WORCESTER, Mass. – Worcester State University relied on quick strikes and long plays to topple Plymouth State University, 28-6, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at John Coughlin Memorial Field on Saturday.
The Panther defense came up with a goal-line stand on the opening drive of the game, but Worcester State punched in a touchdown from two yards out on its second possession to take a 7-0 lead after the first quarter.
The Lancers used a 42-yard diving catch in the end zone to double the margin early in the second quarter. Plymouth State responded with a drive into Worcester State territory, but the drive stalled with a turnover on downs, and the hosts threw a 44-yard touchdown to push the lead to 21-0.
PSU followed with its best drive of the day, chewing up more than seven minutes of clock to go 53 yards, but again the Worcester State defense got a stop – this time in the red zone – as the score remained 21-0 into halftime.
The Lancers added a 58-yard touchdown run in the third quarter before Plymouth State broke into the scoring column midway through the fourth to account for the final score.
Plymouth State falls to 1-1 (0-1 MASCAC), while the Lancers improve to 1-1 (1-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 6, Worcester State 28
- Plymouth State (1-1, 0-1 MASCAC)
- Worcester State (1-1, 1-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The Lancers took the game-opening drive deep into Plymouth State territory, but junior Luke Beaulac (Fitchburg, Mass.) and freshman Ben Cook (North Reading, Mass.) came up with a big tackle on 4th and 2 from the 4-yard line to keep Worcester State out of the end zone.
- The hosts opened the scoring on their second drive, covering 64 yards in nine plays and scoring on a two-yard run with 1:43 left in the first.
- After a PSU punt, a Worcester State receiver got past the defense and stretched out to haul in a 42-yard pass in the end zone to double the lead.
- The Panthers got some momentum to start the next drive, with senior Rocky Marchitelli (Crested Butte, Colo.) completing passes to freshman Drake Dumont (Scituate, R.I.) and senior Beau Fellows (Topsfield, Mass.), before sophomore Jayden Graham (Rutland, Vt.) ripped off a 10-yard run to move the ball to midfield. Fellows added a 14-yard catch, but the offense stalled at the Worcester State 33-yard line.
- The Lancers responded with another deep ball, this time a 44-yard strike, to extend the lead to 21-0.
- Plymouth State answered with its most sustained drive of the day, going 53 yards in 14 plays over more than seven minutes. Senior Reece Davis (Livermore, Maine) had a 17-yard catch-and-run and Fellows drew a pass interference penalty before Graham's 6-yard run pushed the ball to the Worcester State 5-yard line, but the Lancers' defense forced back-to-back incompletions to keep the Panthers off the scoreboard.
- Midway through the third quarter, a Worcester State rusher got free for a 58-yard touchdown run to make it 28-0.
- Fellows caught a pair of passes on the ensuing drive and Graham picked up 25 yards on the ground, but again the PSU offense stalled.
- Freshman Isaiah Hardin (Lowell, Mass.) blocked a punt, and junior Mason Twitchell (Turner, Maine) recovered and returned the ball to the Worcester State 11-yard line. After three straight Graham runs, freshman Josh Phillips (Clinton, Mass.) got the Panthers on the board with a 3-yard run, but the PAT was blocked.
- Worcester State nearly added more, but Cook recovered a fumble at the goal line.
By the Numbers:
- Marchitelli completed 11-of-21 pass attempts for 86 yards.
- Graham ran for 76 yards on 18 attempts.
- Fellows hauled in five passes for 37 yards.
- Cook led the defense with eight tackles and added a fumble recovery.
- Beaulac added seven tackles, while senior Tyler Holcomb (Coventry, Conn.) recorded the Panthers' lone sack.
- Plymouth State held the advantage in time of possession, 36:47 to 23:13, and forced the game's only turnover.
- Worcester State outgained the Panthers, 375-205.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 11-5, but the Lancers have won two of the last three meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State returns home to face Bridgewater State in a league game on Saturday (Sept. 19) with a noon kickoff.
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