RELEASE DATE: 11/01/03

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MOUNTIES TIE SCHOOL RECORD WITH EIGHTH WIN OF SEASON – POOHBEAR McNEAL SCORES A RECORD FIVE TOUCHDOWNS – JOE BENNETT BREAK SINGLE SEASON RECEPTION YARDS RECORD

Mansfield University                       48        Cheyney       24

Mansfield – Poohbear McNeal ran for 175-yards and scored a school record five touchdowns to lead Mansfield to a 48-24 win over Cheyney in a PSAC East contest at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.

Mansfield (8-1, 3-1) -- which has played football since 1891 -- tied the school record for wins in a season (8-0-1, 1946).

“I glad the game is over,” said head coach Chris Woods. “I’m glad it’s over and I’m glad we won. But there are times we didn’t play well and we will have to address those before the final two games of the year.”

McNeal scored on runs of 3, and 1 yards to give Mansfield a 14-0 lead at the end of first quarter. Cheyney got on the scoreboard with a safety early in the second quarter and cut the lead to 14-9 when Charles Johnson caught a five yard pass from Errieck Stewart. McNeal then scored his third touchdown of the half on a five-yard run for a 20-9 halftime lead.

Cheyney (2-7, 0-4) recorded their second safety of the game with a minute into the when they forced quarterback Travis Motley to throw the ball away in the endzone. Ed Giddings than caught a 25-yard pass from Sewart to cut the lead to 20-18 with 10:52 to play in the third quarter.

But Mansfield came roaring back reeling off 28 unanswered points to put the game away. McNeal scored on a 10-yard run before Joe Bennett caught a 60-yard pass from Travis Motley. McNeal broke the school record with 40-yard run with 4:01 to play in the quarter and Bennett caught a 39-yard pass from Motley.

Cheyney scored the games final touchdown on a three-yard run from Clifton Jones with 14:13 to play in the game.

McNeal – who leads the nation in rushing and all-purpose yards – broke the record of four rushing TD set by Robert Funderburke in 1984.

Bennett caught three pass for 119 yards to set a new school singe season reception yardage mark of 999 yards.

“I’m happy for those two”, Woods said. “They both worked hard all season to earn those records and it’s great for them and our program.”

McNeal became the first player in school history to surpass the 1,500 yard mark in a single season and now has 1,618 on the year. He also holds the school record for rushing touchdowns in a season (17) and total touchdowns (18).

Bennett extended his season touchdown reception record to 15.

Freshman Paul Garofalo, who played the entire fourth quarter in place of McNeal, ran for a season high 84 yards on 14 carries. Senior quarterback Travis Motley completed 5-of-12 passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

Senior All-American Dan Holland led the defense with 10 tackles including eight solo. He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss and block a field goal attempt. Sophomore Ronnie Montgomery had nine solo tackles and an interception while also returning two kickoffs for 124 yards.

Freshman Andre’ Turner had seven tackles along with junior nose guard Brian DeCecco.

The Mountaineers face a critical PSAC East match up next Saturday when they travel to division leading Bloomsburg.

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