Hamilton, Lancia combine for 232 rushing yards in MASCAC win 

            WESTFIELD, Mass. – Seniors David Hamilton (West Deptford, N.J.) and Nick Lancia (Bedford, N.Y.) each eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark to lead Plymouth State University to a 38-13 win over Westfield State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Alumni Field on Saturday afternoon.

            Hamilton finished with 122 yards and a score, while Lancia added 110 yards and a TD as PSU amassed 426 yards of total offense.

            The Panthers improve to 5-1 (3-1 MASCAC), while Westfield State remains winless at 0-6 and 0-4 in conference play.

            The Basics:

            Plymouth State 38, Westfield State 13

            Plymouth State (5-1, 3-1 MASCAC)

            Westfield State (0-6, 0-4 MASCAC)

            How it Happened.

• Plymouth State jumped out to a 21-0 lead, taking advantage of some luck on the opening drive. The Panthers marched 72 yards down field in 12 plays, including 11-straight runs. On third-and-13 from the 18-yard line, Lancia rushed 14 yards but lost the ball. Senior Brandt O'Hara (Feeding Hills, Mass.) jumped on the loose ball in the end zone for his first career touchdown.
• PSU doubled the lead three minutes into the second quarter when Hamilton scampered in around the left side from two yards out to cap an 8-play, 42-yard drive. Freshman Christian Paillet (Coconut Creek, Fla.) connected with sophomore Zach Harris (Braintree, Mass.) for a 23-yard gain during the drive.
• After the Owls turned the ball over on downs, PSU cruised downfield for a 67-yard drive taking less than two minutes. Hamilton picked up a 34-yard gain to set up Lancia's 10-yard run up the middle to make it 21-0 with 5:56 left in the half.
• Westfield State got on the board with 30 seconds left in the half when senior Andrew Peltier (Holyoke, Mass.) scored from one-yard out on a QB keeper, but the point after was no good.
• The Owls scored on the opening possession of the third quarter on Peltier's 39-yard pass to Evan Garvey (Dalton, Mass.) to cut the lead to 21-13, but PSU came right back on the ensuing possession.
• Sophomore Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) hooked up with junior Tyler Blanchard (Auburn, Maine) for a 15-yard score to make it a 28-13 game with 6:44 left in the third.
• Freshman Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) converted a 24-yard field goal attempt with 12:46 left to play to push the lead to 31-13, and junior Vito Aleo (Hazlet, N.J.) added a one-yard TD run to cap the scoring with 6:42 remaining.

            Inside the Numbers:

• Hamilton eclipsed the 100-yard threshold for the third time this season, while Lancia's 110 yards on the ground were a career high. It was his first career 100-yard rushing game.
• Lavanchy and Paillet split time at quarterback. Lavanchy finished 11-of-15 for 108 yards and a score, while Paillet completed two-of-three attempts for 31 yards.
• Harris, Blanchard and junior Terrell Lewis (New Boston, N.H.) each caught two balls for 30 yards.
• Freshman Joey Cassella (North Yarmouth, Maine) led the Panthers with nine tackles.
• PSU dominated the time of possession by a 3-to-1 margin (44:15 to 15:45).

            Straight from the Coach's Mouth:

            "We are happy to get the win," said head coach Paul Castonia. "We played well at times, but are going to need to play more consistently going forward."

            Up Next:

• Plymouth State returns home to Currier Field on Saturday (Oct. 19) for 1:00 p.m. clash with MASCAC rival Framingham State. The PSU Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2019 will be recognized during halftime.

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