FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Plymouth State University was unable to find the end zone as Framingham State University posted a 14-0 victory in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Bowditch Field on Saturday afternoon.
After a defensive battle through the opening quarter, the Rams broke through with a 29-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter to take a 7-0 lead.
The game remained within one score into the fourth quarter. Senior
Aidan Fritz (Colchester, Conn.) blocked a punt, and the Panthers recovered at the Framingham State 11-yard line, but an interception ended PSU's best scoring chance of the afternoon.
The Rams were forced to punt on their ensuing possession, but the ball bounced off a Panther and was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown, doubling the Framingham State lead to 14-0, and Plymouth State was unable to mount a comeback.
Plymouth State falls to 3-4 (2-4 MASCAC), while Framingham State improves to 5-2 (4-2 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Framingham State 14
- Plymouth State (3-4, 2-4 MASCAC)
- Framingham State (5-2, 4-2 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The Rams held the ball for nearly eight minutes on the opening possession, but a goal-line stand by the PSU defense forced a short field goal attempt that sailed wide.
- Plymouth State moved the ball to midfield on its first possession, with freshman Colton Lefebvre (Colchester, Vt.) connecting with senior Beau Fellows (Topsfield, Mass.) for a 15-yard gain. A sack on third-and-long, however, forced a punt.
- Junior Hunter Burke (Pembroke, Mass.) recorded a 12-yard sack to stop the next Framingham State drive early in the second quarter. Lefebvre and junior Brendan Lynch (Ansonia, Conn.) hooked up for a 17-yard gain to open the ensuing drive, but the offense stalled at midfield.
- Framingham State followed with a four-play, 62-yard drive, opening the scoring on a 29-yard touchdown pass with 7:15 remaining in the second quarter.
- The Rams threatened to add to their lead late in the frame, but junior Shane McCormick (Plainville, Conn.) registered back-to-back sacks totaling 19 yards, and the Panther defense forced a turnover on downs to keep it a 7-0 game at halftime.
- The teams traded punts early in the third quarter. After being pinned deep at its own 2-yard line, Framingham State moved the ball to midfield before freshman Daelon Bond-Streater (Meriden, Conn.) forced a fumble. The Panthers recovered at their own 45-yard line.
- The Framingham State defense came up with another third-down sack on the ensuing possession to force a Plymouth State punt.
- Fritz blocked a Rams punt early in the fourth quarter, and the Panthers recovered at the Framingham State 11-yard line. However, an interception two plays later ended the scoring threat.
- Framingham State was forced to punt again, but the ball bounced off a Panther and was recovered in the end zone for a touchdown with 11:14 remaining, extending the Rams' lead to 14-0, and PSU was unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Fellows caught four passes for 35 yards.
- Junior Luke Beaulac (Fitchburg, Mass.) made a game-high nine tackles, including seven solo stops.
- The Panther defense recorded four sacks, with two from McCormick and one apiece for Burke and senior Adam Coletti (Ipswich, Mass.).
- Freshman Ryan Bryant (Salem, N.H.) punted six times for 252 yards (42.0 average), including three inside the 20 and a long of 58 yards.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 15-11.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Fitchburg State on Saturday (Nov. 7) for a noon matchup with the Falcons.
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