Bonnies Backs Open Up
vs Syracuse
In a reversal from the last 18 months of play, the St.
Bonaventure backline carried their teammates in the forward pack to a 35-24 win
over Syracuse University on Saturday. Backs Brendan Allman, Ryan Brennan, Kevin
McCorry and Chuck Meagher scored through long breaks in open play. Alex
Brussard and Evan Meister added tries in tight for the Bonnies.
(Photo on Left:) Freshman wing Brendan Allman on
the way to scoring his first try in the Brown and White.
Utilizing favorable field position early on, Pat Hogan broke
a tackle off of the first set play of the match, racing deep into the Syracuse
22-meter line. The Bonnies kept up early pressure, and Evan Meister used an
8-man pick to drive the ball within inches of the try line. Vice Captain
Meister scored moments later after another phase by the forward pack, and the
score was 5-0 early on.
Keeping up the early pressure, runs by Allman and Shea Raff
kept the Hammerhead defense off balance. Off of a lineout, fly half Meagher fed
the ball to Sullivan, who burst through the line for a big gain, before
offloading to his fellow Orchard Park flyer Allman for the try.
Sullivan was only getting started, though. Minutes later a
Syracuse kick hung in the air too long, and the former 8-man Sullivan shrugged
off two arm tackles, collapsing the Hammerhead kick chase and moving the ball 40
meters upfield. Before he could be tackled, Sullivan passed to Ryan Brennan
streaking to the corner. Brennan fended off a would-be tackler and carried the
ball the final 20 meters for the try and early 15-0 lead.
The Bonnies had the opportunity to bust the match wide open,
but woes fielding kickoffs continued to plague the Brown and White. Syracuse
made the score 15-5 midway through the half when a Bonnies scrum on the 5-meter
line went bad, and Syracuse flanker Michael Siler dove on the loose ball in the
try zone.
(Photo on Left:) This powerful run from Justice
Koonce led to Alex Brussard’s try to close first half scoring.]
Looking to answer quickly, the Bonnies used the kicking game
of McCorry and Meagher to pin Syracuse deep under their posts. Strong runs from
Meister and Justice Koonce moved the ball close, and Brussard did the rest of
the work, closing the first half scoring at 22-5.
Another long break by Koonce early in the second half kept
the Bonnies on the front-foot, with McCorry taking the offload from Koonce for
the 27-5 lead.
Syracuse answered again to make it 27-12, which was answered
by another huge Sullivan run, resulting in a McCorry penalty kick and 30-12
score.
(Photo on Right:) Sullivan passes outside to
Brennan after a long break. Moment later Brennan offloaded to Meagher for the
Bonnies sixth try.
A game Syracuse side made the score 30-17 midway through the
second half, but Sullivan was not done. Making his fourth 30-plus meter run of
the day, Sullivan took a kick into Syracuse territory, fed the ball to Brennan,
and Brennan offloaded to Meagher for the Bonnies sixth try and a 35-17 lead.
Syracuse scored one more try once the reserves entered the match, but the
result was no longer in doubt, with the Bonnies winning 35-24.
Scoring
St. Bonaventure (35)
Tries: Evan
Meister, Brendan Allman, Ryan Brennan, Alex Brussard, Kevin McCorry, Charles
Meagher
Conversions:
McCorry 1-6
Penalties:
McCorry 1-1
Syracuse (24)
Tries: Nicholas
Brown (2), Michael Siler, Rafael Stitt
Conversions: Alex
Hodgkinson 2-4