MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 25, 2021) -- The aerial attack of Saint Anselm proved to be too much to handle for the Franklin Pierce University football team on the road at Grappone Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Sophomore Drew Willoughby threw for 370 yards and a trio of touchdowns, as the host Hawks rang up a 42-7 win over the visiting Ravens in the Northeast-10 Conference contest. Franklin Pierce did post 177 rushing yards on the day, but was outgained in total offense, 453-276.

With the loss, Franklin Pierce falls to 0-4 (0-2 NE10), while Saint Anselm improves to 1-2 (1-1 NE10).

Saint Anselm found the end zone twice early, to build a 14-0 lead just 4:07 into the game. Willoughby came out firing, as he hit sophomore Blaine Burkhalter for a 50-yard touchdown pass on just the third play from scrimmage. Just over three minutes later, the Hawks covered 49 yards in just four plays, capped by a 13-yard touchdown rush by junior Vincent Wagner.

The two early scores would be the only points of the first half, as Saint Anselm held the 14-0 lead into the halftime break. The floodgates opened on the other side of the intermission, as the Hawks put the ball in the end zone four times in the third quarter to open up a 42-0 lead. First, Willoughby capped a nine-play, 83-yard drive with a one-yard scoring plunge. He then hit junior Anthony Brown for a 68-yard touchdown pass and found sophomore Cade Horton for 16 yards and a score. Brown closed out the busy quarter with a 62-yard punt-return touchdown, the second return touchdown against the Ravens in four weeks to open the season.

Franklin Pierce got its only points of the day in the fourth quarter, on a three-yard touchdown rush from freshman Michael Joyce (Wayne, N.J.), the first score of his collegiate career.

Junior EJ Burgess (Pearland, Texas) rushed for 77 yards on 19 carries (4.1 yards per rush) to lead the way on the 177-yard rushing day for the Ravens. Sophomore Drew Campanale (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and freshman Cole Alexander (Anderson, Ind.) combined to go just 10-for-23 through the air, for 99 yards and an interception. Freshman Trey Sejour (Everett, Mass.) made a team-best seven tackles (two solo) and hurried the quarterback once.

It was all about Willoughby for Saint Anselm. The sophomore went 23-of-40 for 370 yards and the three touchdown passes. His favorite targets were Brown, who collected five catches for 101 yards and a score, and Horton, who made five receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. Senior Ryan Sullivan chalked up a game-high 13 tackles (seven solo), including one sack.

The Ravens return home for an NE10 contest next Saturday, Oct. 2, when they host Assumption at 1 p.m. at Sodexo Field.