Box Score NEWTON, Mass. – Senior wide receiver Abiola Aborishade (Attleboro, Mass.) accounted for 175 yards of total offense and a pair of touchdowns to power the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team to a 21-14 season-opening victory over homestanding Mount Ida College this evening at Alumni Field.
Aborishade demonstrated his dual-threat capabilities, leading the Corsairs' offensive attack with a team-high 89 rushing yards and 86 yards through the air. The senior from Attleboro, Mass. was sophomore quarterback Trent Barneys (Aveenel, N.J. / Colonia) favorite target, pulling in a career-high 13 receptions. Barneys was 21-for-33 with 210 yards, a touchdown, and interception. Sophomore Kevin Wadsworth (Bridgewater, Mass. / Bridgewater-Raynham) had four catches for a team-best 87 yards.
The Corsairs (1-0) scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to break the seven-all halftime deadlock and seize control of the contest. Junior running back Preston Cooper (Wareham, Mass. / BC High) gave the visitors a lead they would not relinquish with a seven-yard run. With 6:34 remaining in the third, Aborishade exploded for a 79-yard touchdown run to extend UMass Dartmouth's advantage to 21-7.
The Mustangs (0-1) responded with a seven-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with a six-yard plunge by freshman running back Jaleel Battle (Buffalo, N.Y.). Battle gained 203 yards on 33 carries.
The Corsairs marched deep into the Mustangs' territory twice in the fourth quarter, but were unable to pad their lead. Mount Ida forced an interception on its six-yard line, while blocking a 24-yard field goal with less than two minutes, 30 seconds remaining in regulation.
The UMass Dartmouth defense rose to the occasion each time, causing a pair of turnovers to reverse the momentum. Freshman Marvey Mathurin (Woburn, Mass. / Northeast Metro Tech.) registered his first collegiate interception to seal the victory, picking off the Mustangs' quarterback on fourth and 20 with 1:02 left on the clock.
Mount Ida cracked the scoring column with two minutes, 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Senior quarterback Jawad Yatim (Shrewsbury, Mass.) broke a 21-yard run to complete an eight-play, 91-yard drive.
The Corsairs needed less than 23 seconds to respond. Sophomore Stephen Roy (Northboro, Mass. / Algonquin Regional) set up the drive with a 47-yard kickoff return, placing the visitors at the hosts' 23-yard line. Following an infraction, Barneys delivered a 27-yard strike to Aborishade.
UMass Dartmouth limited the Mustangs to just two completions and nine passing yards. Mount Ida was able to rush for 267 yards, but the Corsairs slowed the hosts' ground game in the second half. Senior captain Nils Swenson (Ipswich, Mass.) led the visitors with 14 tackles, including three behind the line of scrimmage. Mathurin registered 12 stops, while junior Anthony LaRose (Dorchester, Mass. / Canton) also reached double digits in tackles with 10. Sophomore Marcel Flynn (Taunton, Mass.) produced an interception, while classmate Jaleel Johnson (Dedha, Mass. / BC High) forced and recovered a fumble.
UMass Dartmouth will return to action at 7 p.m. on September 12, when the Corsairs host Springfield College.
