WORCESTER, Mass. – Senior
Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass..) ran for 106 yards and a touchdown, but Worcester State University was able to hold off Plymouth State University, 27-21, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at John Coughlin Field on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State rallied from a 14-0 deficit, with Lombard scoring the Panthers' first touchdown of the season early in the second quarter to pull within 14-7. The Lancers restored the two-score lead with a touchdown run of their own with 4:41 left before halftime, but PSU marched right back down the field and freshman quarterback
Matt Phillips (Clinton, Mass.) found sophomore
Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) for his first collegiate passing touchdown to make it 21-14 at the half.
The Panthers received the second half kickoff and quickly moved downfield with junior
Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) charging eight yards for the game-tying touchdown.
PSU had a chance to go in front early in the fourth quarter, but a field goal attempt drifted wide left. The Lancers capitalized with a 17-play, 80-yard scoring drive to take the lead, though sophomore
Jonah Bassett, Jr. (Rutland, Vt.) was able to block the extra point to make it 27-21. Plymouth State pushed the ball into WSU territory, but the Lancers' defense came up with a stop on fourth-and-12 with 1:43 left to play and Worcester State was able to run out the clock.
Plymouth State starts the year at 0-1 (0-1 MASCAC), while Worcester State moves to 1-1 (1-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 21, Worcester State 27
- Plymouth State (0-1, 0-1 MASCAC)
- Worcester State (1-1, 1-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The offenses traded three-and-outs to start the game, but Worcester State used a 10-play, 66-yard drive covering 5:11 to take a 7-0 lead midway through the first.
- Lombard set the Panthers up with good field position with a 30-yard return, but PSU was unable to take advantage.
- The Lancers took over on the PSU 43-yard line and cashed in on the short field with a 24-yard touchdown pass on third-and-nine to double the margin, 14-0.
- Lombard took the ensuing kickoff 41 yards and ran the ball three straight plays to move to the Worcester State 34-yard line as the first quarter expired.
- Walker ripped off a 20-yard run later in the drive and Plymouth State looked poised to get on the board, but the Lancers broke through the line to block a 30-yard field goal attempt.
- PSU's defense forced a quick three-and-out and a bad snap gave the Panthers the ball on the 4-yard line. Two plays later, Lombard rushed to the outside and went into the end zone untouched. Senior Seth DiSalvo (North Andover, Mass.) split the uprights on the point after attempt to cut the deficit in half, 14-7.
- Worcester State answered right back to restore the two-TD margin with a 68-yard drive to make it 21-7 with 4:32 left in the half.
- Phillips hit Morris for a 33-yard gain to jumpstart the ensuing drive and Lombard converted a fourth-and-one to keep the drive alive deep in Worcester State territory. A Lancers' facemask penalty put the ball on the 7-yard line and Morris got past his defender before hauling in Phillips' pass in the back of the end zone. DiSalvo was good on the PAT again, making it a 21-14 game.
- The hosts ripped off multiple big plays to push the ball to the PSU 5-yard line. Worcester State had a shot to extend the lead to ten with a last second field goal attempt, but Bassett, Jr. came off the edge untouched to block the kick and keep the score 21-14 into halftime.
- PSU pulled even with a touchdown on its opening possession of the second half. Lombard sliced through traffic for a 26-yard gain and Phillips hit Lombard for a 27-yard gain through the air, before Walker busted around the left side to tie the game at 21-apiece.
- The Lancers drove into the red zone, but sophomore Robert Leveillee (Rumford, Maine) jumped the route for an interception as PSU took over at its own 23-yard line with 6:16 left in the frame.
- Plymouth State relied on the ground game to push the ball to the WSU 14-yard line as the third quarter came to a close.
- The Panthers came up just short on a third-and-nine and a field goal try went wide left to keep the game tied.
- Worcester State took advantage, marching 80-yards in 17 plays, using a one-yard dive to retake the lead, but Bassett, Jr. was able to deny the extra point attempt.
- Lombard and Walker teamed up on the ground to get the ball to the WSU 39-yard line, but the Lancers' defense held before the hosts were able to run out the clock.
By the Numbers:
- Lombard finished with 106 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, while adding a 27-yard reception.
- Lombard added 138 yards on five kick returns.
- Walker added 70 yards on the ground, with a score.
- Phillips completed 5-of-13 passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.
- Morris was the leading receiver, snagging three balls for 47 yards and a score.
- Junior Jack Milano (Pelham, N.H.) led all players with 17 tackles, including seven solo stops.
- Sophomore Jack Cataldi (Kennebunk, Maine), senior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) and Leveillee also had double-digit tackles, finishing with 12, 11 and ten, respectively.
- Plymouth State still leads the all-time series 10-4. The Panthers had won each of the last six meetings.
Up Next:
- The Panthers welcome Bridgewater State to Panther Field next Saturday (Sept. 21) for a noon kickoff. Plymouth State will honor its 2023-24 NCAA Championship participants during halftime.
– 30 –
