Box Score Rindge, N.H. - (10/29/2016) – After trading safeties in the first half, Chestnut Hill College used a one-yard pass to sophomore Raevon Floyd-Bennett (Union City, N.J.) to gain an 8-2 third-quarter lead at Franklin Pierce University. But today's Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) contest ended with disappointment as the Ravens scored on the last play from scrimmage for a 14-8 victory. With less than 500 yards of offense between the CSFL rivals, defense was the star of the afternoon. Sophomore Jonathan Baldwin (Charlotte, N.C.) headlined the Scarlet and Gold defense, recording a team-high 16 tackles (5 solo, 11 assisted) – three for a loss – he also led the Griffins in rushing with 27.
 
After a fruitless opening drive, Chestnut Hill College (2-4) pinned Franklin Pierce University (3-3) deep in their own end for their possession of the game. The Ravens first run from their own four-yard line went nowhere and the second resulted in a fumble the bounced out of bounds in the endzone for a pair of Griffin points (2-0). In the second quarter, a similar scenario played out in the home team's favor. This time, the Griffins fumbled on a first down at their own nine-yard line; recovering the football in their own endzone to even the affair, 2-2, four minutes before halftime.
 
Following intermission, a mid third-quarter Franklin Pierce University drive that ended with a punt to the 50-yard line (8:11). The ensuing Scarlet and Gold series included a three-yard pass to junior Kadeem Pankey (Easton, Pa.) and a 30-yard pass to Floyd-Bennett that brought the Griffins to the Raven two-yard line. A pair of Baldwin rushes only moved the ball to the one-yard line, requiring freshman quarterback Michael Marino (Blue Bell, Pa.) to locate Floyd-Bennett for the touchdown (8-2 at 5:14).
 
A clutch Pankey interception allowed the Griffins to keep that lead for the fourth quarter. But there, Raven junior quarterback Jose Melo (Greenwich, Conn.) had a hot series that tied the contest at 8-8 with 7:42 remaining in the contest. A trade of unsuccessful drives left the game on the line with 30 seconds (0:03) to play. After an incomplete pass, a 19-yard Raven rush brought the ball to the Chestnut Hill College 49-yard line. An eight-yard pass advanced the ball to the 39-yard line with just six seconds (0:06) remaining on the scoreboard. That would be enough time for Melo to hit freshman running back Ahzir Turner (Schenectady, N.Y.) for the game-winning touchdown, 14-8.

Baldwin's 27 yards of rushing led the Griffins' ground attack, which also got 25 yards from Floyd-Bennett, and 11 from Marino. Through the air, Marino connected on 14-of-33 (42.4%) passes without a turnover. Pankey caught five passes for 48 yards, freshman wide receiver Nate Moser (Easton, Pa.) caught three for 73, and Floyd-Bennett totaled 31 yards on his two receptions. Three others caught a pass apiece. Floyd-Bennett appeared on special teams, returning a punt for three yards, and a pair of kickoffs for a total of 45 yards; the longer of the two was for 36 yards.

On defense, Pankey added nine tackles (4 solo, 5 assisted) to his interception. He, freshman linebacker Mike McIlhenney (Philadelphia, Pa.), and sophomore nose guard Brian Layden (Springfield, Pa.) helped Baldwin slow the Raven offense. McIlhenney recoded nine tackles (4 solo, 5 assisted) as well, while Layden recorded eight (2 solo, 6 assisted).
 
The Chestnut Hill College sprint football team returns to the Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Football Stadium on Saturday, November 5, when they conclude their 2016 season with a noon (12:00 p.m.) contest against Mansfield University.