Football Holds Off Late Surge by Westfield State for 14-11 Win

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• The Rams got on the board first on their second drive of the game. Noah Leonard capped a nine play, 65-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown run. After Matt Farley converted the extra point, the Rams led 7-0 with 4:59 on the clock. 

• The Owls got on the board on the ensuing possession when Evan Milstead converted a 27-yard field goal cutting the deficit to 7-3 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the second quarter.  

• Neither team could generate much offense in the second quarter and the game went to the half with the Rams up 7-3. 

• The Rams put up the only points in the third quarter extending their lead to 14-3 after three. Leonard capped a five-play drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Manny Lara. 

• The Owls received a 63-yard touchdown pass from Gabriel Fernandez to Michael Foley with 8:08 on the clock in the fourth. After Fernandez found Dylan Disabella in the endzone for the two-point conversion, the Rams led 14-11. 

• The Owls defense forced a Ram punt on the next possession giving the Owls the ball with just under six to play. The Rams defense responded by forcing the Owls to turn the ball over on downs after a sack for a nine-yard loss from Cole Moretti and a stop on fourth down. 

• On the next play from scrimmage Devaun Ford found the endzone for the Rams, but the play was called back on a holding penalty. After the penalty, the Rams were able to get a first down and run out the clock to secure the victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• The Rams defense held the Owls to just 128 yards of offense in the game including –40 yards on the ground and 168 through the air.  The Rams offense compiled 344 yards in the game including 270 on the ground. The Rams finished the game with 74 passing yards, all of them in the second half. 

• The Rams defense was paced by five tackles and 1.5 sacks from Chase Buono, while Michael Brooks also tallied five tackles. Dylan DeWolfe finished the game with four tackles including a sack. 

• Devaun Ford finished the game with 126 yards rushing on 24 carries, while Leonard finished the game with 94 yards on 13 carries. Leonard completed 5-of-16 passes for 46 yards. 

• Fernandez finished the game 11-of-23 for the Owls for 156 yards and a touchdown, while Foley finished the game with two catches for 91 yards and a score.  

• Tyler Cooley led the Owls defense with 18 tackles, while Cameron Danahy added 12 and Cade Nelson 11.