DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Senior
Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) had another effective game carrying the ball 34 times for 141 yards and a touchdown, but the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth snapped Plymouth State University's five-game winning streak with a 28-7 decision over the Panthers in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Cressy Field on Saturday.
The Panthers defense did all it could in slowing down the UMass Dartmouth offense, but the Corsairs were able to break through midway through the opening quarter before converting a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead. The hosts added a pair of TDs with failed conversion attempts in the second to push the lead to 20-0 at halftime and the teams traded scores in the fourth quarter.
Plymouth State finishes the season an even 5-5 (5-3 MASCAC), going 5-1 over the final six weeks of the season. UMass Dartmouth improves to 8-2 (6-2 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, UMass Dartmouth 28
- Plymouth State (5-5, 5-3 MASCAC)
- UMass Dartmouth (8-2, 6-2 MASCAC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- The hosts capitalized on a long opening drive by punching the ball in from four-yards out, then converted a two-point pass attempt for the early lead.
- After a PSU three-and-out on the Panthers' first possession, UMass Dartmouth followed with another clock-eating scoring drive going 87 yards in 20 plays while holding the ball for nearly 10 minutes. A five-yard TD pass and failed conversion pushed the advantage to 14-0.
- A bad snap on a punt attempt gave the Corsairs excellent field position as the hosts extended the margin to 20-0.
- Plymouth State opened the second half with its first sustained drive of the afternoon, pushing the ball downfield behind key rushes from Sanchez and junior Ryan Coyle (West Milford, N.J.) and a key third-down completion from senior Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) to classmate Gavin Moody (Concord, N.H.), but PSU turned the ball over on downs.
- UMD added a TD early in the fourth quarter.
- The Panthers' best drive came with 6:45 left on the clock, going 89 yards in 19 plays with Sanchez finding the end zone from three yards out and senior Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) booted home the extra point to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- Sanchez accounted for 141 of the team's 154 yards of offense.
- Lavanchy completed 6-of-15 attempts for 30 yards, with Moody and junior Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) each catching two balls.
- Senior Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) led the defense with nine total tackles and six solo stops, while classmate Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) was second with eight tackles (five solo).
- Senior David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.), sophomore Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) and freshman Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) all got into the backfield to record tackles for a loss.
- PSU has finished .500 or better each of the last five full seasons.
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