PAXTON, Mass. – The Gallaudet University football team defeated the Anna Maria AMCATS, 56-7, on Saturday afternoon during the AMC Football program’s first-ever Senior Day at AMCAT Field. The Bison used eight combined touchdowns from Phillip Hayes and Michael Gimelli and 521 total rushing yards to improve to 5-4 on the year. With the loss, the AMCATS finish 0-9 in their inaugural season.

 

Before the game, Anna Maria celebrated Matt Cantwell (Worcester, Mass.) and Daniel Conaghan’s (Hubbardston, Mass.) contributions to the first-year program. Cantwell was named the first captain in program history, while both players were instrumental on and off the field for the program.

 

The AMCATS won the opening coin-toss and deferred to receive until the second half. Gallaudet started the drive in Anna Maria territory after a 33-yard return by Phillip Hayes (Baton Rouge, La.) which landed the Bison on the Anna Maria 46. On the fourth play of the drive, Hayes took a pitch outside and darted 29 yards into the end zone to give the visitors a quick 7-0 advantage.   

 

The AMCATS were forced to punt after a quick 3 and out on their opening drive.

 

Just minutes later, Hayes took an option pitch from quarterback Jimmy Gardner (St. Augustine, Fla.) and dashed through the hole for a 49-yard score. After a muffed snap, the two-point conversion rush was stuffed by Kevin Fitzpatrick (Oxford Mass.) and Rich Brandt (Natick, Mass.), holding the Bison lead to 13-0.

 

Gallaudet forced Anna Maria to punt again on their next possession and then scored its third consecutive touchdown to open the game. Fullback Michael Gimeli (Deerpark, N.Y.) gave the Bison a 19-0 lead after a 4-yard plunge. Cole Johnson’s (Edina, Minn.) successful two-point conversion pitch to the outside increased the Bison lead to 21-0. 

 

Anna Maria’s best opportunity in the half came after Rich Brandt landed on a fumble during a botched punt return, giving the AMCATS the ball on the Gallaudet 27-yard line. Faced with a fourth-and-goal on the Gallaudet five yard line, Anna Maria elected to go for the touchdown. Sean Quinlivan’s (Rutland, Mass.) pass intended for Devon Nixon (Lowell, Mass.) fell incomplete and the AMCATS turned the ball over on downs.

 

Michael Gimeli scored his second touchdown of the game with under 1:30 remaining in the half, putting Gallaudet up 28-0 going into intermission. 

 

Gallaudet finished with 294 yards of offense in the half, while Anna Maria could only muster 24 total yards. Both Michael Gimeli and Phillip Hayes broke the century mark rushing in the first half, with both compiling two touchdowns and averaging over eight yards per carry. 

 

The Bison picked up right where they left off, scoring on their first possession of the second half. Phillip Hayes appeared destined for a big loss, but eluded several Anna Maria defenders near the side line en-route to an impressive 49-yard touchdown scamper. 

 

Anna Maria responded with an eight-minute, 16 -play touchdown drive that spanned 68 yards. Nate Adames (Salem, N.H.) rushed for 24 yards during the possession, while Santino Simone (Worcester, Mass.) capped the drive with a four-yard quarterback keeper into the end zone. 

 

Gallaudet added three more unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter. It started with a 10-yard rumble by Michael Gimelli for his third touchdown of the afternoon, which was followed by two more touchdown runs by Hayes of 9 yards and 52 yards, giving him five touchdowns on the afternoon. 

 

Gallaudet finished the game with 521 yards of total offense, all of which came on the ground, while Anna Maria finished with 123 total yards.

 

Phillip Hayes paced the Bison, rushing 11 times for 214 yards and five touchdowns, averaging a remarkable 19.5 yards per carry. Michael Gimelli also had a fine day with 143 yards and three touchdowns for Gallaudet, while Santino Simone (63 passing yards), scored the lone AMCAT touchdown.

 

Press Release Courtesy of Jeffrey S. Lander for AMC Sports Information

Picture Courtesy of David Sheridan for AMC Sports Information