By Jen Toland, College Beat Writer
October 4, 2013
Worcester, MA --- Worcester State senior receiver AJ Scerra of Marlboro cramped up in the fourth quarter of the Lancers' epic clash with Mass. Maritime last Saturday and was sitting on the bench when teammate Kevin Bumpus threw the winning touchdown pass to Arron Witkus.
"I couldn't stand up without both of my legs starting to cramp up," Scerra said, "so I was trying to see between the guys on the sideline. I heard an 'ooh' and an 'ah' initially and then everyone started cheering so I assumed he caught it and it was just surreal."
The Lancers came back from a 41-14 deficit to win, 64-63.
Before he went out, Scerra caught 11 passes for 118 yards and a TD — one of 18 in the game — and became Worcester State's all-time receptions leader (170) in the process.
"He's had a great career for us," Lancers coach Brien Cullen said. "He's like our Wes Welker."
The 5-foot-6 Scerra, a two-year captain who has never missed a game, has thrived underneath in Worcester State's offense. He has a team-high 29 catches this season for 309 yards and a pair of TDs. He ranks third on the Worcester State all-time list with 2,140 receiving yards and is tied for second with 21 receiving touchdowns.
"First and foremost, what I do is a product of the system," Scerra said. "I've had some success with it and I owe it all to the system and our coaching staff and having the trust to give me the ball a decent amount in games."
Cullen, in his 31st year as coach, said he's never been part of a game as wild as last Saturday's. In the 2001 ECAC Northeast Bowl, the Lancers scored three times in less than three minutes to beat Curry, 36-35, "but this thing was like basketball on grass," Cullen said. "It was just crazy."
The Lancers are 3-1 heading to their bye.
Lancer laurels
Not surprisingly, the Lancers racked up some weekly honors.
Bumpus, Worcester State's junior quarterback who tied a program record with five TD passes, was named MASCAC and ECAC Division 3 Northeast Offensive Player of the Week.
Sophomore cornerback Brian Gencarelli, who had 11 tackles and two interceptions, was selected MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week and ECAC Division 3 Northeast Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
The offensive line of Mac Hanlon, Tim Laramee of Shrewsbury, Chris Burley of Oxford and Ryan Filliger and Zachary Pappas of Worcester, which did not allow a sack in 64 pass attempts and cleared the way for Worcester State's best rushing performance of the season (136 yards), was tabbed to the D3football.com Team of the Week.
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