) also recorded sacks.
