Brown Stuns Stony Brook 21-20
Sunday, September 18, 2011
As is the case every year, the Brown Bears and their Ivy League brethren have to wait for what seems like an eternity to open up their season. While most college football programs have two or three games already under their belts, Ivy teams have to wait until mid to late September to play their season-openers. For Brown, it was worth the wait.
The Bears went to Stony Brook, New York Saturday and came away with a thrilling 21-20 victory to start off the 2011 campaign in fine fashion.
After both teams failed to score on their opening drives, the Seawolves managed to put 3 on the board with 4:37 to go in the first quarter when Wesley Skeffington connected on a 38-yard field goal following a 10-play drive which covered 62 yards.
The Brown offense would answer on its next drive. Led by first team All-Ivy quarterback Kyle Newhall-Caballero (22-37 for 292 yards, 3 TD, O INT), Brown needed just 3 plays to cover 67 yards and get into the end zone. Newhall-Caballero connected with fellow senior Alexander Tounkara-Kone (7 receptions for 149 yards, 2 TD) on a 38-yard strike to make it 7-3 Brown with 3:28 to go in the first.
Stony Brook would answer Brown’s scoring drive with one of its own. The Seawolves capped off a 10-play 82-yard drive when back-up quarterback Kyle Essington ran one in from 18 yards out to make it 10-7 Stony Brook just 6 seconds into the second quarter.
That would remain the score at halftime. Stony Brook would then add to its lead midway through the third when Miguel Maysonet (153 yards rushing) ran one in from 26 yards out to put the Seawolves up 10.
Brown went 3 and out on the ensuing drive but caught a big break on 4th down when Stony Brook’s Jordan Gush fumbled the punt return giving the Bears the ball at the Seawolves’ 46-yard line.
Brown offensive coordinator Frank Sheehan then called for some trickery as the Bears ran a flea-flicker to perfection. Newhall-Caballero handed the ball off to Mark Kachmer (30 yards rushing) who quickly tossed it back to his quarterback. Newhall-Caballero then lofted a perfect pass to a wide open Tounkara-Kone for the 46-yard touchdown to pull Brown to within 3 once again 17-14.
Stony Brook extended its lead to 6 on a 32-yard field goal by Skeffington with 8:58 to play in the 4th quarter. That’s when Newhall-Caballero and the Bears offense mounted a methodical 12-play, 57-yard drive.
Aided by a couple of Stony Brook penalties, the Bears receivers came up with some big catches as Jonah Fay and Kenny Newcomer made some big first down receptions. Then, on second and goal from the 12, Newhall-Caballero hit Tellef Lundevall (8 receptions for 68 yards, 1 TD) for the go-ahead touchdown with 3:06 remaining in the game.
Stony Brook had a chance to win the game on its final drive which started at their own 45-yard line. But Bears senior co-captain Kyle Rettig made a couple of big plays to lead his defense which forced Stony Brook to attempt a go-ahead field goal of 55 yards. Skeffington’s kick came up well short of the goalposts and the Bears celebrated a hard-fought victory on opening night.
14th year head coach Phil Estes is now 10-4 in season-openers at Brown.
Things should get more exciting next Friday when the Bears travel to Harvard for their Ivy League opener at Harvard Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.
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