Cardinals fall to Campbell in semifinals, 8-0

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Stevens football seemed to playing its toughest brand of football at just the right time with their shutout win over Trinity last week in the quarterfinals. That physical play kept up for the Cardinals in the semis at Gill Stadium in Manchester, only allowing a bruising Campbell team one score over 48 minutes. But, for Stevens, they weren’t able to generate any points as the Cougars used the combination of putting together one scoring drive and controlling the line of scrimmage throughout the game.

The scoring drive for the Cougars came in their opening possession of the third quarter as they went 70 yards in under a minute and a half. Their backup running back Connor Sweeney ran for over 60 yards on the drive after standout back Keegan Mills left the game midway through the second quarter due to injury. Sweeney scored on a 30 yard scamper up the middle off a direct snap. He also added runs of 25 and 13 yards on the efficient Campbell drive. The Cougars added the two-point conversion and led 8-0 with 10:26 left in the third.

“They made some nice adjustments at halftime and had a couple big plays,” said Stevens head coach Paul Silva. “We couldn’t really get anything sustained. Sometimes when you can’t move the ball you gotta give the other team credit because they’re the ones shutting you down. They are well-coached and came to play.”

Stevens’ 1,000 yard-rusher Keaghan McAllister was held to just 30 yards on 14 carries against the stellar Campbell front. Before leaving the game due to injury, Campbell’s Mills ran 13 times for 68 yards. Sweeney ran 25 times for 149 in an impressive relief effort.

Stevens will look to bounce back next year as they only graduate seven seniors after their third consecutive trip to the state semifinals, winning it all in 2016. Campbell moves on to their second consecutive championship after being crowned champs last year. They will face off with top-seeded Monadnock.

WILD SEQUENCE

For much of the game at Gill Stadium, the wind was brutal and the game was a defensive slugfest, leaving the faithful fans with not much to cheer at, but a wild sequence to open the fourth lit a fire in the crowd. On a second and seven for Campbell at Stevens’ 16 yard-line, Cardinals’ Lucas Mudge picked off a pass at his own 10 yard-line and took it 76 yards down the left sideline, following blockers and making cuts before finally getting tripped up at Campbell’s 14 yard-line. However, on the very next play, Stevens tried to strike fast and their pass attempt was picked off by the Cougars, stalling the Cardinals’ momentum and giving it back to the Cougars.

TURNOVERS

In the game, there were a combined six turnovers, with neither team able to score off of them. Campbell coughed up the ball four times (3 fumbles, 1 interception), and Stevens threw two interceptions.

QUOTEWORTHY

Coach Silva: “I knew it was going to be a physical game. Both teams run the ball and I think both teams knew what the other wanted to do.

“People wrote us off two weeks ago at the end of the regular season when we lost four in a row, but I know I didn’t because I’ve watched them all year… we were able to show what we’re made of… these kids work hard. As disappointing as it is, we’ll be back next year… and I think we’ll be heard from again.

 “I feel bad for the kids… to come so close and play defense the way we did against a team like that… I am so proud of them. It’s really hard to get this far and not get to play another week. I wanted another week for these kids… they mean a lot to me.”