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20211023 - FB vs Worcester State
14
Worcester St. WSU 2-5 , 2-3
42
Winner Plymouth St. PSu 3-4 , 3-2
Worcester St. WSU
2-5 , 2-3
14
Final
42
Plymouth St. PSu
3-4 , 3-2
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSU Worcester St. 0 0 0 14 14
PSu Plymouth St. 14 14 14 0 42

Game Recap: Football | | Ryan Moyer, Athletic Communications Intern

FB: Panthers win third straight, top Worcester State

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Ryan Milliken (Lebanon, N.H.) returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown to jumpstart Plymouth State University in a 42-14 win over Worcester State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
 
Worcester State won the coin toss and picked up a pair of first downs on its opening drive before punting from midfield. Milliken scampered through the coverage team and up the left side for an 85-yard TD and Plymouth State rolled from there.
 
At halftime Plymouth State celebrated its 50th year of football with a ceremony at midfield. Football alumni presented the athletics department with a replica of the Navy Trophy and a commemorative coin was used for the opening coin toss.
 
The Panthers pick up a third straight win to move to 3-4 (3-2 MASCAC), while Worcester State drops to 2-5 (2-3 MASCAC) on the year.
 
The Basics:
  • Plymouth State 42, Worcester State 14
    • Plymouth State (3-4, 3-2 MASCAC)
    • Worcester State (2-5, 2-3 MASCAC)
Top Performers: How it Happened:
  • After the PSU defense forced a fourth-and-11, Milliken raced up the left sideline for the 85-yard TD return to set an early tone.
  • On the ensuing possession, the Panthers' defense forced a three-and-out and another WSU punt. Plymouth State handed off to senior Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) six straight times and the 5-10 back gained 60 yards before classmate Zach Caffrey (Hampton, Conn.) bulldozed through the line making the score 14-0.
  • The teams traded field position over the next three possessions. Plymouth State kept the ball on the ground as Sanchez and sophomore Tyler Kayo (Londonderry, N.H.) plowed through the defense and senior Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) connected with junior Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) on a play-action pass for a wide-open touchdown on fourth-and-one to push the lead to 21-0.  
  • Lavanchy found Warren alone in the end zone on a seam route as the lead ballooned to 28-0 with just under five minutes left in the first half.
  • Milliken set up the Panthers for good field position after taking the second half kickoff 45 yards to the Worcester State 35-yard line and another Lavanchy-Warren connection to the end zone extended the lead to 35-0.
  • Senior Terrell Lewis (New Boston, N.H.) played perfect defense against a deep route before coming away with an interception on the Lancers' next drive, but PSU was unable to convert the turnover into points.
  • After another punt by the Lancers, the Panthers' offense put the game out of reach on Kayo's 28-yard scoring run and senior Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) converted his sixth extra point opportunity for the 42-0 lead.
  • Worcester State was able to gain some momentum in the fourth quarter with a touchdown pass, then a PSU fumble gave the visitors the ball right back and the Lancers capped another scoring drive with a touchdown pass.
  • With WSU driving late in the game, freshman Matt Griffing (West Brookfield, Mass.) put the game away with his first career interception in the end zone.
By the Numbers:
  • PSU rushed for 299 yards while holding the Lancers to 74.
  • Sanchez finished with 135 yards on the ground on 18 carries, while junior Ryan Coyle (West Milford, N.J.), Kayo and freshman Greg Walker (Boxford, Mass.) added 56, 49 (1 TD), and 45 rushing yards, respectively.
  • Lavanchy completed 6-of-8 attempts for 80 yards and three touchdowns, with Warren grabbing four balls for 60 yards and all three scores. Kayo added a pair of catches for 20 yards.
  • Senior Connor Hiner (Brattleboro, Vt.) led the defense with 11 tackles (seven solo), while sophomore Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) was a presence in the Lancers' backfield with two tackles for a loss and a five-yard sack. Junior Ryan Edison (North Reading, Mass.) also got to the WSU quarterback in the backfield for a six-yard sack, while Lewis and Griffing came up with interceptions.
  • Milliken finished with 154 return yards and nearly had an interception that likely would have results in a pick-six early in the fourth quarter.
  • PSU has won each of the last four matchups, outscoring Worcester State by a 130-35 margin.
Up Next:
  • The Panthers look to make it four-straight in the W column when they travel to Westfield State University for another MASCAC showdown next Saturday (Oct. 30) at noon.
 
 
 
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