Montclair, NJ (9/4/06) - Andrew Jackson rushed for 172 yards and 2 touchdowns, including the go-ahead TD with 12 seconds left in the third quarter, to lead the Springfield College football team to a 27-15 non-conference victory over Montclair State University this afternoon at SC's Benedum Field.

As a result, Springfield raises its record to 2-0, while Montclair State falls to 1-1. The Pride have won all three meetings with the Red Hawks.

Jackson, a sophomore fullback from Pennsville, N.J., proved to be the workhorse of this contest, carrying the ball 32 times. His longest run was of 21 yards. His TD carries were of 3 and 14 yards. Also sharing the load was junior QB Chris Sharpe ( Derry, N.H.) who carried the ball 19 times for 141 yards and 2 TD's. His touchdown runs were of 34 and 21 yards, the last of which came on a 4 th-down and one from the MSU 21 yard-line with 32 seconds remaining in the contest.

This game was a see-saw affair. Montclair State scored first with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter when junior wide receiver Mitch Britcher (Wanaque, N.J./Lakeland) collected a 30-yard TD pass from junior QB MICHAEL JUMP (Toms River, N.J./Toms River South). The drive went 53 yards on 3 plays. The extra point attempt was mishandled. Thus, the Red Hawks led 6-0.

There were destined to be three more lead changes. With 12:53 left in the second quarter, Jackson capped a 6-play, 50-yard drive with his 3-yard romp up the middle. The extra point by freshman Chris Bush (Creek, N.Y.) was good, and SC led 7-6.

With 2:51 left before the half, Sharpe scampered around right end to score from 34 yards out. Another Bush extra point gave SC a 14-6 edge. That drive took 9 plays and went 80 yards.

Red Hawk senior kicker Vin Doffont ( North Arlington, N.J/St. Mary's.) booted home a 35-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in the quarter, cutting the MSU halftime deficit to 14-9. The kick was Doffont's 26th career field goal moving him into sole possession of second place on the all-time MSU list.

The third quarter remained scoreless for a good while, until the Red Hawks put together the longest drive of the day, a 94-yarder on 11 plays. That drive was culminated by a 2-yard run by junior RB RYAN MCCOACH (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills). A pass play for the 2-point conversion attempt failed. Thus, MSU led, 15-14.

But the Pride answered on the ensuing drive of 73 yards on 6 plays. Jackson finished with a 14-yard TD up the middle. A 2-point rush play failed, so Springfield led, 20-15.

The score remained that way until very nearly game's end. Montclair State started what looked like a final make-or-break drive from its own 2-yard line with 3:36 left. Three plays later, MSU had a 2 nd-and-10 from its own 21. But a pass from Jump was intercepted by junior DB Joe Harasymiak ( Waldwick, N.J.) at the MSU 43, and returned to the MSU 30. It was Jump's fourth thrown interception of the day, and Harasymiak's 2 nd pick.

SC took possession with 2:19 left, and MSU had but one timeout remaining. Three SC rushes accumulated 9+ yards, giving the Pride a 4 th-and-1 from the 21. On the previous play, it appeared that Sharpe, slashing up the middle and losing his helmet in the process, had picked up a first down, but a controversial "spot" created the fourth-and-inches. Sharpe kept the ball again, broke a tackle, and suddenly sprinted up the middle for his 2 nd TD of the day from 21 yards out with 32 seconds left. A Bush extra point attempt was good, giving SC the 27-15 win.

Springfield produced 381 yards of total offense, all on the ground (Sharpe attempted one pass on the day, and it was intercepted by junior DB DEREK DEPASCALE ( Butler, N.J./Butler). Montclair State, meanwhile, produced 311 yards of total offense, 206 through the air. SC had 19 first downs, to MSU's 15. SC out-possessed MSU, 33:01 to 26:59.

Jackson rushed for 172 yards and 2 TD's, Sharpe rushed for 141 yards and 2 TD's. Junior RB Tim Brouillard ( Plymouth, Mass.) also rushed for 56 yards on 6 carries, a 9.3 yards per carry average.

Also for Springfield, junior Matt Mahoney ( Mashpee, Mass.) had a good day punting, averaging 42.3 yards on 3 attempts.

For Montclair State, McCoach led its rushers with 74 yards and 1 TD on 20 carries. Junior FB Vin Varcadipane ( Totowa, N.J./Passaic Valley) rushed for 45 yards on 4 carries, an 11.2 average. Jump was 13-of-25 passing for 206 yards with 1 TD and 4 interceptions. He was sacked twice. MSU's leading receiver was sophomore WR A.J. LETIZIA ( Dumont, N.J/Dumont.) with 4 catches for 74 yards and a long of 39. Senior WR FRED CARTER ( Bloomfield, N.J./Bloomfield) had 3 more catches for 57 yards.

On defense for SC, senior captain Andrew Madigan ( New Britain, Conn.) led the Pride with 10 tackles (including 5 solos), 2 tackles-for-loss for 6 yards, and 1 sack for 5 yards. Senior captain Kevin Fessette ( Plattsburgh, N.Y.) also had a good day with 9 tackles (3 solos), plus 1 pass deflection and 1 interception (with a 53-yard return). Sophomore linebacker Tom Caporale ( Closter, N.Y.) had 6 tackles, 1 interception, and 2 pass deflections.