Slow start, but fast finish for St. Mary’s

LYNN – Coming off a two-point win last week, and facing a team that had lost a trio of close games in recent weeks, it was understandable that St. Mary’s got off to a sluggish start Saturday against Williams.Williams8St. Mary’s48 But the Spartans overcame it by controlling the last three quarters en route to a 48-8 rout of the Bishops during which Todd Collier eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark.Williams (2-6), with back Alex Furtado running on nine of the 10 plays (including the touchdown) drew first blood, taking an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.That was all. Nick Day – in action after missing last week due to injury – returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards for a TD, and Ryan Barrows added conversion.”It was good to get him back,” said St. Mary’s coach Matt Durgin. “We came out a little flat, and the return gave us momentum. We played better form that point on.”After a missed Williams field goal, St. Mary’s (8-1) took over at its 20, and utilized the three-headed hydra of Day, Collier, and Barrows to bring the ball downfield (the Spartans did not pass once during the contest).Collier (8-127) brought the team to midfield on a nine-yard run, while Day (6-75) added a 12-yarder moments later to put the ball on the 33. Day gave the Spartans the lead (16-8) for good two plays later, cutting through the Bishops defense for a 36-yard score.St. Mary’s extended its lead with Day’s 18-yard run setting up Barrows’ score late in the half, making the score 24-8.”Those three backs are just too much, and they’re too good,” Bishops coach Bill Kinsherf said of Day, Collier, and Barrows (7-26).Collier capped off a 3-play, 49 yard drive with his 31-yard score early in the third quarter, and Javier Gonzalez (one-yard run) and Cory Donahue (39-yard run) added touchdowns for the Spartans.Collier went over the 1,000-yard barrier midway through the final period, running along the far sidelines for a 28-yard gain to the Spartan 46.”Anytime you get over 1,000 (yards), it’s a great honor,” said Durgin. “It’s definitely a team thing. Todd’s a very talented, but it’s also a credit to the offensive line, and it’s something that the whole team can share.”