WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Catholic University football team dropped its lone NEWMAC contest of the season on Saturday afternoon in a 35-21 battle with Springfield. With both teams unbeaten in conference play, Saturday afternoon's tilt decided the NEWMAC crown and the automatic qualifier spot in the NCAA Tournament next weekend. 

Trailing 28-21 in the fourth quarter, the Cardinals had two chances to try and tie the contest, but both drives resulted in interceptions, including the pick-six to make it a 35-21 final. 

Catholic moved the ball into Springfield territory on the opening drive and decided to get aggressive with a pass attempt on fourth-and-six, but Nico Casares' pass fell incomplete for Preston Jeffrey. 

The Pride took over on their own 43, traveling 57 yards on 10 plays over 5:56 for the opening score. 

Catholic wasted zero time answering as Casares hit Malachi Hansen for 65 yards on the first play of the ensuing drive. Two plays later, Jared Colletti ran in his fourth touchdown of the year from seven yards out to tie the contest. 

Now with backup quarterback Armando Torres in the contest after starter David Wells suffered an injury on the opening drive, Springfield marched 78 yards in 13 plays, eating up 6:38 of the clock before Torres found Jared Durocher for a 17-yard score to regain the lead. 

Springfield forced a three-and-out before traveling 82 yards on 13 plays to take a 21-7 lead with less than four minutes to play in the first half. 

Catholic responded in due time, needing just 2:25 to move the ball 80 yards. On the first play of the drive, Casares floated it up to Jeffrey who made an incredible adjustment for a 31-yard pickup. On third-and-10, it was Jeffrey again, this time making a nice catch on a corner route to pick up 22 yards and another first down. On first-and-10 from the 16, Casares hit a wide-open Derrick Aikens on a beautifully designed play to cut the deficit to 21-14 heading into the half. 

A pair of long scoring drives ate up the third quarter as Springfield jumped back ahead by two scores on a 43-yard touchdown run from Torres. Catholic ran 13 plays and moved the ball 82 yards in 7:45 to get back within a score on a methodical drive that ended with Casares' second passing touchdown of the game, this one to Sam Cornacchione. 

Kyle Egan forced a turnover on downs with a tackle of Torres short of the sticks on fourth down, setting up a Catholic chance to tie. On third-and-one from the Springfield 28, Casares took a shot down the far sideline for Jeffrey, but Joe Maurer picked it off for Springfield. 

The Cards forced a punt, but on second-and-10 from the Catholic 25, Tyler Pohlman picked off Casares to put the final score on the board in Springfield's favor. 

The Catholic offense was stellar, gaining 356 yards with Casares throwing for 321 and two touchdowns. Hansen led the way with five catches for 113 yards while Jeffrey grabbed six balls for 88 yards, putting him over 50 catches and 700 yards for the year. 

Springfield ran the ball 65 times, getting 137 yards from fullback Arsen Shtefan. Dieter Kerat and Carson Henry each had 13 tackles in the game. 

Prior to Saturday's contest, the Catholic football program honored its senior class. 

The Pride will earn the NEWMAC bid into the NCAA Tournament while the Cardinals will await their bowl fate early next week.