BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – Senior
Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season, but Massachusetts Maritime Academy held down Plymouth State University, 29-6, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Clean Harbors Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Buccaneers pounded the ball for more than 350 yards on the ground, scoring from 17 yards out on the game's first possession, though sophomore
Khari Whitehead (Manchester, N.H.) was able to block the extra point attempt.
The PSU defense held its ground on fourth-and-goal from the 3-yard line midway through the second quarter to force a turnover on downs, but the hosts made a tackle in the end zone on the ensuing possession to add to the lead. MMA followed with a 56-yard TD drive on its next possession for a 15-0 lead.
Senior
Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) scrambled for a 36-yard gain late in the second quarter to get the ball into the red zone, but an interception ended the drive. The hosts added touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters to extend the lead, before Plymouth State got on the board with 7:47 left to play on Lombard's two-yard run.
Plymouth State dips to 1-2 (1-2 MASCAC), while the Buccaneers even out at 2-2 (2-1 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 6, Mass. Maritime 29
- Plymouth State (1-2, 1-2 MASCAC)
- Mass. Maritime (2-2, 2-1 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Mass. Maritime opened the game with runs on 10-of-11 plays, capping its opening drive with a 17-yard TD run to take the lead 5:33 into the game. Whitehead got a good push on the extra point attempt before going high to get a hand on the ball to keep the deficit at 6-0.
- Lynn connected with junior Mitchell Cripps (Dracut, Mass.) for a 15-yard gain, but the Panthers' drive stalled out.
- Sophomore Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) hauled in a 17-yard pass and Lynn scampered up the right sideline and into MMA territory as the first quarter expired. The Buccaneers were able to end the drive early in the second on a diving interception. The hosts drove all the way to the PSU 3-yard line, but PSU's defense held tough on fourth-and-goal to force a turnover on downs.
- Mass. Maritime made a tackle in the end zone for a safety three plays later, the put together a seven-play, 56-yard drive after receiving the kickoff to make it 15-0 less than two minutes before halftime.
- Lombard picked up 17 yards on the ground and Lynn scrambled right for a 36-yard gain to push the ball to the Mass. Maritime 18-yard line with 38 seconds left in the half, but the MMA defense came up with an interception to end the drive.
- The hosts scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter to make it 22-0.
- Lynn and Cripps connected for back-to-back big gains on the next drive, moving to the MMA 21-yard line, but the Panthers turned the ball over on downs.
- The Buccaneers followed with a 79-yard touchdown drive for a 29-0 lead early in the fourth quarter.
- PSU answered back with a scoring drive of its own. Lombard's 30-yard return moved the ball to midfield and Lynn hit senior Josh Crosswhite (Littleton, Mass.) for a 9-yard completion. Junior Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) added a 14-yard rush to set up first-and-goal from the 3-yard line. Three plays later, Lombard got around the right side for his fifth TD of the year, though the Buccaneers blocked the extra point attempt to account for the 29-6 final score.
By the Numbers:
- Lynn finished 10-of-20 for 85 yards.
- Lombard ran for 65 yards and a touchdown, while Lynn averaged 11.0 yards per carry after finishing with 44 yards on four attempts.
- Walker chipped in with 42 yards on the ground.
- Cripps posted game-highs of five catches for 49 yards.
- Junior Jack Milano (Pelham, N.H.) and freshman Robbie Engel (Topsfield, Mass.) paced the defense with seven solo tackles apiece. Milano finished with a game-high 14, while Engel added 12.
- Senior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) was also in double-figured with ten stops on the day.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series by an 18-9 margin.
Up Next:
- The Panthers return home to host WestConn for a Homecoming Weekend clash next Saturday (Oct. 5). Kickoff is set for noon. Plymouth State will honor its 2023-24 Department Award winners during halftime of the game.
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