Wolverines vs. S.W. Connecticut RESULTS

The Bridgton football team traveled to Bridgeport Connecticut to take on the two time defending national
champions of the Intercollegiate Club Football Federation (iCFF), the Southwest Connecticut Grizzlies. The
Grizzlies play in the Yankee Collegiate Football Conference and are currently ranked first in the country by the
iCFF. The hotly contested game featured 4 lead changes and was never more than a one score game.

The Wolverines opened the game by kicking off and almost recovering the kick. The event was a bit fortuitous
as 4 plays later, the Grizzlies put the ball on the astroturf and cornerback Craig Lowery (Fairfield, CT) scooped
up the fumble and raced 56 yards for the first score of the season. The moment provided a bit of redemption
for Lowery who was a member of the 2011 Wolverine squad before losing most of the season to a knee injury.
Lowery, now a team captain, has provided a great deal of leadership to the team here in his second go around.

The Grizzlies tied the game 2 series later after a Bridgton fumble set them up in Wolverine territory. The
scoring play was the result of an athletic scramble by the Grizzlies’ quarterback, coincidently a former high
school teammate of Lowery’s, broke containment and tossed a short touchdown pass to his right. With the
game tied at 7, the Wolverine offense went on the march moving the ball across midfield before the drive
fizzled out. The ensuing Grizzly drive ended immediately as Pete Amabile (Long Beach, NY) recovered
a fumble to give the ball back to Bridgton deep at the Grizzly 30. Unfortunately, Bridgton was unable to
capitalize and turned the ball over on downs. Once more, fortune favored the Wolverines as an errant Grizzly
snap turned into a third turn over and second defensive score of the game. This time safety Jarrod Casey
(Milford, MA) scooped up the fumble and returned it for a TD. The extra point sailed wide right and BA went
up 13-7.

The Grizzlies managed a nice drive just before the half, but it was snuffed out when Joe Manni (Cranston, RI)
recorded one of his 2 sacks and 5 tackles for loss (TFL).

The second half saw the Wolverine offense find its stride. The opening kick was returned to midfield by
Devon Lofton (Fairfield, CT). The offense then went on an 11 play drive that was highlighted by a 4th down
conversion on a pass from Brock Dale (Palos Verdes, CA) to Cam Cooper (Buxton, ME). Ultimately, the drive
was capped by a 2 yard TD plunge by Dale to put BA up 20 to 13. The Grizzlies answered with a short drive
that ended with a field goal to make it 20-16. With the offense on the march again in the fourth, the Grizzlies
stepped up and made a great leaping interception and returned it to the Wolverine 20. The Grizzlies took the
lead, 22-20, with 6:40 left in the game on a 1 yard TD run by their quarterback.

After a BA punt, the defense was able to come up with a critical stop on third down and force the Grizzlies
to give up the ball. During the drive, Jess El-Ghoul (Leominster, MA) made one of his 3 TFLs to put the
Grizzlies in bad down and distance. With the ball back in their hands the Wolverines offense would not go
quietly, quickly driving the field to place themselves in position for a 31 yard field goal with 25 seconds left.
Here BA’s luck ran out as the kick fell missed just right and the Grizzlies claimed the victory. Bridgton is next
scheduled to take on Springfield College’s JV team next Sunday, September 16th at Springfield.