By Joe Taft // Sept. 9, 2018 //

It was a night filled with squandered opportunities.

The Curry College Colonels football team converted only 2 of 12 third-down plays and mustered just a single touchdown in falling to the MIT Engineers Friday night at Walter M. Katz Field, 16-6.

“We played a really good football team here tonight and we gave them a hard-fought game,” said Curry head coach Skip Bandini. “I’m proud of our effort.”

Curry seemed to be one big play away from a major momentum shift all game, but was repeatedly unable to cash in. Trailing by just 7 at the half, the Colonels’ Cameron Sass intercepted a pass in the third quarter. However, the Curry offense went 3-and-out to hand the ball back to MIT, which eventually proceeded to find the end zone and double its lead.

The Colonels finally scored on their next drive thanks to a 26-yard pass from quarterback Nick Juvelier to wide receiver Nick Villanueva. However, the ensuing extra-point attempt by Cody Sughrue was blocked.

The Engineer defense forced a safety in the fourth quarter to seal the game, 16-6. Juvelier did march his team down the field on its last drive with a seven-yard rush of his own and five completions. But the last-ditch effort ended in a lost fumble at midfield by Villaneuva with 1:14 to go. It was Curry’s second lost fumble of the game.

Juvelier finished 15-of-25 on completions, throwing for 179 passing yards and one touchdown. Villanueva made four catches for 75 yards, while Zach Levy led the ground game with 34 yards on just 7 carries.

“I absolutely love these kids here at Curry,” said Bandini. “You can see it in their eyes that they want to win. Sometimes a few just don’t fall your way.

“We had a couple of drops today. It happens. That’s how this game works.”

Up Next

Curry (1-1) will need more from its offense this coming Saturday, Sept. 15, when it hosts Anna Maria College at 1 p.m. That shouldn’t be too hard given that the Amcats have allowed 89 points in two games, both losses, this season.

It will be the Colonels’ third straight home game to open the season.