Big Weekend of College Football for Mansfield Players

It's a big weekend of college football for players from Mansfield.

Mansfield's Tom Gilson will be getting another chance to play in his backyard as the UMass-Amherst football team will be playing the University of New Hampshire, Saturday at Gillette Stadium, in the 2nd Colonial Classic at 3:30 p.m.

The Minutemen are 4-2 on the year. Gilson, a senior wide-receiver, has started three of the six games, appearing in all six, catching 19 passes for 233 yards and a 12.3 average. He is still looking for his first touchdown of the season.

Two local quarterbacks hooked up last week in a game that went down to the wire.

Foxborough's Drew Connolly, a senior, led his Union College football team to a 10-6 win over St. Lawrence and Mansfield quarterback Nik Busharis. On a soggy night at St. Lawrence's Leckonby Stadium, Connolly was 8 for 24 for 97 yards, while Busharis was 8 for 17 for 108 yards. Busharis led a late drive for the win, but was intercepted after moving his team to the Union six-yard line.

Senior quarterback Mark Gilson was 11 for 25 for 91 yards as the Curry College football team lost to Salve Regina, 31-6. Curry will be traveling to Nichols Saturday. Michael Willhauck, a linebacker, and Connor Barry, a fullback, are also on the Colonels.

On the year, Connolly is 105 for 186 with 15 touchdowns, 1,680 yards and seven yards. He also has rushed for three touchdowns. Busharis is 67 for 131 for 766 yards with 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. Foxborough's Tim Mogan is also on the Union team, but he is out for the season with an injury.

Sean Otto, linebacker, Jeremy Burke, wide-receiver and Dan Hershman, wide-receiver, are all playing for Worcester, who will be taking a 4-2 record into Saturday's game at Coast Guard.

Freshman Jamel Marshall and Jeff Hill are seeing action at Bentley University at running back and wide-receiver. Marshall had carried the ball five times for 73 yards, while Hill has six catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Marshall is also seeing action on special teams and has a tackle and two assists. The Falcons will be playing at New Haven Saturday.

Senior Mike Albany is having a big year at linebacker for Bryant University with 21 tackles and 21 assists, four tackles and has broken up two passes. Bryant will be playing at Roger Morris.

Quarterback Tom Romero, wide-receiver David Westhaver and lineman Anthony Tedesco and the Bowdoin College football team will be  at Trinity Saturday after beating Hamilton, 20-7, last week to improve to 4-0.

Linebacker Mike Aldo had two tackles and an assist in Amherst College's 31-7 win over Colby College last weekend. Amherst will be hosting Wesleyan University Saturday.

Fitchburg State captain Will Gasson had a tackle and an assisted on another as the Falcons fell to 2-5 with a 19-7 loss to Mass. Maritime last Saturday. Fitchburg will be at Bridgewater State Saturday.