CASTLETON, Vt. – Senior
Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) rushed for 58 yards and junior
Cooper Varano (Manchester, N.H.) made a team-high seven tackles, but Castleton University held Plymouth State University in check, topping the Panthers by a 13-0 score in the season opener for both teams at Dave Wolk Stadium on Saturday.
PSU's defense was able to limit the Spartans to a pair of first half field goals to trail 6-0 at the intermission, but Castleton ripped off a 40-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter and the Panthers were unable to put any points on the board.
Plymouth State (0-1) had won each of the last four meetings between the two teams, which included road wins in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Castleton improves to 1-0.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Castleton 13
- Plymouth State (0-1)
- Castleton (1-0)
Top Performers:
How it Happened:
- After both offenses sputtered to open the game, Castleton drove to the PSU 5-yard line, but junior Bryce Wronski (Middleton, Mass.) came up with a big tackle in the backfield to hold the hosts to a 26-yard field goal.
- PSU went three-and-out on its next drive and the Spartans' ensuing 11-play drive ended with a 34-yard field goal to push the lead to 6-0.
- Sophomore Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) ripped off a couple tough runs to move the ball to midfield on PSU's next possession, but the drive stalled and the Panthers were forced to punt.
- PSU's best drive came early in the third quarter. After being pinned on their own 3-yard line, Sanchez gave the offense some breathing room with a seven-yard rush. Another Sanchez run, aided by a Castleton penalty, pushed the ball to the PSU 28-yard line and Lombard and Sanchez added long runs to move to midfield. Senior Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) hit Lombard for an eight-yard gain to move into Spartans' territory. Lavanchy tried to rush for a first down on third-and-seven but came up just short and the Castleton defense came up with an interception as PSU went for it on fourth down.
- Castleton answered with a 62-yard drive, thanks to a 40-yard touchdown run to make it 13-0 late in the third quarter and the Panthers were unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Sanchez finished with 58 yards on 17 carries, while Lombard rushed four times for 16 yards and added two catches for another 13 yards.
- Senior Brian McGough (Newton, N.H.) led the receivers with 26 yards, all in the second half, while classmate Gavin Moody (Concord, N.H.) caught three balls for 19 yards.
- Lavanchy finished 8-of-17 for 59 yards and an interception.
- Varano paced the defense with his seven tackles, while Wronski, and seniors Conor Hiner (Brattleboro, Vt.) and David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.) each added six.
Up Next:
- PSU plays its first home game on the new Panther Field when Husson University comes to town next Saturday (Sept. 11) for a 1:00 p.m. contest. Plymouth State will recognize its 2020-21 NCAA Championship competitors during a halftime ceremony.
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