A Storybook Return For Lancers' Bumpus
By John Johnson, Globe South Notebook
October 10, 2013
Worcester, MA --- Earlier this season, forced to the sideline with a high ankle sprain, Kevin Bumpus watched as his backup, Pat Viencek, threw the go-ahead touchdown pass with 37 seconds remaining to lift the Worcester State football team to a thrilling 15-14 victory over city rival WPI.
But the return of Bumpus to the Lancer lineup was more dramatic still.
The 6-foot-2 junior from Bridgewater drove the Lancers 58 yards in 64 seconds, finding Arron Witkus for a 15-yard touchdown with no time remaining on the clock for a wild 64-63 win over Massachusetts Maritime Academy.
"I've never been part of a game-winning drive like that before," said Bumpus, who began his college career at Assumption, starting seven games as a freshman there, before his transfer to Worcester State. "It was pretty cool. I was just trying to stay calm."
The Bridgewater-Raynham High grad had entered the game in the second quarter, with the Lancers staring at a 41-14 deficit. But in a little more than two quarters of play, Bumpus completed 22 of his 33 passes for 333 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns. He also rushed for a 2-yard TD on Worcester's first series of the second half.
"He's a take-charge kind of guy and stays cool under pressure," said Worcester State coach Brien Cullen.
"I knew we could move the ball on that final drive,'' Cullen continued. "Kevin didn't take the temptation of trying to throw the long ball. That's not his deal. He likes the underneath kind of stuff and kept his cool getting little chunks at a time. Then he made the big throw at the end to win it."
Bumpus threw TD strikes of 60, 5, 38, 18, and 15 yards, leading the Lancers to 44 unanswered points in a game that set three NCAA Division III records: The two teams accounted for 1,385 yards, 89 first downs, and 230 total plays.
"I've only been part of one last final drive before," said Bumpus.
"It was at Assumption and I kind of blew it, so I was just trying to take what the defense gave me. I think we hit four or five 10-yard passes where the receiver got right out of bounds. I was just taking the little dump-off passes and not forcing anything."
The 21-year-old Bumpus, who attended Bridgton Academy after graduating from B-R in 2010, spent most of last season on the bench after his transfer from Assumption, where he threw five TD passes and rushed for five more.
He claimed the starting position at Worcester State last spring and threw for a school-record 427 yards in a 34-6 season-opening win over Anna Maria, earning the weekly Division 2-3 Gold Helmet from the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.
In two games, Bumpus has completed 58.4 percent (52 of 89) of his passes, with nine TD passes and no interceptions.
He credits his effectiveness under center to reading the defense better and spending more time watching film.
"This year I've just focused on my reads," he said. "I never did that as a younger quarterback. If my first read wasn't there, I was going to tuck it and run."
Fifth-year senior defensive back Adam Straughn is in the midst of a stellar season on defense. The 6-foot, 220-pound Rockland High grad is leading the team with 33 tackles entering Saturday's matchup against Fitchburg State, including two for minus yardage. He has also blocked two kicks and recovered a fumble. Straughn qualified for a medical redshirt after missing the 2011 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
"He's not the fastest or the strongest guy on the field, but he's probably the toughest," said Cullen. "He goes about his business quietly, and you realize what a great game he had when you look at the stat sheet."
That was the case against WPI, when Straughn contributed a team-high 12 tackles, including 10 solo stops. He also blocked an extra point and recovered a fumble, earning ECAC Northeast Division III Defensive Player of the Week and D3football.com Team of the Week honors.
Last season Straughn had 57 tackles, two interceptions, one sack, a fumble recovery, and four blocked kicks.
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