PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored on a 95-yard kickoff return and rushed for over 100 yards to launch Plymouth State University to a 40-21 win over Fitchburg State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday.
Fitchburg State found the end zone with just over a minute remaining in the opening quarter for the game's first points, but Lombard hauled in the ensuing kickoff at the 5-yard line and sliced through the coverage team before sprinting up the left sideline and into the end zone.
Plymouth State scored a pair of second quarter TDs to pull in front, as junior
Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) hooked up with senior
Jon Proia (North Chelmsford, Mass.) for a 16-yard score, before freshman
Daeon Lynch (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) cashed in on a four-yard run to make it 19-7.
Lombard extended the lead with a 34-yard dash through the Falcons' defense early in the third quarter, and PSU's defense forced a quick three-and-out. Freshman
Derek Thomas (Glastonbury, Conn.) had a clear path to the punter for the block and sophomore
Jake Dreyfus (Weymouth, Mass.) scooped up the ball and trotted into the end zone as the lead expanded to 33-7.
The Falcons used a 13-play, 65-yard drive to get another seven points on the board late in the third and each team added fourth-quarter touchdowns, PSU's on a three-yard dive by senior
Tyler Kayo (Londonderry, N.H.), to account for the final score.
Plymouth State improves to 1-5 (1-3 MASCAC), while Fitchburg State slides to 0-7 (0-5 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 40, Fitchburg State 21
- Plymouth State (1-5, 1-3 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (0-7, 0-5 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The Falcons notched the game's first points on the team's second possession, capping off a 12-play, 71-yard drive with an 11-yard TD pass for a 7-0 advantage with 1:13 left in the opening quarter.
- Lombard grabbed the ensuing kickoff near the right hash mark and sliced through the coverage for a career-long 95-yard return, but a failed point-after kept the score at 7-6.
- After forcing a punt to start the second quarter, Lombard ripped off runs of nine and 13 yards to jumpstart the Panthers' drive. Lynn scampered for a 10-yard gain and two plays later he connected with Proia for a 16-yard score. The point after was good as Plymouth State went ahead 13-7 with 9:24 left in the half.
- A pair of penalties and a sack by senior Collin Crowe (Simsbury, Conn.) stalled the next Falcons' drive, but Fitchburg State got the ball back after forcing a turnover.
- Freshman Jack Cataldi (Kennebunk, Maine) ripped the ball free from a Fitchburg receiver on the Falcons' ensuing possession, though, and junior Alex Flynn (Walpole, N.H.) jumped on the loose ball to give the Panthers great field position.
- PSU picked up a pair of first downs on completions to Lombard (12 yards) and Proia (17 yards), and Lynch capped the drive off with four-yard TD run to extend the margin to 19-7 with just over a minute left in the half.
- After Plymouth State received the second-half kickoff, senior Tyler Gleifert (Bristol, Conn.) picked up ten yards on third-and-one to set up Lombard's 34-yard rush through the left side as the lead ballooned to 26-7.
- Junior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) made three straight tackles on the Falcons' next drive, setting up a Falcon's punt from the Fitchburg 20-yard line. Thomas flew through the line to block the punt and Dreyfus picked up the bouncing ball at the 7-yard line and hopped into the end zone to extend the margin to 33-7 with 10:21 left in the frame.
- Fitchburg chewed up nearly seven minutes on its following possession, moving 65 yards in 13 plays to cut the margin to 33-14 with 3:30 left in the frame.
- Plymouth State answered in kind, punishing the Falcons' defense with a steady diet of rushing plays. Lynn extended the drive after escaping pressure for an 11-yard gain on a third-and-nine to keep the sticks moving, and Kayo closed out the 8:35 drive with a three-yard score to make it 40-14.
- Fitchburg State found the end zone once again with just over four minutes remaining to account for the final score.
By the Numbers:
- The Panthers rushed for a season-high 218 yards and three touchdowns. Lombard finished with 107 yards on 15 carries, for a 7.1 yards per carry average. Gleifert added 29 yards on the ground.
- Lombard finished with 214 all-purpose yards.
- Lynn was a perfect 7-for-7 for 72 yards and a score, while rushing for 24 yards as well.
- Prioa's TD reception was the first of his career.
- Wilson led all players with 14 tackles (eight solo), while Crowe finished with four tackles including a pair of sacks.
- Freshman Edwin Taveras (East Wakefield, N.H.) also registered a sack as the PSU defense finished with four sacks and six tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
- Freshman Beau Fellows (Topsfield, Mass.) had a career-best eight tackles and a pass breakup.
- Plymouth State improves to 21-3 against the Falcons dating back to the 1986 season. The Panthers have won each of the last seven meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers are home again next Saturday (Oct. 21) for a noon clash with Worcester State. During halftime, Plymouth State will dedicate the Coach Lou Desloges Press Box in memory of the longtime Panthers' coach.
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