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Date: September 21, 2002
Contact: Bill Sodoma

 

Colby football loses opener to Trinity

HARTFORD, Conn. --

The Trinity College football team opened up a 10-0 halftime lead and then held on for a 17-10 season opener victory over Colby College on Saturday.

Trinity junior running back Tom Pierandri had two touchdown runs, including a 4-yard scoring run with 12 minutes, 13 seconds left in the game to give the Bantams a 17-3 lead. Pierandri had 24 carries for 72 yards as Trinity had a 135-39 advantage in rushing over the Mules.

After Trinity (1-0) took the 10-0 halftime lead, Colby (0-1) got a 23-yard field goal from first-year kicker John Goss (St. John's Shrewsbury/Shrewsbury, Mass.) with 7:33 left in the third quarter.

Pierandri put the Bantams up by two touchdowns with his 4-yard touchdown run with 12:13 remaining. Colby tightened things up with 5:09 to play when sophomore running back Aaron Stepka (Farmington/Farmington, Conn.) ran in from 3 yards out. The Mules, despite some chances in the final five minutes, could not get the tying touchdown.

Most of Colby's offense came from the passing game. Junior quarterback Robert Lippert (Cony/Augusta, Maine) was 23-for-39 for 222 yards. Senior tight end Ian MacPherson (Waltham/Waltham, Mass.) caught seven passes for 80 yards and senior wide receiver Lee Carlson (Braintree/Braintree, Mass.) had seven catches for 69 yards.

Senior linebacker Luke Webster (Manchester/Manchester, N.H.) led Colby's defense with seven tackles. Senior defensive back Alex Burgess (Manchester/Manchester, Mass.) added six unassisted tackles and senior captain Mike Moran (Manchester West/Bedford, N.H.) was credited with five unassisted stops.

The Mules will have their home opener on Saturday, September 28, at 1:30 p.m. against Middlebury College.

Trinity 17, Colby 10

Colby (0-1) 0 0 3 7 10

Trinity, Conn. (1-0) 0 10 0 7 17

SCORING

2. 13:18 TC- Thomas Pierandri 13 run (Skip Sullivan kick)

9:40 TC- Sullivan 32 field goal

3. 4:01 C- Jon Goss 23 field goal

4. 12:13 TC- Pierandri four run (Sullivan kick)

7:04 TC- Aaron Stepka three run (Goss kick)

TEAM STATS

Colby Statistic Trinity

17 First Downs 15

31-39 Rushes-yards 44-135

39-23-1-222 Passing (att-comp-int-yds) 17-11-0-177

65 Return yards 59

5-36.4 Punts-avg. 4-37.8

2-1 Fumbles-lost 1-1

7-55 Penalties-yards 3-30

23:52 Time of Poss. 33:21

RUSHING

C- Aaron Stepka 21-29, Lee Carlson 1-8, Don Williams 2-2, B. L. Lippert 7-0.

TC- Thomas Pierandri 24-72, Brian Fabrizio 15-57, Greg Ward 3-8, Bradley Soules 1-2, Matt Glasz 1-(-4).

PASSING

C- B. L. Lippert 23-39-1-222.

TC- Greg Ward 11-17-0-177

RECEIVING

C- Ian MacPherson 7-80, Lee Carlson 7-80, Thomas Wilson 4-34, Pat Conley 3-19, Chris Duncombe 1-11, Steve Markesich 1-9.

TC- Bradley Soules 2-50, Tom Pierandri 2-19, Pat Straub 2-13, Brian Fabrizio 1-26, Jake Sexton 1-22, Sean Clare 1-22, Joe Pugh 1-13, Drew Finkeldey 1-12.