Football's Comeback Falls Short Against Plymouth State

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• After a scoreless first quarter, the Panthers got on the board with a nine play, 67-yard drive in the second quarter. The drive was aided by a Ram penalty and a 42-yard pass from Braden Lynn to Jake Donahue that brought the ball down to the two yard line. Thanos Boulukos capped the drive with a one yard run and after the extra point the Panthers led 7-0 with just over two on the clock in the second. 

• The Rams, who had a touchdown called back in the first half on a holding penalty, tied the game on their second possession of the third quarter. Omarion Otto capped an eight-play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Matthew Farley converted the extra point tying the game at 7-7 with 4:10 left in the third 

• Plymouth State took the lead back, 14-7, in the closing minute of the third on a six-yard touchdown run from Manny Sanchez. 

• The Rams defense forced a punt from the Panthers with 7:03 left in the fourth. 

• The Rams moved the ball down the field and after a Devaun Ford eight-yard rush had first and goal from the nine with just over a minute to play. A Ford rush moved the ball to the six on first down. Terry Smith sent a pass to Darrell Coombs in the back of the endzone, but Coombs feet came down out of bounds on second down. The Rams had two more chances for the tying score, but both fell incomplete. 

• Plymouth State was able to run out the clock but did surrender a safety on the final play of the game for the 14-9 final.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: 

• The Rams had 344 yards of total offense in the game including 225 on the ground, while the Panther had just 158 yards of offense and only 87 yards passing. 

• Ford finished the game with 135 yards on 29 carries, while Noah Leonard rushed for 56 yards on 13 carries. 

• Leonard completed 8-of-12 for 66 yards, while Smith completed 5-of-9 for 53 yards. 

• Aston Brown Jr. Made two catches for 35 yards, while Ford finished with six catches. 

• Lynn finished the game 5-of-12 for 87 yards, while Donahue had three catches for 53 yards. 

• Sanchez finished the game with 43 yards on 18 carries, while Willie Lombard rushed for 34 yards on nine carries. 

• The Rams defense was paced by 11 tackles, nine solo, from Frank Andrews, while Chase Buono finished the game with five and a pass breakup. 

• The Panther defense received 13 tackles, including 11 solo from Evan Wilson, while Quinn Girard finished with eight and a breakup.