Nov. 10: Senior wide receiver Mike O'Donnell caught six passes for 101 yards and senior quarterback Brad Heil completed 26 passes for 366 yards and three touchdowns, as the St. Lawrence University football team celebrated a 24-13 victory over WPI in the 2007 season finale. Both O'Donnell and Heil broke University records on Saturday, with O'Donnell becoming the school's all-time leading receiver and Heil setting the mark for passing yards in a season.

 

The Saints, who finish the season with an overall mark of 4-5, trailed WPI early in the second quarter by the score of 6-0 after the Engineers covered 90 yards on 9 plays for the game's first touchdown 3:46 into the second quarter. WPI used a 40 yard run by Aaron Champagne to land on the St. Lawrence 8 yard line, and scored two plays later when quarterback Rob Pantalone rushed up the middle for a two yard score. However, Mike Butler's extra point try failed, keeping the score at 6-0.

 

St. Lawrence looked to respond on the following drive, but Heil fumbled the hand-off with junior fullback Carl Festa, and the Engineers recovered ending the drive. However, after the Saint defense came up with a three-and-out, the home team was able to get on the score board when junior kicker Matt Popov connected with a 25 yard field goal to cut the deficit in half, 6-3. The Saints again looked to be in business inside the red zone, but WPI's defense showed some outstanding tackling ability and kept the Scarlet and Brown out of the end zone.

 

After the Saints' defense sacked Pantalone on a 4th down-and-6 try, the offense worked the ball down the field to the WPI 17 yard line. However, Popov's 34 yard field goal missed wide left, and the Engineers carried a 6-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.

 

It was again the home team's defensive corps that gave their offense the ball in great field position, as seniors Josh Hodges, Matt Manchester and Robert Bracho's work along the defensive line forced another three-and-out for the WPI offense. This time, St. Lawrence's offense wouldn't be stopped, as sophomore running back Connor Hackett carried the ball for a 32 yard gain down to the WPI 1 yard line, and two players later, Heil found a wide open Festa along the goal line for the touchdown to put St. Lawrence ahead 9-6. Popov added the extra point to make the score 10-6 with 12:34 remaining in the third quarter.

 

The Engineers were unable to move the chains on their ensuing possession, but an interception by WPI's Andrew Sides gave the visitors the ball back on the St. Lawrence 49 yard line. Behind a nine play drive that lasted 4:04, WPI regained the lead on an 8 yard touchdown run by running back George Chyoghly used a block and found the end zone at 8:51 of the third. Derek Pszybysz added the extra point to put the Engineers on top 13-10.

 

With the ball back in Heil's hands at his own 40 yard line, the senior went to work and completed all five of his passes on a nine play, 60 yard drive, capped off by a three yard touchdown pass to sophomore Anthony Patterson to give the Saints the lead for good, as Popov added the extra point to make the score 17-13.

 

After the Scarlet and Brown's defense forced the Engineers to punt again, Heil's offense came on the field at their own 20 yard line. After two plays went for very little yardage, the Saints called a beautiful wide receiver screen pass to Heil's left, with the pass going to senior Troy Lassial. Lassial made a cut up-field at his own 27 yard line and, using his speed, beat the defense to the open space and took the pass in for a 78 yard touchdown that, along with Popov's extra point, capped the game's scoring at 24-13 and ensured the Saints' football class of 2008 a win in their final game at Leckonby Stadium.

 

Protecting an 11 point cushion, St. Lawrence's defense dug their heels in and kept WPI's triple-option offense under wraps. Senior Ben Buskey, who finished with a team-high 10.0 tackles and 1.5 sacks, anchored the defense and made sure that his team was ringing the victory bell following the contest.

 

St. Lawrence finished with 517 yards of total offense on 74 plays, while WPI gained 292 yards on 71 offensive plays. O'Donnell finished with six catches, moving him into first place on the all-time receiving list in

St. Lawrence University history with 135 career grabs, passing John Crandall. He also finishes his career with 2,396 yards, the most ever by a St. Lawrence wide receiver. Meanwhile, Heil finished the 2007 season with 18 touchdown passes, only one short of the school mark, and gained a new University record 2,157 yards through the air.

 

The game was the final collegiate football game for 16 St. Lawrence University seniors, including Brandon Bates, Bracho, Buskey, Brad Crocker, O'Donnell, Heil, Lassial, Hodges, Matt Sivright, Rob LaMere, Judin Pierre Louis, Andrew Ross, Brett Young, Charles Cannan, Manchester, and Sean McElduff.