The Post University football team trailed Franklin Pierce University by 10 points at around the midway point of the third quarter of Saturday’s Division II game in Rindge, N.H.
For a team that hadn’t won a game in its Division II history (0-16), that deficit could seem insurmountable. On one run, Isaiah Emmanuel turned the momentum in the Eagles’ direction, and they never looked back.
Emmanuel went 76 yards for a touchdown a mere 19 seconds after a Franklin Post touchdown to cut the Post deficit to four points. The Eagles continued their comeback and won, 16-13. The win was the first in the history of Post football’s Division II program.
Simon Burkett and Joshua Tracey completed the Eagle comeback when they connected for a 63-yard touchdown with 4:36 left in the fourth quarter. Aden Caine’s extra point put Post ahead, 16-13.
Imeer Johnson made the defensive play of the game on the preceding Franklin Pierce possession when he forced a fumble after a 17-yard run by Remeillo Hyde. The fumble was recovered by Sabayan Schmitz at the Eagle 37 with 4:46 to go. Burkett and Tracey connected for their touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive. Tracey made a terrific over-the-shoulder grab of Burkett’s deep ball at the Franklin Pierce 32 and raced the rest of the way down the Raven sideline for Post’s go-ahead score.
Franklin Pierce got to Post’s 26-yard line in the final minute, but a rush for no gain and a pair of incompletions brought a timeout with 18 seconds to play. On 4th and 10 from the 26, a Raven pass fell incomplete, and the Eagles had clinched their first Division II victory.
Caine made an 18-yard field goal with 14:54 left in the second quarter for a 3-0 Post lead. Franklin Pierce scored on a six-yard Alex Benitez run and Nolan Startzell extra point for a 7-3 lead with 10:08 to go until halftime. The teams went into their locker rooms with the score still 7-3. Benitez scored again from a yard out with 8:02 left in the third quarter for a 13-3 Raven advantage.
Emmanuel led Post with 160 yards rushing on 14 carries. Michael Gabettie had a monster game on defense with 17 total tackles, including 16 solo. Albert Curran forced a fumble that was recovered by Jah-Quinn Wembley. Zachary Jones and Jaylen Kelley also recovered fumbles.
The locals: Waterbury natives Dre Yeldell and Rashaun Mitchell each played on defense for Post. Yeldell had a solo tackle while Mitchell assisted on a tackle. Fellow Waterbury natives Matt Velasquez, RJ Damato and Jeremiah Mahlori are also listed on the roster.
