Box Score
NEW LONDON, Conn. – Alex Cohen threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Wallace with 21 seconds left leading Anna Maria to a come-from-behind 29-24 win over host Coast Guard.
Coast Guard took a 24-17 lead on a 67 yard touchdown pass from Tafari Wall to Damaso Jaime with 55 seconds left in the third quarter.
The AMCATS (2-1) responded on the next play when backup quarterback Matthew Sapere threw a 63-yard touchdown to Deandre Wallace with 40 seconds left, but Ryan Vigo blocked the extra point and the Bears led 24-23.
Coast Guard (2-2) took over with 3:21 left in the game and appeared to pick up a first down at midifield, but a penalty would eventually lead to a punt giving Anna Maria the ball back at their own 25 with 1:36 left.
Anna Maria moved the ball into Coast Guard territory before a key 3rd and 10 completion to Malik Kirnon moved the ball to the Coast Guard 27. Following a spike to stop the clock, Cohen found Wallace, who made a catch in double coverage. The two-point pass was failed.
Coast Guard moved the ball into AMCAT territory on a 34-yard pass to Jaime at the 41 yard line. A huge sack by Jude Sampson with three seconds left gave the Bears one last chance, but the final pass was incomplete to end the game.
Anna Maria finished with 374 total yards, 311 passing and 63 rushing while the Bears had 424 yards of offense, 272 passing and 152 rushing.
Cohen was 14 of 31 for 227 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions while Sapere was 5 of 8 for 84 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Wallace had four catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns while David Robinson had four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown for the AMCATS.
Wall was 19 of 32 for 272 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Jaime had two receptions for 101 yards and a score.
Jared Colletti led the Bears with 28 carries for 111 yards and touchdown and he also had six receptions for 88 yards and a score.
William Price, Ethan Lasher and Noah Greene all had interceptions for Coast Guard.
Anna Maria scored on the opening possession of the game on a 19-yard touchdown from Cohen to Robinson for a 7-0 lead with 11:39 left in the first quarter.
Finnegan Hall booted a 40-yard field with 6:50 left in the opening quarter to cut the deficit to 7-3.
The play of the first half came when Coast Guard was attempting a 49-yard field goal, but it was blocked by Jude Sampson and returned 60 for a touchdown by Donavin Johnson for a 14-3 lead 43 seconds left in the first quarter.
Colletti's 1-yard run with 10:52 left in the half made the score 14-10.
Anna Maria closed the first half scoring on a 24-yard field goal by Ryan Kent with 8:31 left as the AMCATS led 17-10 at the half.
Coast Guard would score on its first possession of the second half when Wall hit Colletti with a 49-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 17-17 with 10:54 left in the third.
The Bears are back in action next week when they open New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play against Norwich with the Mug on the line.
