Mounties Hang Tough But Penn Pulls Away in Second Half
MANSFIELD – D.J. Mclean Jr. caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from Adam Hutchison early in the third quarter to pull Mansfield to 10-7 but Penn scored the final three touchdowns of the game to post a 31-7 win over the Mountaineers in the opening game of the CSFL season for both teams Saturday night at Karl Van Norman Field.
Playing on a warm-humid night in front of 3,521 fans for LUMA 2016, a young Mountaineer team showed promise while also making their share of mistakes against a veteran Penn team that went 5-2 last season.
Penn opened the scoring after picking off a deflected pass on the Mountaineers first offensive play of the game. The Quakers used six-plays to drive 38 yards with Andrew Sutton hauling in a 9-yard touchdown pass.
Mansfield drove to the Penn 32 on its next possession before turning the ball over after failing to make a first down on a fourth and two. Penn drove down to the Mansfield 12 yard before the defense stiffened forcing the Quakers to settle for a 29-yard field goal before the first quarter came to an end.
Both teams were held scoreless in the second quarter with Penn holding a 10-0 at halftime.
The Mountaineers held Penn to a three-and-out to open the third quarter and then mounded their most successful drive of the night going 57-yards on six-plays capped off by a 24-yard touchdown reception by freshman D.J. Mclean Jr. from sophomore quarterback Adam Hutchinson to cut the lead to 10-7.
But Penn came right back, returning the ensuing kickoff 56-yard with senior quarterback Mike McCurdy hitting Marcus Jones for a 17-yard touchdown pass to put the Quakers back up by 10 points.
Penn scored twice more on an 81-yard drive and 1-yard interception return to put the game away.
While Mansfield struggled in some phases of the opener, the young Mountaineers had some impressive performances. Quarterback Adam Hutchinson completed 15-of-30 pass for 158 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted four times. Three of those picks came off deflections and he also used his scrambling skills to keep plays alive with picking up 45 yards on the ground.
Kurt Logan pulled in a game-best seven passes for 78 yards and returned four kickoffs for 92 yards. Mclean had three receptions for 45 yards and touchdown in his first collegiate game.
Mansfield outrushed Penn 141-127 with freshman Devyn Nelsen running for 56 yards on 11 carries.
Mansfield picked up 299 yards in total offense and ran 67 plays to Penn’s 62.
Defensively senior John Capwell had an outstanding game racking up a game-high 12 tackles with a sack and fumble recovery. Kyle Post had seven tackles and forced a fumble. Dylan Flexer was in on six stops.
Mansfield hosts Cornell next Saturday for the 15th annual Josh Palmer Pigskin Classic.
View game stats from Mansfield and Penn on GoMounties.com.
Credits:
Idea/Concept: Ed Weaver
Videography: Cody Getz, Kline Kaufer, John Vogt
Video Editing: Cody Getz
Writing: Mansfield University
Anchor: Ed Weaver
Correspondent: Drew Patrick
Produced by Vogt Media
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