By Jordan Gibbons
Kyle Essington, 15, runs for a first quarter touchdown on Stony Brook's first possession in the Seawolves' 42-24 victory over Presbyterian. Photo by Jordan Gibbons.
The Seawolves have officially located their passing game. It has been hiding under the arm of Kyle Essington and the unfortunate injury to senior Michael Coulter seems to have been the catalyst that has sparked Stony Brook’s air attack.
Stony Brook dominated the Presbyterian Blue Hose Saturday night, 42-24, at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium turning in an impressive offensive performance in its first Big South Conference game.
Essington threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns, along with one rushing touchdown in his first start in a Seawolves uniform. Matt Brevi, who’s been battling an injured shoulder, came back looking healthy after a two week rest, pulling in five receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
“As far as me and the wide receivers go I think we were all on the same page and really connected well tonight,” Essington said. “I think they really matured and we’ve all come a long way from the beginning of the season. I only predict great things to come.”
Matt Brevi catches a 44-yard touchdown, beating Damon Lawrence, 9, in the first quarter of Stony Brook's 42-24 rout of Presbyterian Saturday night. Photo by Jordan Gibbons.
Stony Brook jumped out to a quick lead, riding the arms and legs of Essington, who passed and rushed for a touchdown early in the first quarter. Essington found senior Matt Brevi, who burned his man on a post pattern, for a 44-yard touchdown, giving the Seawolves a 14-3 advantage.
The Seawolves held a two score lead until Presbyterian’s Michael Ruff bolted along the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown run late in the first half, slicing the lead to 14-10 in favor of Stony Brook. Ruff finished with 56 yards rushing, 52 yards receiving and two touchdowns.
As the clock turned to zero in the first half, Presbyterian was flagged for two penalties in a row extending the half, which allowed Stony Brook to attempt one pass into the end zone from the 40-yard line. The hail mary attempt from Essington ended up in the hands of Brevi at the 1-yard line, who turned and leaned into the end zone for a miraculous score, pushing SBU’s lead to 21-10 at the half.
“Sometimes you gotta take a chance and I put the ball up and let the playmaker go get it,” Essington said. “I was so excited when he came down with that and got in the end zone. It was a great feeling.”
The Blue Hose came out of the tunnel determined, making their way into the end zone on four plays when Brandon Miley found Michael Ruff for a quick 9-yard touchdown pass making it 21-17.
Stony Brook’s defense struggled to stop the run all night, giving up 277 yards on the ground, but tightened up their passing game, holding the Blue Hose to 150 yards in the air. Presbyterian was able to limit the Seawolves’ ground game, holding the Big South’s top rushing offense to 170 yards. But, Stony Brook showed their ability to win games through the air as opposed to their ground and pound offense. Head coach Chuck Priore found this to be the biggest positive in the team’s second straight victory.
“What I’m proud about is that we found ways to win and that’s the mark of a good football team, when teams take one thing away you can get after the other,” Priore said. “We’re getting better and thats what our goal is.”
After Stony Brook forced a three and out on Presbyterian’s next possession, Jackolski provided a jolt of energy with a 44-yard punt return to the Blue Hose 22-yard line. Jackolski had 180 return yards, 130 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Essington promptly threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Miguel Maysonet, who reached up and pulled down the reception despite the double coverage and defensive pass interference, pushing Stony Brook’s lead to 28-17. Maysonet had to resort to being an asset in the passing game with Presbyterian’s dedication to stopping him in the backfield. He ended up with 50 yards on the ground and 41 yards on 3 receptions, including the touchdown.
Miguel Maysonet cuts around defenders in Stony Brook's 42-24 win over Presbyterian Saturday night at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. Photo by Jordan Gibbons.
“Just in general with our running game, they had eight or nine guys in the box the whole time,” Maysonet, who played the role of soothsayer, said. “I told Kyle before the game even started, ‘Kyle lead us to victory,’ and that’s what he did.”
Essington put the game out of reach when he rifled a quick pass to Kevin Norrell, who turned the short reception into a 42-yard touchdown streak up the sideline, dodging several defenders on the way to a 42-17 lead for the Seawolves.
Stony Brook will look for its third straight victory next Saturday when they host Saint Anselm on October 15 at 6 p.m.
