FITCHBURG, Mass. – Senior
Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) threw for a touchdown and ran in a pair of scores as Plymouth State University won its fourth straight game, holding off Fitchburg State University, 26-21, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Elliot Field on Saturday.
The Panthers scored twice in the opening quarter, but a missed PAT left the score at 13-0. Fitchburg state answered back with two touchdowns in the second quarter, including a 78-yard punt return TD, to take a 14-13 lead into halftime.
Lynn cruised around the left edge on a designed run to put the Panthers back in the lead, 19-14, midway through the third and the score would remain the same late into the fourth quarter. With less than two minutes to go, Lynn sold a fake handoff and rolled to his right before strolling into the end zone on third-and-nine from 14 yards out to push the advantage to 26-14.
Fitchburg State answered right back with a 63-yard touchdown drive to make it 26-21 with less than ten seconds to go, but the junior
Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) recovered the on-side kick and PSU ran out the clock to preserve the win.
Plymouth State wins its fourth straight game to rise to 5-3 (5-3 MASCAC), while the Falcons slide to 2-7 (1-7 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 26, Fitchburg State 21
- Plymouth State (5-3, 5-3 MASCAC)
- Fitchburg State (2-7, 1-7 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State got out to a strong start on the opening possession. Lynn connected with sophomore Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) for a 28-yard gain. Later in the drive, senior Josh Crosswhite (Littleton, Mass.) broke a pair of tackles for a 27-yard pickup through the air to get into the red zone, and three plays later Lynn hit senior Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) on a screen pass for the TD.
- PSU forced a three-and-out and the Panthers followed with a lengthy drive. Junior Shawn Harrington (South Weymouth, Mass.) opened the drive with a 13-yard run and Plymouth State kept the ball on the ground to chew up both yardage and clock. On third-and-goal, Morris took a direct snap under center for his first career rush and pushed the pile into the end zone to extend the lead. A missed PAT left the score 13-0 with less than two minutes left in the frame.
- The Falcons responded with a 12-play, 76-yard touchdown drive, running the ball in from three yards out to make it 13-7 3:25 into the second.
- Plymouth State was forced to punt and Fitchburg State's returner picked up the bouncing ball, juked past a would-be tackler and flashed down the sideline for a 78-yard return TD to take the lead, 14-13, with 9:42 until halftime.
- PSU couldn't move down the field on its next possession, but sophomore Connor Graham (Tolland, Conn.) forced a fumble and freshman Jacob Daigle (North Haven, Conn.) recovered to end the Falcons' next drive and the Panthers went into halftime trailing by one, 14-13.
- After forcing a Fitchburg State punt, the Panthers kept the ball on the ground. Lynn found plenty of open field to the left side on the team's ninth straight run, going untouched into the end zone from seven yards out to make it 19-14 midway through the third.
- Early in the fourth quarter the Falcons were driving when sophomore Jonah Bassett, Jr. (Rutland, Vt.) picked off the Fitchburg State quarterback at the PSU 30-yard line. The Panthers followed with a time-consuming drive, burning nearly nine minutes off the clock and driving to the Fitchburg State 18-yard line. It looked like the Falcons would take the lead as the hosts blocked PSU's field goal try and returned it for a touchdown, but an offsides flag negated the touchdown and gave Plymouth State a new set of downs. The Panthers took advantage, with Lynn scoring on a 14-yard quarterback keeper to extend the margin to 26-14 with just 1:44 left to play.
- The hosts quickly moved down field to find the end zone with just seven seconds remaining, pulling to within 26-21, but Walker recovered the on-side kick to secure the win.
By the Numbers:
- Lombard finished with 104 yards on the ground. His 927 rushing yards for the year are the most for a PSU rusher since Hall of Famer Jeff Mack ran for a school record 1,779 yards during the 2008 season.
- Lynn finished 7-of-12 for 87 yards and a touchdown and added 21 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
- Bassett, Jr. snagged his fifth interception of the season, the most since Blair Zentek and Prince Gbaley had six interceptions apiece in the 2016 season. He added five tackles and two pass breakups.
- Senior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) led the defense with eight tackles, including seven solo stops.
- The Panthers went 9-of-14 on third downs and owned a decided advantage in time of possession after holding the ball for more than 37 minutes.
- Plymouth State has won each of the last eight meetings and holds a 13-3 advantage in the all-time series.
Up Next:
- PSU hosts league-leading UMass Dartmouth in the regular season finale on Saturday (Nov. 16). Prior to the noon kickoff, Plymouth State will honor the senior class as part of its annual Senior Day ceremonies.
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