Sea Gulls rout Lions 42-12 in season opener
SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury University football team kicked off the 2007 season with a thunderous 42-12 victory over Albright College before a crowd of 1,488 that witnessed the first official SU varsity game on the new A-Turf field at Sea Gull Stadium.

The Sea Gulls (1-0) scored six touchdowns in their first seven possessions to run away with the non-conference victory. Salisbury scored two touchdowns in the first three quarters and led 28-0 at the half and 42-0 a minute and a half into the third quarter.

Junior quarterback Ronnie Curley scrambled seven times in the first quarter and racked up 102 yards and scored two touchdowns. Curley scored from 11 yards out on the first drive of the season for the maroon and gold. The drive took seven plays and 72 yards in just over three minutes. Curley ran for 61 of the 72 yards in the scoring drive which also featured a 38-yard scamper from the second-year starting signal caller.

SU capitalized on its third possession of the first half as Albright (0-1) gave the Sea Gulls excellent field position after an eight-yard punt placed the Gulls on the Lion’s 34-yard-line. Curley took the first snap and ran 34 yards into the end zone at the 4:28 mark for the score.

The second quarter belonged to junior quarterback Bobby Sheahin who made his debut for the maroon and gold after transferring from the University of Maryland this past August. Sheahin completed his first four passes as a Sea Gull for 89 yards and two touchdowns. Sheahin connected with senior captain David Leonard for a 42-yard score, 31 seconds into the second quarter.

Albright grinded out a 20-play drive, that lasted an astounding 14 minutes. The drive ended with a missed 41-yard field goal attempt that clanked off the crossbar.

Sheahin then marched the Sea Gulls down the field, 76 yards in 10 plays, over the final three minutes and 33 seconds before the half. The junior aired the ball out three times and hit Kevin Tillage twice for a gain of 28 yards and the touchdown catch from 15 yards out. Tillage held onto the strike from Sheahin as he came across the middle of the end zone and got tackled hard with 18 seconds left.

The SU offense threw for 147 yards between the trio of Curley, Sheahin and freshman Sean Kelly (47 yards). The 147 passing yards are the most a Sea Gull team has thrown since October 15, 2005 when Travis Peters threw for 179 yards against Buffalo State.

Senior kicker Brendan Kincaid was a perfect 6-for-6 on point after attempts for the day.

Salisbury began the second half right where it left off as Nick Soussanin took the third quarter kickoff 83 yards in 14 seconds to the end zone for the touchdown. Albright fumbled the ensuing kickoff and senior captain Jamar Garner moments later rumbled in from 28 yards out to give SU the commanding 42-0 lead a minute and a half into the second half.

The SU defense wrecked havoc against the Lion offense as senior captain Chris Loveland led all defenders with five solo tackles and six assists for 11 total tackles. Junior defensive lineman Jarrell Chandler had nine tackles (five solo, four assists) and three sacks against Albright. Chandler had four tackles for a loss that equaled 32 yards. Chandler also blocked Albright’s point after attempt at the 4:43 mark.

Senior captain Joe Galloway had nine tackles (four solo, five assists) as well to go along with his two sacks that Albright lost 13 yards on. The Sea Gulls had nine sacks total for the game and five pass breakups.

Albright quarterback Tanner Kelly was 29-of-40 for 252 yards and two touchdowns. The Lions’ last score came midway through the fourth quarter when Kelly hit Raj Sandher for a 12-yard score.

Salisbury is now 7-2 all-time in season openers under Coach Sherman Wood and 6-3 in home openers. SU is now 20-15 all-time in season and home openers. This was the first meeting between the two schools since 1995 when Albright defeated Salisbury 20-10 in the ECAC Southwest Bowl. The series is now knotted at 1-1.

Salisbury will next open up its Atlantic Central Football Conference schedule with a road game against SUNY Brockport on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Notes: Before the start of the game Salisbury University President Dr. Janet Dudley-Eshbach performed the ceremonial coin toss. This was the first official event on the new A-Turf field at Sea Gull Stadium. The turf was put in place over the summer. View construction photos here.