The Pilgrim and Moses Brown football teams squared off in a big DIII battle last Friday with the final playoff seed on the line. The Quakers, led by star running back Myles Craddock, would pull off the comeback win to advance while Pilgrim’s season came to a close.

Pilgrim took a 12-0 lead when quarterback Chace Roberts connected with Cole Bigelli and Jack Coffey for scores. That is when the Quaker offense took off and scored three straight touchdowns, all on Craddock rushes, to go up 21-12.

Pilgrim made things interesting as Roberts later connected with Justyn Murphy then added the 2-point conversion with just 41 seconds remaining in the fourth. Moses Brown went on to recover the onside kick to wrap up the victory.

“Our guys held (Craddock) in check and held him to only one or two big plays. Defensively we played the best we could have to give ourselves a shot to win,” said Pilgrim head coach Blake Simpson.

The Pilgrim passing offense once again shined as it made the plays to keep the Pats in striking distance. The Pats projected to have a strong group of pass catchers heading into the season and the playmakers lived up to the hype, boasting one of the most productive cores in Division III.

“Our receivers make incredible catches sometimes. Overall, our receiver group has made big strides this year starting from this summer to tonight. I’m proud of them and we got great quarterback play. I’m proud of the guys,” said Simpson.

“It’s been special. To come out week after week and put up numbers in the passing game, it’s been great. It’s been great to be able to come out here and play with them and play with my brother (Dylan),” said Roberts, who was also happy to prove himself after an up and down career prior to this season. Roberts was the team’s backup as an underclassman, then split time as the starter last fall after getting sick with E. coli in the preseason.

“It’s great to be able to show people what I can do and that I can play. I think this year showed what kind of player I am and how I can play,” said Roberts.

Simpson added: “He has the tools and knows the game well enough to make good reads, he has a good arm to make plays. I’m proud of the improvement he made this year and look forward to seeing him play next year on Saturdays.”

Pilgrim will take on Cranston East in an exhibition this week and then will gear up for the annual Thanksgiving matchup against the rival Toll Gate Titans. The Pats finished with a 3-4 league record.