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MANSFIELD -- The weather might have been awful but it couldn't have been a better afternoon for the Mansfield University football team as the Mountaineers shut out Post University 34-0 in a CSFL game before 521 cold and wet, but happy, fans on Senior Day at Karl Van Norman Field Saturday afternoon.

“I'd say that was a pretty good day,” said head coach Dan Davis. “Senior Day and a shutout makes it about as special as it can get.”

Despite brutal field condition that at times more resembled a mud-bog more than a football field, freshman running back Josh Harrison slogged and bulled his way to a season-high 124 rushing yards and school-record three touchdowns as Mansfield ground out 194-yards rushing while holding Post to a negative 24 yards on the ground.

“Obviously field conditions played a part,” said Davis. “But as a team we played well today and I'm pleased with the way our guys kept their composure.”
The tone of the day was set on the very first series of game. Post received the opening kickoff but was driven back to their own 5-yard line on a third-down sack by senior defensive tackle Cody Croasdale.

The ensuring punt was blocked by Mansfield's Jason Winters and recovered in the end-zone for a touchdown by Robin Hood for a MU touchdown just a minute into the game.

Mansfield got its second score early in the second quarter following an interception by Mountaineer senior cornerback Cedric Ingram at the Post 24-yard line. On Mansfield's first play, freshman quarterback Mike Doyle found fellow freshman wide out Sean Green in the corner of the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead following Sixto Huincho's extra-point kick.

Late in the quarter Mansfield senior Eli Morgan recovered a fumble at the Post 10-yard line and returned eight-yards to the 2-yard line. One play later Harrison punched the ball into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game and Mansfield took a 20-0 lead into halftime after the extra-point attempts was blocked.

Mansfield used good field position to score its fourth touchdown of the game when Ingram returned a Post punt 23 yards and a personal foul on the Eagles on the play gave the Mountaineers the ball 1st and goal from the Post 8-yard line.

Three straight rushes led to a 2-yard plunge on third for a 27-0 Mountaineer lead with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter.

The Mountaineer's final score was also set up by an Eagles turnover on a fumbled punt that was recovered by Mansfield's Evan McCall at the Post 18-yard line. Freshman quarterback Mike Maniscalco hit senior Josh Schrum for a 7-yard gain of the first play of the ensuing series before Harrison burst through the middle for an 11-yard touchdown run.

The Mansfield running attack of Harrison and Mike Doyle, who gained 58-yards on 15 carries, allowed the Mountaineers to hold a 241 to 48 advantage over post in total yardage. Mansfield passed the ball just 12 times with four completions for 47 yards.

While the Mansfield offense was able to control the game on the ground, it was the defense that smothered one of the most explosive offensives in the CSFL.

The defensive line of seniors Glen  Jenkins, Cody Croasdale and Paul Houseknecht combined for a school-record ten sacks of Post quarterback Dewayne Carter. Croasdale recorded 4.5 sacks for the day while Houseknecht had 3 sacks and Jenkins 2.5.

Jenkins and Croasdale also combined for 20 tackles with linebacker Jake Myers adding eight tackles.

It was an impressive performance for the Mountaineer defense. Post had scored 35 points against Penn, 48 points against Princeton, 43 points against Army in their previous three games.

For Post (2-4, 2-4 CSFL), Carter, who was named the CSFL Offensive Player of the Week in two of the last three weeks, completed 9-of-24 passes for 72 yards while being intercepted once.  Kyle Staten rushed for 34 yards.

Kyle Lagasse led the defense with 18 tackles.

Mansfield honored seniors Douglas Bauer, Jake Burdick, Jordan Clark, Cody Croasdale, Mike Dennis, Justin DiMatteo, Paul Houseknecht, Cedric Ingram Jr., Glen Jenkins, Elijah Morgan, Josh Schrum and Kevin Valentine in pregame ceremonies.

Mansfield improves to 2-4 with the win and travels to Cornell Friday evening for the final game of the season.