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CRUSADERS EDGE PATRIOTS ON LAST MINUTE TOUCHDOWN IN DREAM BOWL III
Virginia Beach, VA – After consecutive blowouts in the first two Dream Bowl games, the most
recent edition of the premier small college football game was decided in the final moments
keeping the enthusiastic crowd on the edge of their seats to the very end. On a beautiful day in
Virginia Beach, the Dream Bowl Crusaders led by Head Coach Jordan Neal, Offensive
Coordinator at Hendrix College, defeated the Dream Bowl Patriots 28-27. The Patriots under
first time Dream Bowl Coach Custavious Patterson, current Quarterbacks Coach at Wagner
College, led for most of the game and gave their supporters plenty to cheer about for 59 minutes.
The winning score, a 9-yard pass from Dream Bowl Offensive MVP Keahn Wallace (Johnson C.
Smith) to Hendrix College’s Casey Caton, came with 59 seconds on the clock and finished off a
dramatic 10 play 78-yard drive.
Prior to the last drive, the Patriots were in control and looking to hold on to the lead they had
forged for most of the game. Coach Patterson and his inspired defense forced turnovers on the
Crusaders first two drives which they turned into a 10-0 first quarter lead. The Patriot running
game dominated in the first half behind Dan Agyeman (Monmouth) who gained 30 yards on 6
carries and Derron Hall of Virginia University of Lynchburg, who converted from defensive
back, for the game. Hall broke the ice for Dream Bowl III when he scored the first of his two 5yard rushing touchdowns to give Patriots the early lead. A Nate Ray (Wisconsin-Oshkosh) 35yard field goal extended the lead and the Patriots had the Crusaders on their heels. However,
Coach Neal, a three-time winning coach at the Dream Bowl, guided his team to a quick response
with an impressive 72-yard drive culminating in a Wallace 3-yard touchdown toss to Jeremiah
Mathis (Fairmount State).
Coach Patterson continued to inspire his offense and with a solid 24-yard run by Hall, the
Patriots moved into field goal range and Ray connected on his second of the game, this time
from 44 yards to extend the Patriots’ lead to 13-7.
The Patriots then forced interceptions the first by Dane Pallotto (Norwich) and the second by
Troy Beckett (Bemidji State) on the next two Crusader drives. Beckett returned the interception
22 yards to the Crusader 14. A penalty moved the ball to the 24 and 6 plays later with a 4th down
and goal at the 5 yard line, Coach Patterson called upon Hall to punch the ball into the end zone.
The Patriot offense led by quarterback Andrew Manley (Eastern Illinois) had a commanding 207 lead with less than two minutes left in the half. The Crusaders took over with 1:42 on the
clock and with the help of three penalties on the Patriot defense found an answer on the final
play of the half as Wallace threw his second touchdown of the game hitting Dylan Potts (West
Liberty) on a 31-yard Hail Mary bomb with no time on the clock. The score at the half was 2014 and the second half was shaping up to be a battle.
The Crusaders carried their momentum into the second half taking the kickoff and driving 82
yards with Wallace adding to his dominating day with a 1-yard touchdown run to give his team
their first lead of the day, 21-20. The defenses for both teams stepped up and the score remained
the same heading in to the final quarter.
The Patriots turned to their offense led by QB Manley who went the whole way for the Patriots.
Manley led them to the go-ahead score on the play of the game with about 10 minutes remaining
in the contest. Under pressure most of the day, he confidently rolled to his right and while on the
run through a perfect pass to Lekendrick Williams (Fresno State) in the back of the end zone for
a 27-yard touchdown. The highlight reel play was indicative of the tremendous talent on display
from both teams at Dream Bowl III.
The Patriots defense held firm at their own 24 yard line as the Crusaders down by 6 went for it
on fourth down. However, a quick 3 and out forced by the Crusader defense gave them the ball
back leading to the late game heroics of Wallace and Caton.
Dream Bowl III was entertaining and hard-fought from the opening kickoff until the final
whistle. However, when the game ended players from both teams gathered together in the
middle of the field and led by Athletes in Action showed their gratitude for the opportunity to
play one final game in front of their family and friends. Celebrations ensued and soon it was
hard to tell which team one and which team lost. In fact, as CFL scouts, Russ Lande and Vince
Magri, remarked, “The real winners today were the players and coaches who showed to the
nation that great players can be found at every level of college football”.
Dream Bowl President Neil Malvone handed out the MVP trophies to the standouts of the game,
Keahn Wallace who finished 25-27 for 219 yards, 3 touchdown passes and one rushing
touchdown; Eric Kabeya (Southern Nazarene) who had a sack and two tackles for loss; and long
snapper, Dan Jordan (Lock Haven) who logged snapping duties for both teams. Other standout
offensive performances included Maurice Lewis (Winston-Salem), a last-minute addition to the
roster who rushed for 87 yards on 13 carries; Manley who was an efficient 14-21 for 170 yards
and the play of the game; Williams who in addition to the touchdown pass caught 5 more balls
for 66 yards; and Phil Baker (Louisiana College) who caught 4 passes for 50 yards. Defensively,
Scott Koen of Buffalo State had a fumble recovery; Blake Jones (VUL) led the Patriots defense
with 7 tackles and a sack while Iffy Asoluka (Monmouth) had 6 tackles for the Patriots. Four
players led the Crusader defense with 4 tackles apiece: Marco Richetti (West Liberty), Adam
McGuire (Texas Lutheran), AJ McRea (Gallaudet), and Payton Rose (Wesley). All the Dream
Bowl players stood out throughout this weekend and Director of Player Personnel, Dan Lococo,
received much of the credit for assembling the teams this weekend.
Dream Bowl IV may be a year away but for Cutting Edge Sports preparation has already begun
as they know it will take a lot to top this year’s Dream Bowl game.
For more information on the Dream Bowl
Please contact Neil Malvone
908-510-0087
[email protected]