PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Jayden Graham (Rutland, Vt.) and senior
Reece Davis (Livermore, Maine) combined for 182 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns as Plymouth State University downed New England College, 28-14, in the season opener at Panther Field on Saturday.
Graham and Davis each scored first-quarter touchdowns and freshman
Josh Phillips (Clinton, Mass.) added a one-yard score just before halftime as PSU carried a 21-0 lead into the locker room.
Senior
Rocky Marchitelli (Crested Butte, Colo.) hit classmate
Adam Coletti (Ipswich, Mass.) for a nine-yard score early in the third. NEC scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns and was threatening for more, but senior
TJ Taveras (Rochester, N.H.) and junior
Shane McCormick (Plainville, Conn.) teamed up for a key sack to thwart a drive, and freshman
Daelon Bond-Streater (Meriden, Conn.) later added an interception to seal the win.
Plymouth State opens the season 1-0, while NEC drops to 0-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 28, NEC 14
- Plymouth State (1-0)
- NEC (0-1)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State chewed up nearly six minutes on its opening drive with a heavy dose of runs from Davis, Phillips and Graham. Marchitelli connected with junior Matt Phillips (Clinton, Mass.) and two plays later Graham dashed in for a 12-yard TD run to make it 7-0.
- After junior Hunter Burke (Pembroke, Mass.) pinned the Pilgrims deep with a 51-yard punt, the PSU defense forced a three-and-out and a shanked kick gave the Panthers excellent field position. Marchitelli scampered for a 12-yard gain and two plays later Davis scored on a 15-yard run to make it 14-0.
- Neither team could get much going offensively for much of the second quarter. NEC missed a 37-yard field goal on its first possession. Graham ripped off a pair of big runs on the ensuing possession, but an interception stalled the Panthers' drive.
- PSU ran its two-minute offense to perfection just before halftime, with Davis coming up with a trio of big plays. Starting on its own 38-yard line, Davis jumpstarted the drive with an 11-yard catch-and-run, then added rushes of 19 and 12 yards before Phillips pushed the pile from a yard out to extend the lead to 21-0 at the half.
- Senior Tyler Holcomb (Coventry, Conn.) had an interception on NEC's first drive of the third quarter and PSU took advantage of the short field. Marchitelli connected with Coletti for a nine-yard TD catch to make it 28-0 less than six minutes into the frame.
- NEC answered with its best drive of the day, going 75 yards in 16 plays and nearly 11 minutes to get on the scoreboard early in the fourth quarter. After a punt, the Pilgrims used another long drive (seven plays, 50 yards) to make it a two-score game, 28-14.
- The defenses took over from there, with Taveras and McCormick teaming up for a seven-yard sack and Bond-Streater sealing the victory with an interception in the closing seconds.
By the Numbers:
- Graham finished with 22 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, while Davis added 76 yards on 13 carries, an 11-yard reception and a touchdown.
- Coletti hauled in all three of his targets for 22 yards and a TD.
- Marchitelli completed 7-of-8 passes for 41 yards and a touchdown.
- Junior Seamus Ross (Windham, N.H.) converted all four of his PAT attempts.
- Taveras posted 1.5 sacks, while Holcomb led the defense with eight tackles and an interception.
- Plymouth State outgained the Pilgrims, 261-146, including 220-40 on the ground.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Worcester State for the MASCAC opener Saturday (Sept. 12) at 2:30 p.m.
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