Justin Witherspoon
Western Connecticut State University football needed a big play on defense in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s game against UMass-Dartmouth.
Witherspoon, a former Holy Cross High School player, came up with that big play in the 40-27 victory, and he was recognized as the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
With the Colonials leading 27-20, Witherspoon intercepted a 2nd and 10 pass at his own 3-yard line and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown. The extra point from Jordan D’Onofrio made the score 34-20 WCSU with 10:53 to go in the game. The interception return tied a school record set in 1994.
Witherspoon’s pick-six turned out to be a huge play, given UMass-Dartmouth again cut the WCSU lead to seven points, 34-27, with 7:58 remaining. Happily for Witherspoon and his Colonial teammates, Kyle McKinnon scored his third touchdown of the game at the three-minute mark to make the score 40-27.
Witherspoon, a junior cornerback, had three total tackles in the game (2 solo, 1 assist), but it was his pick-six that helped WCSU remain undefeated (4-0).
Witherspoon wasn’t the only former Crusader to have a good day Saturday.
Joe Kalosky
The former Holy Cross signal-caller lit up the skies over Endicott’s Walter M. Katz Field last Saturday evening, throwing a career-high five touchdown passes in a 52-22 win for the Gulls over Curry College.
Kalosky completed 19 of his 29 pass attempts for 245 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. His five touchdown passes tied for the second-highest total in a single game for Endicott.
Early in the second quarter, Kalosky connected with Christian Cole on a 25-yard touchdown pass. Nick DiCairano’s extra point put the Gulls up 10-0 with 14:48 left until halftime, but Kalosky was just getting started.
The right-handed quarterback slung a 12-yard touchdown pass to Shea McManaway, and the DiCairano kick had Endicott ahead 17-7 with 4:20 to go until halftime. The second Kalosky touchdown pass came just 39 seconds after Curry scored to cut the deficit to 10-7.
Kalosky and McManaway teamed up again in the third quarter, this time on a 22-yard scoring strike. After the DiCairano kick, Endicott led 24-9 with 13:21 left on the third quarter clock.
The Colonels cut their deficit to 24-22 with 2:11 left in the third quarter, but Kalosky helped the Gulls put the game out of reach with 28 unanswered point. Kalosky and McManaway connected for a third touchdown, this time 17 yards, and DiCairano’s kick put Endicott ahead 31-22 with 14:53 to play in the game.
The Gulls added a touchdown on a 65-yard fumble return, then Kalosky threw his fifth and final touchdown pass, this one 55 yards to Cole. DiCairano’s seventh extra point without a miss made the score 45-22 at the 8:37 mark. The Gulls added another touchdown late for the game’s final margin. Endicott improved to 3-2 with the victory.
Jenna Skerritt
The Colonials were very happy to have this Wolcott native back in their lineup against Albertus Magnus on Tuesday.
Skerritt, a senior setter, tallied match-highs of 32 assists and five aces in the 3-0 WCSU victory. After the match, head coach Don Ferguson heaped praise on the former Wolcott High standout.
“It was nice to have our floor general back on the court tonight,” Ferguson said in a story on the team website. “Jenna is experienced in the middle and sets up hitters with quality attempts. Nicolina [Chenard] and Skylar [Kellam] filled in nicely for us the last four matches, but I am sure they prefer the return to their normal positions tonight.”
Skerritt also contributed two kills and a block assist in her return to the lineup. WCSU improved to 9-8 with the win.
Dathan Hickey
With Bristol Central supporters in attendance at the Yale Bowl to cheer him on, the former Ram made his his first as a Yale Bulldog against the Maine Black Bears this past Saturday.
The freshman strong safety played well, logging four total tackles (3 solo, 1 assist) and a pass breakup in the 35-14 victory.
“Great day at the Yale Bowl watching Dathan in his first start at safety! #ramstrong #StudentAthlete” tweeted Bristol Central principal Pete Wininger.
Student-athlete describes the former National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete perfectly.
Hickey wasted no time getting involved in the game. His first tackle came on Maine’s first play from scrimmage. Hickey had two of his tackles wiped out by Black Bear penalties.
Yale improved to 2-1 on the season. Hickey has played in all three games and tallied nine total tackles.
Kaylee Hale
Sacred Heart University rugby has won two straight matches, and Hale played a part in both victories.
Hale was particularly solid in the first win, a 71-5 shellacking of Castleton on Sept. 22. She was 5-of-6 on conversion kicks and also had one try for five points. Late in the opening quarter, Hale brought the ball over the touchline for a try, then made the conversion kick to garner all seven points.
Hale had three more conversion kicks in a 46-29 win over Colby Sawyer this past Saturday.
Statistics and information compiled from the team website of each athlete.