Football Defeats Fitchburg State for First Time Since 2000
Framingham, MA- The Framingham State College football team defeated the Fitchburg State College Falcons today on Maple Street Field 27-22 as both teams played their first New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division game of the season. The Rams, who are now 2-1 on the season, had lost seven straight games against the Falcons with the Rams last win coming during the 2000 season.
Fitchburg State (0-3) took their first possession of the game and marched down the field 83 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 16-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jake Barbarotta (Pittsfield, MA) to junior wide out Devon Jennings (Boston, MA).
The Rams would respond with two scores of their own in the second quarter to take a 14-7 lead into the half. After the Rams defense forced a fumble, the first score came on a four-yard touchdown scamper by senior tailback Luke Guarino (Winthrop, MA). Their second touchdown came on a 14-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Eian Bain (Stafford Springs, CT) to freshman wide out Garrett Nelson (Woburn, MA) with thirty seconds left in the first half and capped a nine play 58 yard drive.
After the Rams turned the ball over on downs with 10:22 remaining in the third quarter, Fitchburg State would pull even at 14-14 on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Jim Miller (East Hampton, NY) to Dan Tarantino (East Aurora, NY) with 5:43 remaining in the third.
After a Falcon punt, the Falcon defense would make a stand as they forced the Rams into a three and out deep in their own territory. The Rams would attempt a punt on fourth down but the snap was high and skipped thru the back of the end zone for a safety which gave the Falcons their first lead of the second half at 16-14 with 1:21 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rams defense would respond as they forced Fitchburg tailback Marlon Thornton (Bloomfield, CT) to cough up the ball which was recovered by Framingham State senior defensive end Enrico DiCenso (Medford, MA) and returned to the Fitchburg State 46-yard line. The Rams offense would take the lead at 20-16 as Bain connected with Nelson for their second touchdown of the day. The Rams would go for two points and miss.
Fitchburg drove and the Framingham State defense forced them once again to turn the ball over on downs with 8:11 remaining in the game. The Rams would add an insurance score as Bain connected with sophomore Anthony Kewley (Rutland, MA) for an 11 yard touchdown pass that would put the Rams up 27-16 with 2:45 to play.
Fitchburg would add a late touchdown on a 14-yard touchdown pass by Miller, but were unsuccessful in their onside kick attempt. The Rams were able to run the ball and pick up two first downs to run the clock out and pick up their second win in as many weeks.
Bain finished the day 12 of 22 for the Rams for 162 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while Guarino finished with a team-high 91 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Nelson finished with two catches for 34 yards and two touchdowns, while Kewley finished with two catches for 49 yards and one score. Freshman Anthony Papagallo (Malden, MA) had an outstanding game on defense for the Rams and finished the game with 11 tackles.
Thornton finished the day for the Falcons with 106 yards rushing on 17 carries, while Miller finished the day 11 of 25 with two touchdowns and one pick.
The Rams return to action next Saturday as they travel to Worcester State for a noon kick-off, while the Falcons host Bridgewater State next weekend at 1:30 p.m.