By By Nick Pipitone
BROOKLINE, Mass.-The Pride defense has been riding a seesaw this season.
It has given up over 35 points three times, but has also had three shutouts. From week to week it is anyone’s guess which defense will show up: the one that gets burnt on deep balls and scorched on the ground or the one that relentlessly pressures the QB and stuffs the run.
This past Saturday, the Pride needed the latter, especially late in the game.
Northeastern University (NU) QB John Sperrazza had the Huskies at mid-field late in the fourth quarter, down by only three and needing five yards on a crucial fourth down. The Pride needed a stop to keep NU out of field goal range. Sperazza’s pass to senior RB Anthony Riley was bobbled and knocked out by senior LB Cole Haley, turning the ball over on downs and securing a Pride 20-17 win.
“Today the defense came through,” head coach Joe Gardi said. “They gave us the complete game we needed and made plays at the end when our offense was pitiful and couldn’t put any points on the board.”
After Haley’s stop, the Pride (6-4, 4-3 Atlantic 10) escaped Parsons Field with a win, stopping a late NU threat and avoiding a two-game skid. The Blue & Gold defense was able to stymie the Huskies (1-9, 1-6) when it needed it most and overcame another game chock full of penalties and turnovers. The win marks the first time the Pride has won at Northeastern in the program’s history and ensures the first winning season for the team since 2001.
Overall, the Pride committed five fumbles and 12 penalties for 106 yards, allowing the resilient Huskies to bring the Pride to the brink, but could not push it over. The Pride is out of the Atlantic 10 race but, mathematically, is still alive in the I-AA playoff hunt.
After scoring 17 unanswered points in the opening quarter, the Pride allowed a late second quarter NU score. It led 17-7 at halftime, but as it has done most of the season, had a let down in the second half.
Regaining possession at the start of the third quarter, TE Chris Sebald fumbled after a first down reception at the Pride 18-yard line. Two plays later, Sperazzo found senior WR Corey Parks in the corner of the end zone from 15 yards out to narrow the lead to 17-14.
“In that situation we caught [the Pride] in man coverage and [CB Dwayne Whitaker] played good defense and was on me,” Parks said. “I caught it with one hand. It was a great throw by [Sperazzo], there was great protection, and the magic just happened.”
Late in the third quarter, the Huskies got on the board again. On a third and 17 at midfield, senior DT Edward Greene sacked Sparazzo, but an illegal participation penalty gave the Huskies another chance. On the ensuing play, NU RB Maurice Murray converted the short third down. Shortly thereafter, NU tied the game at 17 with a 36-yard Miro Kesic field goal.
The Pride, however, was able to muster enough offense early in the fourth quarter to put together the game-winning drive. QB Anton Clarkson led the Pride 72 yards on 10 plays, but was not able to push through on a draw play on third and goal. Reliable sophomore kicker Rob Zarrilli nailed a 19-yard field goal that would give the Pride a 20-17 lead.
“I figured we might have scored a couple more times after that, so I didn’t really see the big importance of it,” Zarrilli said. “I just wanted to make it.”
For the remainder of the quarter, the Huskies threatened, but the Pride defense held strong. Sperazzo drove NU inside the red zone, but was unable to tie the game. An off-sides and an intentional grounding penalty backed the Huskies up, and Kesic fell short on a 49-yard FG attempt.
With only 3:37 remaining, the Pride needed to stop NU one more time to hold onto the win. The Huskies got to midfield, but an illegal touching penalty took away a first down on a third and long. On the next play, Haley came up big for the Pride and solidified the win.
“I thought it was going to be a nice comfortable day from the way the game started, but it wasn’t. It was a war and it’s a credit to the Northeastern coaching staff,” Gardi said. “But it’s a win and right now we’re 6-4 and we have an outside chance of making the playoffs.”