Quotes from Coach Denune, Qb Steven Clark, and WR Jimmy Yaitanes

Coach Denune

On the game:
“We played from behind and going with Greg was an easy decision in the fourth quarter. Stevie also had a great game and did everything that you could do. He ran the ball well, and Greg had a great effort. Unfortunately we couldn’t punch the last one in.”

On dealing with injuries to (wide receiver) Jesse Teixiera, and (running backs) Bruce Burley and Teigan Pina:
“I think that players like (receivers) McGrail and Joyce, and running backs Williams and Russell have really stepped up their level of play and matured quickly. They went out there and played well against one of the best teams in New England.”

One good thing about the offense this week:
“The receivers made big plays in the passing game and they really stretched the field so that we could run with the football.”

One bad thing about the offense this week:
“I wish we could have scored more points. It was one of our better games although the result wasn’t what we wanted.”

Why didn’t you kick the field goal on fourth and three on the 25 yard-line:
“It was an easy decision, because our kicker quit on us (earlier in the week). DeBruno was 3-3 on PAT’s, but he was just getting them over the upright. From the 25 yard-line, a 34 yard field goal is out of the question. I just thought it was the best thing to do.

Defensive performance:
“I couldn’t be happier with the defenses effort. They played well and they played hard as a unit and they had to deal with a special athlete in QB George.”

Will you be focusing on anything on practice this week?
“We are going to continue to do what we always do; we aren’t going to change much. This was one of our best football games, and we are only going to continue to get better.”

Extra comment:
“I was proud of how they played; they just came out and left it on the football field.”


Junior Starting Quarterback Steven Clark

On the loss:
-“We played our hearts out and we should have had that game, and hats off to Greg for that last drive. He drove us down the field, with not much time on the clock and we just ended up on the short side of a losing battle, but we’ll bounce back this past weekend against Westfield and play out the rest of our season.”

On how players like McGrail-Joyce-Williams-Russell have picked up the pace:
“Although we’ve lost Jesse, he’s a great receiver because he opens a lot of things up, but Joyce and McGrail have definitely stepped it up. They are both our go-to guys in key situations. McGrail had two great catches for touchdowns and Joyce adjusted to what I thought was a bad pass.”
“Williams is a good lead blocker its run blocking, he gets the job done. In losing Bruce, Russell (although he’s a freshman), has done a heck of a job filling in Bruce’s shoes in his absence. I couldn’t be more pleased with him right now. He knows what to do and gets it done.”

On Westfield State next week:
“Westfield always plays us though because everyone is gunning for us”…”It’s just a matter of if we execute it to the best we can or not”…”We (are just going to) take it one week at a time.”


Special team’s player: Jimmy Yaitanes

On the loss:
“Last weekends loss did not feel good. This team has a lot of great talent and we have worked so hard.

On the offense:
“I think the offense played unbelievable. McGrail had a good game and Clarky had some good passes. Chris Joyce had his best game in a Bears uniform and the last drive (of Borsari’s) was not to fail. It’s a tough spot to come into the game cold (passing).”

On bouncing back (versus Westfield):
“It’s always tough to bounce back

On playing the Owls:
“Westfield is a very good team. I think we have a hard week ahead of us, but we don’t like losing. We are going to get it done.”

Extra comment:
“The thing that hurts the most is that everyone on our team rose to the challenge and played the best games I have ever seen. We just came up short.”