FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Senior
Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) rushed for a career high 231 yards and four touchdowns and Plymouth State University amassed nearly 400 yards on the ground as the Panthers toppled Framingham State University, 41-20, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Bowditch Field on Saturday.
Lombard carried the ball 23 times to post an even 10.0 yards per carry. His 231 yards is believed to be the highest single game rushing total since PSU Hall of Famer Joe Dudek ran for 265 yards against Albany State in the ECAC North Championship on Nov. 23, 1985.
Junior
Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) also had a big day on the ground, going for 128 yards and a score on 19 carries. Plymouth State attempted just seven passes in the game, while the Panthers' 373 rushing yards were the most since running for 385 against Fitchburg State in 2022.
Plymouth State improves to 4-3 (4-3 MASCAC), while the Rams dip to 2-6 (2-5 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 41, Framingham State 20
- Plymouth State (4-3, 4-3 MASCAC)
- Framingham State (2-6, 2-5 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers wasted little time as Lombard took the opening kickoff 30 yards. He ripped off a 12-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, before taking the next handoff 48 yards to the house for a 6-0 lead just a minute into the game.
- After forcing a Framingham State punt, PSU went 84 yards in nine plays to up the lead. Senior Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) found sophomore Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) for a 35-yard gain through the air to convert a third-and-five and later the two hooked up for a 14-yard gain before Lombard capped the drive with a ten-yard TD run for a 13-0 lead with 4:26 left in the first.
- The Rams went three-and-out and Walker's 20-yard rush got the Panthers into FSU territory as the first quarter expired. Walker carried twice more, and Lombard followed with a 22-yard TD run as the lead ballooned to 20-0.
- The hosts came back with a 62-yard scoring drive, using a two-yard burst to get into the end zone and pull within 20-7, but Plymouth State answered right back. Lombard picked up 35 yards on the first play and Walker followed with runs of 18 and two yards before a 14-yard touchdown run to push the lead to 27-7 with 6:34 left in the half.
- PSU's defense forced a turnover on downs and the Panthers ran out the clock to take the 27-7 advantage into halftime.
- Framingham State attempted a second half comeback, using a 73-yard drive to get into the end zone to make it 27-13. The Panthers pushed the ball deep into Framingham territory on the ensuing possession, but a 24-yard field goal try missed wide left.
- PSU's defense responded, though, forcing a three-and-out as the Panthers got the ball back with just over a minute left in the third. Lynn found freshman Devin Connally (Boynton Beach, Fla.) for a big gain on third-and-eleven and Lombard carried the ball twice for 17 yards to score his fourth TD of the day and make it 34-13.
- Sophomore Jonah Bassett, Jr. (Rutland, Vt.) hauled in his fourth interception of the year to stop the Rams' next drive and Lombard and Walker teamed up for 40 yards on the ground to set up a one-yard plunge by junior Shawn Harrington (South Weymouth, Mass.) with 6:47 remaining for a 41-13 lead.
- The Rams quickly pushed the ball downfield, covering 55 yards in less than two minutes to make it 41-20, but PSU ran out the final five minutes with a steady diet of rushes to secure the victory.
By the Numbers:
- Lombard finished with 231 yards on 23 carries and four touchdowns. It
- Walker added 128 yards on 19 carries with a score.
- Lynn finished 4-of-7 for 98 yards, with Morris posting two catches for 49 yards.
- Connally added a 30-yard reception.
- Bassett, Jr. snagged his third interception in the last three games.
- Junior Jake Dreyfus (Weymouth, Mass.) and sophomore Robert Leveillee (Rumford, Maine) posted team-highs of six tackles apiece.
- The Panthers hold a 14-10 edge in the all-time series.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits to Fitchburg State next Saturday (Nov. 9) for a noon clash with the Falcons.
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