PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
TJ Taveras (Rochester, N.H.) recorded a game-high 11 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss and a sack, and the Plymouth State University defense held Dean College scoreless in three red-zone appearances as the Panthers earned a 14-0 win in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Homecoming Saturday.
Plymouth State efficiently marched downfield on its opening possession, with senior
Reece Davis (Livermore, Maine) capping the drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception as the Panthers grabbed an early lead.
Senior
Pierce Heim (Beverly, Mass.) had a key 12-yard sack midway through the second quarter as PSU made a goal-line stand. The Panthers nearly doubled the lead before halftime, but the Dean defense snared an interception at the goal line as the score remained 7-0 at the break.
Dean opened the second half with a 21-play, 68-yard drive that chewed nearly 13 minutes off the clock, but the Bulldogs came away empty-handed as junior
Luke Beaulac (Fitchburg, Mass.) broke up a pass in the end zone to force a turnover on downs.
Freshman
Ricky Phom (Lowell, Mass.) had a 23-yard punt return to give the Panthers great field position early in the fourth quarter, and six plays later sophomore
Jayden Graham (Rutland, Vt.) scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 with 5:42 left to play.
The Bulldogs moved the ball deep into PSU territory, but Taveras and junior
Jacob Daigle (North Haven, Conn.) teamed up for a game-clinching tackle on fourth-and-3 from the Plymouth State 10-yard line, and a kneel-down ended the game.
During halftime, Plymouth State recognized its 2025-26 Department Award winners and acknowledged the newest PSU Athletics Hall of Fame class, which will be inducted in May.
Plymouth State improves to 2-2 (1-2 MASCAC), while the Bulldogs fall to 0-4 (0-4 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 14, Dean 0
- Plymouth State (2-2, 1-2 MASCAC)
- Dean (0-4, 0-4 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Graham picked up 21 yards on a screen pass to convert a third-and-10 on PSU's opening drive, and a steady mix of Graham and Davis runs moved the ball to the Dean 3-yard line. Senior Rocky Marchitelli (Crested Butte, Colo.) connected with Davis on another screen, and Davis found the end zone for a 7-0 with 8:37 left in the first.
- Plymouth State was forced to punt on its next possession, but a Dean player got through the line and blocked it to give the Bulldogs the ball at midfield. The visitors followed with a 13-play, 41-yard drive that took more than seven minutes, driving all the way to the Panthers' 3-yard line, but Taveras had a big tackle for a loss and Heim followed with a 12-yard sack to push the Bulldogs back. On fourth-and-goal from the PSU 19-yard line, Taveras made a tackle to end the drive.
- The Panthers followed with their longest drive of the afternoon, moving 78 yards in 7:29 as Graham and Davis ran through the defense, but Dean came up with an end-zone interception to keep the score 7-0 at the half.
- The Bulldogs received the second-half kickoff and chewed nearly 13 minutes off the clock, moving the ball to the PSU 12-yard line. On fourth-and-7, Beaulac broke up a pass in the end zone to keep Dean off the scoreboard.
- The Panthers' offense stalled out on its next two drives, but the defense held, and Phom's punt return allowed PSU to begin at the Dean 35-yard line with 9:10 left in regulation. The Panthers took advantage as Davis and Graham combined for six straight carries, with Graham scoring from three yards out to push the lead to 14-0 with 5:42 left to play.
- Dean slowly moved down the field, getting the ball to the PSU 10-yard line. Taveras and Daigle teamed up for the game-deciding tackle on fourth-and-3, and a kneel-down ended the game.
By the Numbers:
- Graham finished with 98 rushing yards, a 21-yard reception and a touchdown.
- Davis added 81 rushing yards and his 4-yard touchdown catch.
- Taveras recorded 11 tackles, seven solo tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and two hurries.
- Junior Hunter Burke (Pembroke, Mass.) added 10 tackles.
- The Panthers made 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and finished with three sacks.
- PSU's defense held the Bulldogs to zero points in three red-zone trips.
- Plymouth State outgained the Bulldogs on the ground, 185-76.
- The Panthers improve to 2-0 in the all-time series.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Mass. Maritime Academy on Saturday (Oct. 10) for a noon contest against the Buccaneers.
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