Football Soars Past St. John Fisher 31-20 in Home Opener

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Cardinals opened a 14-0 lead with a pair of first quarter touchdowns. Aaron Chase connected with Gabe Maloni for 30-yard touchdown pass with 5:51 to go in the first and Malachi Duvall broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run just two minutes later. 

• The Rams got on the board in the closing minute of the opening quarter with Nick Goffredo connecting with Manny Lara for a 29-yard touchdown. 

• Framingham State tallied the only score of the second quarter on a three-yard touchdown run from Noah Leonard with 10:44 on the clock. Matt Farley converted the PAT to tie the game at 14-14. 

• St. John Fisher had a chance for a score in the closing minute of the half but they had a touchdown called back for holding and then missed a field goal. 

• After a scoreless third quarter, Farley converted a 22-yard field goal in the opening minutes of the fourth giving the Rams a 17-14 lead. 

• With just over eight minutes to play, Dylan DeWolfe recovered a fumble returned it 43 yards setting up the Rams next score – an 11-yard touchdown run from Devaun Ford with 7:28 on the clock. 

• Late in the quarter, Gerell Boyce intercepted Chase and returned it 20 yards setting up the Rams final score of the game. Luis Sulham found the end zone from three yards out pushing the lead to 31-14 with just under two to play. 

• The Cardinals added a score as time expired to reach the final margin. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• The Rams amassed 385 yards of offense in the game including 243 yards rushing, while the Cardinals compiled 366 yards of offense with 187 passing. 

• Goffredo finished the game 14-of-24 for the Rams for 142 yards with a touchdown and a pick, while rushing for 93 yards on 13 carries. 

•  Devaun Ford rushed for 108 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown. 

• Lara was the Rams leading receiver making six catches for 75 yards with a touchdown. 

• Farley finished the game a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points and added a 22-yard field goal. 

• Chase finished the game 13-for-33 for 160 yards with two touchdowns and two picks, while rushing for 61 yards. 

• Duvall finished the game with 116 rush yards on 21 carries with a score, while also making two catches. 

• The Rams defense was paced by eight tackles, seven solo, one for a loss and three pass breakups by Cully Curran, while Michael Brooks finished the game with eight tackles and a breakup. 

• DeWolfe finished the game with four tackles, a pass breakup and the big fumble return, while Najier Monteiro add two stops and an interception.