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    Thursday, April 18, 2024

    WPI uses big third quarter to beat Coast Guard 44-16

    Worcester, Mass. — Sean McAllen rushed for 152 yards and a three touchdowns and WPI scored 30 straight second half points to beat Coast Guard Academy 44-16 in a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference football game on Saturday.

    The Bears (3-6, 1-5) dropped their fifth straight game. They end the season next Saturday at home in the annual battle for the Secretaries' Cup against rival Merchant Marine Academy at noon. The game will be streamed live on ESPN3 at noon.

    Connor Field added a pair of rushing touchdowns as WPI (7-2, 5-1) won its fifth straight, its longest winning streak since 1992.

    WPI led 14-10 at halftime and took control by outscoring the Bears 16-0 in the third quarter, racking up 194 yards while holding Coast Guard to minus-19 yards.

    The Engineers finished with 416 total yards, 200 on the ground while the Bears had 202 yards of total offense, 143 of those passing. WPI outgained the Bears 279-71 in the second half.

    Coast Guard sophomore quarterback Ryan Jones was 10 of 17 for 100 yards. Freshman Justin Moffatt had three  receptions for 66 yards to lead the Coast Guard receivers. Senior Cam Cecchini led the Bears with 13 carries for 70 yards and sophomore Patrick Crowley led the Bears' defense with nine tackles, all solo.

    McAllen's 3-yard touchdown run capped a seven play, 67-yard drive on the opening possession of the second half giving WPI a 21-10 lead with 11:48 left in the third quarter. He carried on six of the seven plays for 57 yards.

    Coast Guard junior defensive lineman Tommy Jones had his first career interception off a pass deflected by sophomore R.J. Robiskie on WPI's next possession after a Coast Guard interception, but the Bears were forced to punt.

    The Engineers would take command of the game with a seven play, 80-yard drive capped by Field's 10-yard touchdown run for a 28-10 lead with 3:05 left in the third quarter.

    WPI added a safety on a bad snap on a punt to push the lead to 30-10 less than two minutes later.

    McAllen had a 5-yard touchdown with 13:10 left to open the scoring in the fourth quarter and Jackson Brandin added a 4-yard TD run with 3:21 left.

    Coast Guard backup quarterback Jake Pawlina scored his first career touchdown, a 5-yard run, with 57 seconds left to close the scoring.

    McAllen's 4-yard touchdown run with just 3:09 into the game gave WPI an early 7-0 lead, but sophomore Kane Alletzhauser recovered a fumble on WPI's next possession, and the Bears would drive 73 yards on 12 plays to tie the game on Cecchini's 32-yard touchdown run with 2:09 left in the opening quarter.

    Field's 1-yard run early in the second quarter gave WPI the lead for good, 14-10, although Cole Austin kicked a 37-yard field goal with five seconds left in the half to pull the Bears within 14-10.

    It was the first meeting between the teams since a 23-13 win by WPI in 2005.

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