Football Falls to Mass. Maritime, 30-13

Framingham, MA - The Framingham State College football team fell at home today by a score of 30-13 to the visiting Buccaneers of Massachusetts Maritime.  With the win the Buccaneers improve to 3-6 on the season and 1-5 in New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division action, while the Rams slide to 2-6 on the season and 1-5 in the division.

The Rams scored on their opening possession of the game on a 22 yard touchdown pass from senior Eian Bain (Stafford Springs, CT) to sophomore Roland Gervais (Griswold, CT).  After Ashley Baker (Mansfield, MA) converted the extra point the Rams had a 7-0 lead with just under thirteen minutes remaining in the opening quarter.

Mass. Maritime would cut the deficit to 7-3 with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter on a 23 yard field goal by freshman Jake Bickley (Wilbraham, MA).  Neither team was able to generate much offense for the remainder of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter. 

The Buccaneers special teams provided a spark for them with seven minutes to play in the first half when freshman Ryan Howley (New Fairfield, CT) returned a Ram punt 75 yards for a touchdown and the go ahead score.  After the extra point attempt was missed by Jarad Horey (Ledyard, CT) the Buccaneers held a 9-7 lead they would not relinquish.

Mass. Maritime would extend their lead to 16-7 with ten seconds remaining in the first half when quarterback Joe DeFrank (Morgantown, PA) hit Keith Rudolph (New Bedford, MA) with a 17 yard touchdown strike. 

After a scoreless third quarter for both teams, Mass. Maritime would extend their lead to 30-7 in the fourth quarter on a 20 yard touchdown pass from DeFrank to James McFarland (Marshfield, MA) and a two yard run by Kevin Berthiaume (Lunenburg, MA).  The Rams would add a touchdown on a one yard touchdown pass from Patrick Franey (Lexington, MA) to Gervais with 16 seconds left to finish the scoring.

DeFrank finished the day 19 of 33 for 264 yards and a touchdown, while Darryn Elder-Gotty (E. Longmeadow, MA) had four catches for 101 yards and Rudolph had three catches for 34 yards.  For the Rams, Franey finished the day 14 of 35 for 121 yards and one touchdown, while Gervais had eight catches for 92 yards.

The Rams return to action next Saturday as the play host to the United States Coast Guard Academy at noon on Maple Street Field, while the Buccaneers host Bridgewater State in the Cranberry Bowl at noon.