Skyhawks enjoy going on the Lam
NEW ENGLAND FOOTBALL
One school that is making a transition at quarterback this season is Stonehill, which opened its season last week in a tough 34-19 loss to juggernaut Fairmont State of West Virginia.
The Skyhawks were beginning a new era without the graduated Matt Foltz, its 6-foot-7 record-setting signal caller from a year ago.
The new man barking out the calls behind center is senior James Lam of Quincy. And if season debuts are any indication, Lam & Co. will do just fine, after some finetuning.
Lam ran 13 times for 118 yards and scored two touchdowns. He was joined by senior Mike Cordova (27-for-101) in going over 100 yards rushing. The Skyhawks’ 218 total rushing yards marked the first time a Fairmont State defense had allowed over 200 or more rushing yards in almost two years.
While the 6-foot-3 Lam was under the gun a bit when attempting to pass against a fierce Fighting Falcons rush, completing just 9-of-24 passes for 79 yards, his comfort zone should improve on Saturday night when Stonehill plays at Saint Anselm in the 14th renewal of the Battle for the Ol’ Bronze Hawk. Stonehill has won all 13 prior trophy matchups and holds an all-time 15-5 series edge.
“I think a lot of it is just learning to make the right decision,” said Stonehill coach Eli Gardner. “(Fairmont State) were crashing their ends so it forced James to pull the ball down and run. But it’s also nice to have a quarterback who has that opportunity to run or pass. He is also a real gunslinger. We were a step away on about four of them (passes) so we’ll get better there, too.”
A bright light for Stonehill in the opener was junior Matt Haite of Kingston and Silver Lake. One of 34 kickers nationally nominated to the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List, Haite made field goals of 30 and 41 yards and was successful on his lone point-after try.
First Helmets out
Congrats to Boston College sophomore quarterback Anthony Brown and Springfield College junior quarterback Chad Shade on capturing Gold Helmet Awards on the opening week. Brown, who has returned from a knee injury that shelved him for most of last season, completed 15-of-21 passes for a career-high 279 yards and four touchdowns as the Eagles pasted UMass, 55-21.
“He’s developing into a real leader for us,” said BC football great Barry Gallup, who accepted the award on behalf of Brown, who was at practice and unable to attend yesterday’s New England College Football Writers luncheon at Harvard. “We had great balance.”
Shade, a Pittsfield native and two-sport standout, who played in this summer’s Futures Basbeall League, directed the Pride’s offense to 445 rushing yards on 60 plays in a 42-21 win over Western New England. The Pride had zero yards passing.
“Unlike BC, we had no balance,” quipped Springfield coach Mike Cerasuolo, who is in his third season coaching his alma mater.
Shade sounded like a true veteran when asked if he considered audibling in order to throw the ball.
“I’ve definitely thought about it,” Shade said with a sheepish grin. “Would I do it? No. Our coaches really do a great job of game-planning and put us in the proper position in the triple option to make the right play.”
Sounds like a golden rule.