PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University took control right from the first play from scrimmage as the Panthers rolled past Fitchburg State University, 36-0, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
Sophomore
Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) jumped on a loose ball when Fitchburg State tossed a pitch to nobody on its very first play giving PSU golden field position and five plays later the Panthers led 6-0. The Falcons' second possession ended on a fourth-and-six when the snap sailed over the punter's head giving the Panthers the ball at the 18-yard line. PSU ran the ball six times, capped by a one-yard dive from senior
Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.), and the rout was on.
Plymouth State wins its second straight to improve to 2-4 (2-2 MASCAC), while Fitchburg State falls to 0-7 (0-5 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 36, Fitchburg State 0
- Plymouth State (2-4, 2-2 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (0-7, 0-5 MASCAC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- Ughu dove on the ball after the Falcons' quarterback pitched it left and the back wasn't looking. The Panthers went ahead when Sanchez ran eight yards untouched around the left side for the early lead.
- On the ensuing possession the PSU defense held, forcing a Falcons' punt. The snap sailed over the punters head and he was forced to cover up at his own 18-yard line. Plymouth State kept the ball on the ground and Sanchez blasted through the line from one yard out before senior Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) kicked through the extra point for a 13-0 lead.
- Graduate student Rowan Drew (Plymouth, N.H.) came up with a huge sack for a seven-yard loss on thrd-and-11 on the next possession and senior Ryan Milliken (Lebanon, N.H.) returned the kick to the Fitchburg 32-yard line. The Panthers looked poised to add to the lead, but a fumble at the 17-yard line ended the drive.
- The teams went back-and-forth in the second quarter, but neither team was able to put points on the board.
- Fitchburg opened the third quarter with an unexpected onside kick and recovered at midfield, but the PSU defense held on fourth-and-five. Sophomore Tyler Kayo (Londonderry, N.H.) ripped off a 13-yard rush to kickstart the Panthers' next drive and senior quarterback Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) connected with classmate Zach Caffrey (Hampton, Conn.) for a 15-yard gain to help setup Carey's 25-yard field goal to extend the lead to 16-0.
- Senior Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) forced a fumble on Fitchburg's next possession and freshman Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) scooped up the ball and rumbled 20-yards into the end zone but the point after failed to make it 22-0.
- Plymouth State put the game out of reach in the fourth quarter. Lavanchy connected with a wide-open Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) for a 20-yard touchdown early in the quarter, then freshman Greg Walker (Boxford, Mass.) capped the scoring midway through the frame when he busted through the line for a 25-yard touchdown run.
By the Numbers:
- PSU rushed for 170 yards while limiting the Falcons to 105.
- Fitchburg won the time of possession battled 35:00 to 25:00.
- Plymouth State scored on four-of-five red zone chances, while the Falcons didn't get into red zone all game.
- Kayo finished with 52 yards on the ground, while Walker rushed for 49 yards and a score.
- Junior Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) and Girard each had nine tackles. Normandeau went for six solo and a fumble recovery, while Girard had five solo stops 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
- Plymouth State has won each of the last five meetings and posted shutouts in the last three, outscoring the Falcons by a 106-0 margin.
Up Next:
- The Panthers remain home for another MASCAC contest next weekend. PSU will play host to Worcester State University on Saturday (Oct. 23) at 1:00 p.m.
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