Box Score DANBURY, Conn. -- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth junior Derek Tarpey (Tewksbury, Mass.) registered 17 tackles and an interception return for a touchdown, but Western Connecticut State University scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to escape with a 30-14 victory this afternoon at The WAC.
Tarpey spearheaded a Corsair (3-6, 2-5 MASCAC) defensive unit that held the high-powered Colonials (6-3, 5-2 MASCAC) offensive attack to 8.2 points below their season average, while limiting the hosts to 393 yards of total offense, including just 188 through the air. The junior captain registered 10 solo tackles, including two stops behind the line of scrimmage. UMass Dartmouth forced three turnovers as senior Cody Merritt (Plymouth, Mass.) and freshman Marvey Mathurin (Woburn, Mass.) also collected an interception. Senior Nils Swenson (Ipswich, Mass.) joined Tarpey in double digits in tackles with 11 total stops, a sack, and three tackles for a loss.
Western Connecticut took a lead they would never relinquish, when the UMass Dartmouth signal-caller was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone to enforce a safety. The Colonials capitalized on the short field position due to the free kick, starting at their own 47. Sophomore Michael Nicol (Wolcott, Conn.) converted a 3rd and 14 with a 20-yard completion to senior running back Tory Mack (Stratford, Conn.). Two plays later, Western capped the drive with a 23-yard touchdown strike to junior Alex Altermatt (Branford, Conn.). The extra point extended the hosts' advantage to 23-14 with under seven minutes remaining in regulation.
Needing a score to claw its way back into the contest, UMass Dartmouth was forced to extend its possession by attempting a 4th and 3 deep in its own territory. The gamble did not pay off as the Colonials denied the conversion and regained possession at the visitors' 35. Mack capped a three play, 35-yard drive with his second rushing touchdown of the game, rumbling 28 yards to seal the conference win.
Sophomore quarterback Cory Burnham (Essex, Mass.) was 12-of-28 for 88 passing yards and an interception, while also gaining 67 yards on five carries and a touchdown. Freshman JD Niles (Dorchester, Mass.) took 14 handoffs for 39 yards, while classmate Eddie Sheridan (Chelmsford, Mass.) produced 36 yards on 10 carries. Sophomore Kevin Wadsworth (Bridgewater, Mass.) and classmate John Beardsley (Essex, Mass.) each pulled in four receptions.
Trailing 7-0 midway through the first quarter, the Corsairs responded 41 seconds later, when Burnham recorded his longest rush of the season, scoring from 65 yards out.
UMass Dartmouth took their only lead of the game, when Tarpey picked off a Western Connecticut pass and returned it 39 yards. The second extra point by sophomore Steve Trask (Billerica, Mass.) gave the visitors' a 14-7 advantage.
It looked like the Corsairs were going to enter the intermission with the seven-point lead, but Connor Falaguerra (Milford, Conn.) broke a tackle and raced 48 yards to the end zone to even the ledger at 14-all with 18 seconds left on the clock.
UMass Dartmouth will wrap up its regular-season at 1 p.m. on Nov. 8, when the Corsairs host Fitchburg State University.
