CASTLETON, Vt. – Plymouth State University used a pair of big gains to score on three of its first four possessions and topple Vermont State University Castleton, 21-6, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Dave Wolk Stadium on Saturday, securing long-time head coach
Paul Castonia's 100th career win in the process.
Senior
Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) connected with junior
Mitchell Cripps (Dracut, Mass.) for a 54-yard touchdown strike on the Panthers' second play from scrimmage and PSU drove 80 yards before a Lynn pass to freshman
Devin Connally (Boynton Beach, Fla.) in the back corner of the end zone made it 14-0 early in the second quarter. Senior
Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) added a 73-yard TD run late in the frame and the Panthers' defense, highlighted by two interceptions by sophomore
Jonah Bassett, Jr. (Rutland, Vt.), both in the end zone, helped ice the victory.
Castonia, already the program's leader in wins, earns his 100th career victory. His 100 wins are nearly double the next highest total of 55, held by the late Lou Desloges.
Plymouth State jumps to 2-3 (2-3 MASCAC), while the Spartans dip to 3-3 (2-3 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 21, VTSU Castleton 6
- Plymouth State (2-3, 2-3 MASCAC)
- VTSU Castleton (3-3, 2-3 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- After forcing a turnover on downs, Lynn found Cripps open deep down the right sideline on PSU's second play for a 54-yard touchdown strike as the Panthers took a 7-0 lead just 4:33 into the game.
- Senior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) bullied his way through a block for a strip sack on third-and-long on the Spartans' following possession but the hosts recovered, and PSU was unable to capitalize.
- VTSU Castleton used a long pass of its own to push the ball to the PSU 6-yard line as the first quarter expired, but the Panthers' defense held, and the Spartans' field goal try hit the right upright.
- PSU took advantage of the miscue, answering with a ten-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Lombard ran the ball six times for 34 yards on the drive, while Lynn made a perfect throw to the back corner of the end zone where Connally made a leaping catch to make it 14-0.
- The Panthers' defense forced a quick three-and-out and Lombard went back to work, bursting through the line untouched for a 73-yard touchdown run as the lead grew to 21-0 with 5:47 left before halftime.
- The hosts got on the board on their ensuing possession, capping a 75-yard drive with a five-yard TD throw, but the extra point attempt went wide to make it 21-6 with less than three minutes before the half.
- The Spartans got the ball back with 31 seconds on the clock and a last-ditch Hail Mary was intercepted by Lynn at the 2-yard line to keep the 21-6 lead heading into the break.
- After PSU was unable to get anything going on its first possession of the third quarter, the Spartans chewed up more than seven minutes on the clock during a lengthy drive. VTSU Castleton moved to the PSU 15-yard line, but Bassett, Jr., playing just up the road from his hometown, came away with an interception in the end zone.
- After another short PSU possession, VTSU Castleton responded with another long drive, but Bassett, Jr. again came up with an interception in the end zone to give the Panthers the ball back with 11:39 left to play.
- PSU followed with a time-consuming drive of its own. The Panthers used 13 plays to move 60 yards, more importantly burning nearly nine minutes off the clock. Key plays during the drive included a 13-yard completion to senior Josh Crosswhite (Littleton, Mass.) to convert a third down, and a ten-yard run by junior Shawn Harrington (South Weymouth, Mass.) to help keep the clock moving, though Lynn was intercepted on fourth-and-four at the VTSU Castleton 15-yard line to end the drive.
- Junior Nick Marcinowski (Lynnfield, Mass.) and sophomore TJ Taveras (Rochester, N.H.) teamed up for a sack on first down and shortly after, the Spartans were unable to convert a fourth-and-two to give PSU the ball back with 1:56 left to play.
- Harrington ripped off 12 yards on the ground on the first play, forcing the Spartans to use their final timeout, before the Panthers took a knee on three consecutive plays to seal the victory.
By the Numbers:
- Lynn finished 7-of-12 for 144 yards and two touchdowns and snagged his first career interception.
- Lombard ran for 161 yards and a score, averaging 8.5 yards per carry.
- Cripps hauled in two passes for 81 yards and a score, while Donnally caught two balls for 28 yards and a TD.
- Wilson finished with nine tackles, including 1.5 sacks.
- Bassett, Jr. now has three interceptions this season.
- Plymouth State limited the Spartans to just 33 yards on the ground.
- Castonia owns a career record of 100-108 at Plymouth State.
- PSU holds an 8-6 advantage in the series. The teams have swapped wins over the last five meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Westfield State next Saturday (Oct. 26) at noon.
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