Yeomen Unable to Rally After Rain Delays

Sarah Orbuch

The first half started off shaky, but the Yeomen were able to cash in a 35-yard field goal thanks to sophomore kicker Erickson Andrews. The Yeomen were unable to maintain this momentum and the Maroons scored their first touchdown of the game. The defensive duo of Shawn Chrapczynski and Peter Morris responded quickly and helped first-year quarterback Lucas Poggiali and the Yeomen offense score their first touchdown of the game, ending the half with a 9–7 lead.

The Yeomen couldn’t maintain their lead, and the Maroons controlled the second half of play. The game was disrupted by the turbulent weather, and the teams were forced off the field and back into the locker room with 1:29 left in the third quarter. After the delay, the Yeomen could not keep the Maroons from scoring another touchdown. “I think the weather really took the spark out of the game,” said Andrews. “We came out flat and unprepared after the break.”

Although the final score was not in their favor, juniors Jake Danko and Kirby Livingston had a fantastic game, leading the defense with nine tackles apiece. Junior Moses Richardson, sophomore Justin Williams and Poggiali led the offensive end rushing for a combined 133 yards. Richardson now leads the team with 238 rushing yards with an average of 79.3 yards per game, and he has scored two touchdowns so far this season.

The Yeomen need to rally this Saturday when they take on their conference foe, the Allegheny College Gators. Last year, the Yeomen had one of their most intense and competitive match-ups against Allegheny, ending the game 14–13 after then-sophomore Zachary Kisley made an impressive interception that ended the Gators’ season. To prepare for this physical game, “practice has been a little different,” according to Danko. “It has involved harder and more physical practices.”

Danko believes that “if the offense can limit the amount of turnovers and three-and-outs, and we maintain the intense attitude we have brought to practice all week, the score should take care of itself” and the Yeomen can beat the Gators once again.

Yeofans should be on the lookout for Poggiali to have a big game against the Gators; injury has sidelined senior quarterback Josh Mandel. “Poggiali showed promise in his first two games, and we need big things from him this weekend,” said Andrews.

A 1–2 record is not what the Yeomen expected at their third game of the season. “The third game is usually the turning point in the season. Despite our record we still have a positive outlook and have high expectations for the rest of the season,” said Mandel. “We expect to make conference and then NCAAs. We just need to take it one game at a time. Allegheny is the next stop and we are confident we’re going to come out with a W.”

Although not on their home turf this weekend, the Yeomen are prepared to rally hard and go after a big win against Allegheny. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.