[naviga:img class="img-responsive" alt="Mark Wicke" src="/Assets/news2018/Wicke_Mark_20936.jpg"/]

Mark Wicke

[naviga:img class="img-responsive" alt="Jake Behne" src="/Assets/news2018/Behne_Jacob_19033.jpg"/]

Jake Behne

New London — Coast Guard was in the midst of scoring the final 17 points Friday night to beat Nichols, which of course was a credit to the offense.

But then there was the defense, sparked by a timely stick from cornerback Mike Goldsworthy which rattled a Nichols receiver.

The defense's attitude: "not on my watch."

And that's how the Bears (2-1) came back from a 20-10 deficit to win 27-20. Trailing by 10 with 7 minutes, 20 seconds left in the third quarter, the defense allowed Nichols just 24 yards and two first downs the rest of the way, stopping the Bison in dominant fashion over their final six possessions.

"I don't think it's one thing that's said," senior linebacker Jake Behne said of the sudden shift in gears for the defense, which has been settling into games later the last couple of weeks. "I'd say we have the ability to play like that all the time, but we don't. We need to carry that level of focus right from the start.

"Part of it's just getting into the flow of the game. Shake off the jitters."

Behne led the defense in the victory with 12 tackles, seven solo, and also recovered a fumble. Mark Wicke, a junior who moved from linebacker to strong safety this season, had eight tackles, three for a loss, and linebacker R.J. Robiskie had two of Coast Guard's four sacks. The Bears, who open New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference play Saturday against Norwich (1:30 p.m., Cadet Memorial Field) had 10 tackles for a loss.

Starting with the second half of Coast Guard's 28-10 loss to Union in Week 2, the defense has been solid. Coast Guard trailed Union 21-3 at halftime before allowing just one score in the second half of that game. Union went on to beat defending NEWMAC champion Springfield 45-10 the following week, accumulating 438 yards offense against the Pride.

Wicke said Coast Guard didn't necessarily gain confidence from the loss to Union — "you look at the score and at the end of the game we're on the losing end," Wicke said — but it made the Bears aware what they're capable of.

"We knew we had the ability to play like that the entire game," Wicke said.

Behne called it a point of frustration, saying the Bears were playing like "chickens with their heads cut off" at the beginning of the Nichols game.

Coast Guard coach Bill George disagreed with the self-criticism from Behne.

"I didn't think we came out flat," George said. "I think we played the best Nichols College team we've played.

"We had a couple of missed tackles on a couple of touchdowns early, then Mike Goldsworthy had that big hit. I think (Nichols) got worn down as we were rotating in two lines. I thought we were playing our best football in the fourth quarter."

Chris Gardner scored the game-winning touchdown for the Bears on an 18-yard run with 10:31 remaining, making it 24-20, and Cole Austin kicked his second field goal of the night for the final margin.

The Bears return eight starters on defense this season, led by senior captain Jack Brandt at tackle. Behne, whose brother Mark was a former member of the Coast Guard secondary, led the Bears in tackles last season with 72 and cornerback Pat Crowley was a second team All-NEWMAC pick (67 tackles, 2 interceptions).

Wicke, who played defensive back alondside Crowley at San Marino (Calif.) High School and still does, leads the Bears this season with 22 tackles. Behne and Crowley have 21 each. Robiskie has a team-high five tackles for a loss and three and a half sacks.

"Being able to play the same position for four years and having great mentors all four years, that just helps me know the defense inside and out," Behne said. "It allows you to play fast and comfortable.

"Here at the academy, you're really good friends with the people you play sports with. You develop irreplacable relationships. That allows you to say, 'Hey, you're doing this wrong. You should do it this way.' And let everyone know it's not one person's job to make every play. ... We're getting there, I would say."

v.fulkerson@theday.com