BY KEVIN DIFFILY // OCT. 10, 2012 //

The 2012 Curry Colonels football team certainly has a flair for the dramatic.

Senior receiver Rob Bambini has scored late touchdowns for Curry on numerous occasions this season. // COURTESY OF CURRY ATHLETICS //

Following two 17-7 losses to open the season, the Colonels have seen their last four games decided by a touchdown or less. Their record was 3-1 during that stretch.

After getting their first win of the season, 34-27 against Westfield State, the Colonels took the field for a Homecoming night game against M.I.T. with massive implications. It was the first conference game of the season, and Curry was looking to establish itself as a conference threat.

After a back-and-forth encounter with a lead change four times late in the game, senior Rob Bambini caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Kevin Fruwith, effectively winning the game for Curry with just 23 seconds left.

The Colonels participated in an equally dramatic game the ensuing week. With a 21-3 lead in the second quarter at Endicott, things seemed to be going well for the Colonels. But Endicott began to rally, starting with a field goal and a touchdown before the end of the first half to diminish Curry’s lead to 21-13.

In the second half, Endicott seized control, scoring three straight touchdowns to gain a 33-21 lead. Having given up 30 unanswered points, it was Curry’s turn to attempt a comeback. A Bambini touchdown catch brought the team to within five points, but Curry could get no closer.

With a 1-1 conference record, Curry headed home to face conference opponent Western New England in what would turn out to be a last-second thriller. The Colonels took a 21-10 halftime lead, but WNE stormed back to make it 21-20 in the third quarter.

After a Bambini touchdown expanded the lead to 28-20, WNE scored consecutive fourth quarter touchdowns, with each two-point conversion attempt failing. Curry trailed 32-28 with just 37 seconds remaining.

For most teams, this would mean death. For the Curry Colonels, however, it just meant the task was a little harder. Fruwith led the offense down the field from its own 35-yard-line, culminating in a 39-yard touchdown catch by Bambini to win the game with just one-second remaining.

In a stretch of thrilling games, the Colonels were able to overcome huge obstacles and emerge victorious in perhaps the most exciting game of them all. This team seems to want to make it difficult on itself, which is both frustrating and captivating, given how exciting its past four games have been.

It’s turning out to be an exciting season for the football team. Can it keep up its recent positive results? If the past has any bearing on the future, we should be in for a wild and successful finish to the season.