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Griffins Come Back in Thrilling Fashion to Win Inaugural Sprint Football CACC-Bowl

Griffins Come Back in Thrilling Fashion to Win Inaugural Sprint Football CACC-Bowl

cacc bowl
photo credit: CACC Athletics, The Griffins pose with the plaque as the first ever CACC-Bowl champions

Since 2007, Chestnut Hill College and Post University have exchanged victories and losses on the basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, soccer pitches and baseball/softball fields. On Saturday, the two Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC) rivals met again, this time, for the first time on the gridiron, something that given the lack of a conference sponsored football program, at one point would have been impossible.

The Griffins kicked off their road-debut by scoring on their opening drive and again on their final drive of the first quarter. The defense added a safety to give Chestnut Hill a 16-0 lead entering the second quarter, which was controlled by the home team. Post scored twice, both from running back Malcolm Ware '19, to go into the half down just two. In the third quarter, Post continued their scoring with a four-play, 83 scoring drive, the longest of the game. This gave the Eagles the lead, which they held until 1:44 remaining in the final quarter.

Following a long CHC drive that ended just shy of the end zone and resulted in a fumble by quarterback Reggie Robinson '19, CHC played shut-down defense and executed great clock management. The team needed just over a minute, and used just two of their timeouts, something that would end up being vital on their final drive. The Griffins' forced their second safety of the game before getting the ball back, still down three, with just under two minutes remaining.

"On the final drive, we were very fortunate to have good field position, time on the clock and a time out to use," says Mike Pearson, head sprint football coach. "The team did a great job ensuring that and it helped in a huge way."

The Griffins used that final time out with 1:10 left on the clock, and after Robinson completed a crucial pass on fourth down to save the game, CHC marched down the remainder of the field and scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 32 seconds left on the clock.

In winning, CHC moves to 2-1 on the season and also claims the inaugural CACC-bowl, a special distinction that will be on the line when CHC plays their conference rivals both now and in future seasons.

"Following the loss to Mansfield the team worked hard all week and it paid off," says Pearson. "Our goal is to compete every week and to build a quality program for the school now and in the future. Wins like that, being able to come back and not get down on ourselves, really goes to show the level of hard work the players put in and how much they want to win."

Chestnut Hill returns to Plymouth Whitemarsh for its final home game of the season, against Franklin Pierce University on October 23.

"To play them will be a great challenge for our team and we're prepared to embrace all challenges," says Pearson. "This next game is going to be another big step for us against an excellent opponent and working very hard to face them, which helps us to grow up another step, day by day."

Marilee Gallagher '14

Posted In: Athletics News