Running back Lawrence Howard V had a career night on Saturday, breaking six school records and tying two others as the Chestnut Hill College Sprint Football team 34 second half points to defeat Saint Thomas Aquinas College 41-22 at A.A. Garthwaite Stadium in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.
The Griffins improved to 4-2 with the win, ensuring themselves of a winning season, their first since 2019.
Howard carried the ball 32 times accumulating 247 yards rushing, shattering the school record for both. The two numbers are also school records for all-purpose yards and attempts in a single. The sophomore running back also scored a school record three rushing touchdowns, which also tied school record for overall touchdowns in a game and most points scored (18). In addition, Howard also broke the school's all-time record for most rushing touchdowns in a career with 11.
Coupled with his 166-yard rushing performance last week, Howard becomes the first player in program history to record back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and the first to have three- 100 yard rushing games in one season.
The Griffins also established new school records for most rushing yards in a game (343) and most rushing touchdowns (six).
Anthony Cancellare completed nine passes for 73 yards with Kyree Griffin and Tzion Allen catching three apiece. Xavier Limehouse, Folley Tarley and Malachi Jones also had rushing touchdowns.
On the defensive side, Amir Jenkins and Cam Goldsmith led the team with six tackles apiece. Jenkins also had 1.5 quarterback sacks resulting in 19 yards lost and a total of 2.5 tackles for loss equaling 23 yards lost. Jenkins also forced a fumble. Goldsmith also had 1.5 sacks resulting in 11 yards lost. Riley Stidham had a sack, and a forced fumble and Matt Gauld also added a sack.
Tarley put the Griffins on the board first with a 15-yard touchdown run with 1:51 left in the first quarter, capping a 9-play, 49 yard drive. Thirty-three of those yards came on three completions from Cancellare to Allen before Tarley ran the ball the next two possessions, that last one resulting in the touchdown and a 7-0 lead following Brady Reynolds' extra point.
STAC answered with a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter, the first on a 67-yard completion from Ryan Kenny to Nyir Jones and the second a two-yard run by Davion Hicks following a 40-yard Kenny to Jones reception, giving the Spartans a 14-7 lead at halftime.
Howard ran for the first of his three scores on the Griffins first possession of the second half. After Jenkins forced a fumble and Dimitri Laylor recovered for the Griffins, the Griffins needed just five plays to put the ball in the end zone on a two-yard run by Howard, tying the game at 14-14.
The Spartans turned the ball over again on the opening play of their next drive with Lex Williams recovering a fumble and the Griffins took advantage with Limehouse scoring from four yards out with 7:01 left in the third quarter to give the Griffins a 21-14 lead.
Howard produced a 33-yard touchdown run to cap a 75-yard eight play drive to open the fourth quarter as the Griffin's pulled ahead 28-14 and then capped his night with a 74 yard run for his third touchdown of the game. The 74-yard run was the second longest run from scrimmage in program history. Reynolds' extra point was blocked, and the Griffins led 34-14 with 10:38 remaining in the game.
STAC had good field position to begin the next drive and used the passing game to score their final touchdown with Tynez Harp connecting with Jayden Bonnermo for 20 yards and the score. A two point conversion was successful, making the score 34-22.
The Griffins recovered the ensuing onside kick from the Spartans and proceeded to run the ball to eat up the clock as much as possible. Cancellare ran for a huge first down on fourth-and-seven to keep the drive going and Jones added a 15-yard run to bring the Griffins with two yards of the end zone. Two plays later Jones, one of the ten seniors honored for senior day prior to the game, ran the ball in from one yard out for his first collegiate touchdown with 1:16 remaining.
Andre Cancellare intercepted a pass from harp on the Spartans final drive with seven seconds left to seal the win for Chestnut Hill.
Ten senior players were honored by the team and the athletic department prior to the game, their final home game in a Griffin uniform. Recognized were Myron Brooks, Laylor, Jones, Xavier Hendricks, Vincent Gillespie Ragusa, Anthony Droege, Jake Bosken, Matthew Gauld, Matthew Davis and Nick Suscovich.
The sprint football team will play their final game of the season on Friday, November 8, 2024, when they travel to face the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin field in Philadelphia. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
