PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Ryan Milliken (Lebanon, N.H.) returned the opening kickoff for an 85-yard touchdown to jumpstart Plymouth State University to a 27-7 win over the Massachusetts Maritime Academy Buccaneers in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon.
Mass. Maritime won the coin toss and deferred to the Panthers, which led to Milliken flashing his speed through an exposed hole in the coverage for the 85-yard kickoff return TD to start the Panthers' momentum.
Prior to the game Plymouth State celebrated its annual Senior Day, recognizing Milliken and classmates
Terrell Lewis (New Boston, N.H.),
Zach Harris (Braintree, Mass.),
Gavin Moody (Concord, N.H.),
Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.),
Brian McGough (Newton, N.H.),
Colby Moore (Ashland, N.H.),
David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.),
Kayden Baillargeon (Derry, N.H.),
Zach Caffrey (Hampton, Conn.),
Conor Hiner (Brattleboro, Vt.),
Andrew Consalvo (Bristol, Conn.),
Gabe Boro (Calverton, N.Y.),
James Mauro (Commack, N.Y.),
Mike Tessier (Manchester, N.H.),
Jason Ryszczyk (North Branford, Conn.),
Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) and
Peyton Sarmir (Flemington, N.J.), as well as graduate students
Rowan Drew (Plymouth, N.H.) and
Trevor Hnyda (New Milford, Conn.) for their dedication and hard work throughout their careers.
The Panthers win their fifth-straight game to improve to 5-4 (5-2 MASCAC), while Mass. Maritime falls to 4-5 (3-4 MASCAC) on the year.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 27, Mass. Maritime 7
- Plymouth State (5-4, 5-2 MASCAC)
- Mass. Maritime (4-5, 3-4 MASCAC)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- After the Buccaneers deferred, Milliken rushed along the right sideline to return the opening kickoff for an 85-yard score to get the Panthers rolling.
- The Mass. Maritime opening drive began with an offensive holding call and the Panthers' defense held the Buccaneers in check with a three-and-out.
- Plymouth State was able to get moving after some back-and-forth with junior Ryan Coyle (West Milford, N.J.) and Sanchez leading the rushing game. The Panthers were held to a fourth-and-eight, but the field goal try drifted wide left.
- PSU's defense was again able to stall out the MMA offense as junior Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) ended the drive with a pass breakup.
- Sanchez and Coyle again led the Panthers' next drive, creating an opportunity for Lavanchy to open the second quarter with a 59-yard touchdown pass to McGough along the right sideline, but PSU's point after attempt was blocked to make it 13-0.
- Both teams went back-and-forth until a Lavanchy interception was returned inside the PSU five-yard line and the Buccaneers were able to punch the ball in to cut the margin to 13-7.
- PSU's offense answered back as Lavanchy drove the ball downfield and capped the drive with another TD pass, this time finding Moody for a 17-yard strike to make it 20-7.
- The PSU defense continued to limit Mass. Maritime in the opening of the third quarter which allowed the Panthers' offense to capitalize on its opening drive of the second half with a 23-yard TD run from Sanchez to make it 27-7.
- The game was put away in the final two drives for the Buccaneers as sophomore Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) had a big sack to end a drive, and Salazar, Milliken and freshman Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) all broke up passes on MMA's final drive.
By the Numbers:
- The Plymouth State offense had a total of 338 yards, while Mass. Maritime was limited to 198 yards of total offense.
- Sanchez rushed 21 times for 74 yards and a touchdown, while Coyle added 18 carries for 47 yards. Moody also picked up nine yards on the ground.
- Lavanchy completed 16-of-22 passes for two touchdowns and an interception. Moody finished with six catches for 77 yards and a score, while McGough snagged the other TD throw and finished with two receptions for 67 yards.
- Senior Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) led the team with seven tackles (six solo), while Ughu was a menace in the backfield once again with three tackles (two solo, one assist), a tackle for loss, a seven-yard sack and a pass breakup.
- Milliken continues to dominate on special teams as he finished the afternoon with six returns for 141 yards and a kickoff return touchdown.
- PSU converted 9-of-16 third downs and held the ball for nearly 43 minutes.
Up Next:
- PSU looks to wrap up the regular season with a sixth-consecutive win when the Panthers travel to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on Saturday (Nov. 13) for a noon kickoff.
– 30 –
