SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University football team clinched its 14th consecutive winning season and sent its 16-man senior class off on the right foot with a 31-28 win over the Kean Cougars in Friday night's regular season finale at Sea Gull Stadium.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter

• The Sea Gulls received the opening kickoff and needed barely four minutes to find the end zone. A 42-yard pass from Gage Katzenell-Hall to Gabe Williams set SU up on the Kean four yard line, then two plays later Joey Bildstein pounded it up the gut for a two-yard touchdown run to complete the six-play, 63-yard drive and make it 7-0.
• Kean went three-and-out but Salisbury fumbled the ball away on its next drive. With a short field at the SU 41, the Cougars took advantage of two 15-yard defensive penalties and Anthony Summey ran it in from one yard to tie the game at 7-7.

Second Quarter

• Salisbury's next drive stalled at the Kean 32, and a 49-yard field goal attempt from Kollin Samaha fell just short of the uprights on the first play of the second quarter.
• The Cougars made it to midfield before Charles Barley sniffed out a Rocco Pellegrini pass for an interception. Barley fumbled on the play but Chase Lomax was there to recover and give the Sea Gulls the ball at their own 46.
• After the two sides traded three-and-outs, A.J. Butler returned a punt to the Kean 35 to give SU a short field. After a Katzenell-Hall run and pass netted 11 yards, Bildstein ran it three plays in a row, including a 16-yarder to the five and a five-yard plunge for his second touchdown, regaining the lead for Salisbury at 14-7.
• Kean answered with an eight-play, 76-yard drive, highlighted by a 55-yard pass from Pellegrini to Zymir Mobely down to the SU nine. Three plays later Nick Median rand it in from two yards out, tying the score at 14-14.

Third Quarter

• The first three drives of the third ended in punts, with Salisbury eventually taking over at its own 29 at the 10:49 mark. Micah Brubaker started things off with an 18-yard reverse, and after six more runs in a row the Sea Gulls were eventually helped out by a late hit to get into the red zone. Ben Hutchins found the end zone two plays later on a 14-yard run to swing a 21-14 lead back to SU.

Fourth Quarter

• Starting on their own five near the beginning of the fourth, the Sea Gulls got all the way down to the Cougar 18, with the bulk of the yardage coming on a 45-yard strike from Katzenell-Hall to Brubaker. The drive eventually stalled and Samaha connected on a 35-yard field goal to make it a two-possession game at 24-14.
• The Cougars responded by marching 71 yards in 10 plays, aided by a trio of SU penalties. Pellegrini eventually ran it in from two yards out to bring Kean back within one possession at 24-21.
• Salisbury set up its next drive on its own 18, and on the first play Jadyn Thomas broke free for a 65-yard run down to the Kean 17. David Fletcher followed with a 10-yard run, and Bildstein powered it in from seven yards away for his third touchdown of the night, rebuilding the lead to 31-21.
• Kean punched back by going 75 yards in two-and-a-half minutes. Pellegrini hit Matt Vingara in stride for a 44-yard touchdown pass, and the Cougars got within 31-28 with 51 seconds to go.
• The Sea Gulls recovered the ensuing onside kick and Hutchins kneeled down twice to run out the clock.

SALISBURY GAME NOTES

• Salisbury clocked in with 380 total yards of offense, gaining 200 on the ground and a season-high 180 through the air.
• Gage Katzenell-Hall earned his first start at quarterback and completed 8-of-14 passes for 166 yards.
• Ben Hutchins completed his only pass of the game for 14 yards. He also ran it nine times for 43 yards and a touchdown.
• Joey Bildstein rushed 16 times for 53 yards and three touchdowns, giving him 15 trips to the end zone in just six games this season and 40 Sea Gull for his career. Bildstein now ranks sixth in program history with 2,845 career rushing yards, surpassing Randal Smedley '11 (2,793) for sixth place.
• Jadyn Thomas ran it twice for 70 yards, including a 65-yarder late in the fourth quarter to set up SU's final touchdown.
• Gabe Williams caught a pair of passes for 70 yards. Micah Brubaker notched two receptions for 52 yards and also ran it once for 18 yards.
• Casey Counts ran wild on defense to the tune of seven tackles (three solo, three for loss), two sacks, and three quarterback hurries.
• Colin Wargo and Kilo Mack notched five tackles apiece.
• Charles Barley intercepted a pass, forced a fumble, and broke up three passes in addition to his four tackles.
• Ryan Muller recorded four tackles, a sack, and two QB hurries.
• Kollin Samaha hit 1-of-2 field goal attempts, coming up just short from 49 yards out and splitting the uprights from 35.

KEAN GAME NOTES

• Kean totaled 243 yards of offense, including 209 passing yards.
• Rocco Pellegrini went 14-of-33 slinging the football for 209 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also ran for a touchdown.
• Nick Medina rushed for 38 yards and one touchdown, while Anthony Summey also found the end zone on the ground.
• Zymir Mobley and Alex Bryant combined for seven catches and 139 yards. Matt Vingara caught one pass for 44 yards and a TD.
• Tommie Lee Pierson racked up 13 tackles (six solo, 3.5 for loss) and a sack and a half.
• Mier Pittman made seven tackles, while Javohn Arrington added six and recovered a fumble.
• Nick Atchison accounted for four tackles and half a sack.

WRAPPING UP

• Salisbury finishes the regular season with a 6-4 record, tying for second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) with a 4-2 league mark.
• The Sea Gulls have now recorded 14 straight winning seasons dating back to 2010, going 107-38 (.734) during that span.

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Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and men's and women's swimming, and the Coastal Lacrosse Conference for men's lacrosse. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 23 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 196 conference championships, and 45 Academic All-Americans.

To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.