BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) made 21 tackles, including 16 solo stops, but Framingham State University spoiled Plymouth State University's Homecoming with a 33-0 win over the Panthers in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday.
 
Girard was all over the field as the Panthers attempted to slow the league's most powerful offense through the first three weeks of conference play. Framingham State's 119 points in MASCAC contests easily lead the league, but the PSU defense kept the Rams off the scoreboard through the first quarter.
 
Framingham State got on the board just under three minutes into the second with a touchdown drive and led 10-0 at the half thanks to a field goal in the final seconds, but the Rams chewed up yardage and clock with three straight touchdown drives in the second half to put the game out of reach.
 
Plymouth State falls to 0-4 (0-2 MASCAC), while Framingham State improves to 3-2 and stays unbeaten (3-0) in league games.
 
The Basics:

• Plymouth State 0, Framingham State 33
  • Plymouth State (0-4, 0-2 MASCAC)
  • Framingham State (3-2, 3-0 MASCAC)

Top Performers:

• Quinn Girard (21 tackles, 16 solo)
• Willie Lombard (74 rush yds, 74 ret yds)
• Bryce Wronski (10 tackles, 1 sack)

How it Happened:

• Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the opening quarter, but Framingham State used an 18-yard run to spark a 9-play, 72-yard touchdown drive that wrapped into the second quarter when sophomore Devaun Ford (Mashpee, Mass.) scampered 20-yards into the end zone.
• PSU went three-and-out on its next possession and the Rams looked poised to score again but freshman Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) went up high to pick off the Framingham State quarterback in the end zone.
• Sophomore Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) ripped off back-to-back big gains on the ground, but the offense stalled at the PSU 34-yard line and the Panthers were forced to punt.
• Framingham worked the clock and its remaining two timeouts to knock home a 17-yard field goal just before the half expired for a 10-0 lead at the break.
• Plymouth State's defense forced a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half, but a running into the kicker penalty gave the Rams new life and the visitors marched 93 yards on 14 plays before Ford found the end zone from 13-yards out to extend the lead.
• Framingham State had another long touchdown drive on its next possession, going 64 yards in 13 plays over 6:20 to make it 24-0, and the Rams' pass rush resulted in a sack for a safety as the third quarter expired.
• The visitors chewed up over nine minutes on the resulting possession, ultimately rushing for a one-yard touchdown to complete the scoring.
• The Panthers' longest drive came in the final possession when senior Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) and Lombard combined for 62 yards on the ground, but time expired on PSU's comeback bid.

By the Numbers:

• Girard's 21 tackles were easily a career high. Junior Bryce Wronski (Middleton, Mass.) added ten tackles (six solo) and the Panthers' lone sack, while senior David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.) made ten stops.
• Wilson's goal line interception was the lone turnover of the game.
• PSU picked up seven of its eight first downs on the ground. Lombard led the way with 71 yards on nine carries, with Sanchez adding 35 yards on eight attempts.
• Senior quarterback Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) and junior Christian Paillet (Nashua, N.H.) combined to go 5-of-17 for 24 yards, while senior Zach Caffrey (Hampton, Conn.) led the receiving corps with 11 yards on two catches.

Up Next:

• The Panthers head to Western Connecticut State University next weekend (Oct. 9) for another MASCAC showdown. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.