Football Downs Nichols 24-12 for First Win of 2009
Framingham, Mass. - Senior running back Dave Leach (Chelmsford, MA) caught two touchdown passes and senior wide receiver Anthony Kewley (Rutland, MA) returned a punt for a touchdown to lift the Framingham State College football team to a 24-12 win over the Nichols College Bison in non-conference action this afternoon at Maple Street Field. With the win the Rams improve to 1-1 on the season, while the loss drops the Bison to 0-2.
The Bison amassed 336 yards of total offense on the day compared to just 227 for the Rams and held a decided advantage in passing yards (304 to 170) and time of possession. The Rams were able to force four Bison turnovers which resulted in three Framingham State touchdown drives.
Neither team was able to generate much offense in the first quarter but the Bison were beginning to get their offense on track and moved the ball down the field late in the quarter. Rams junior linebacker Joe Treacy (Wakefield, MA) halted their drive when he intercepted Nichols sophomore quarterback Sean Smith-Vaughn (Cumberland, ME) giving the Rams the ball on their own 46 yard line.
The Rams capitalized on Treacy's interception as junior quarterback Patrick Franey (Waltham, MA) completed passes to Kewley and sophomore James McCarthy (Newton, MA) giving the Rams the ball on the Nichols 14 yard line. The Bison were called for pass interference in the end zone and after two failed rush attempts, Franey found Leach in the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown with 13:34 remaining in the first half giving the Rams a 6-0 lead after the point after attempt failed.
Framingham State would capitalize on another Bison turnover later in the quarter for their second touchdown of the day. After a Bison fumble gave the Rams the ball on the Nichols 44 yard line, Franey completed short passes to Leach and freshman wide out Alex Avery (Milford, MA) before hitting McCarthy with a 33-yard touchdown pass. After another failed extra point, the Rams led 12-0 with 6:26 remaining in the half.
The Bison cut the Rams lead in half late in the quarter, as Smith-Vaughn led a ten play 84-yard drive for a touchdown. Smith-Vaughn, who tied a Nichols College single game record with his 52 pass attempts in the game, completed passes of 14, 5 and 38 yards on the drive which he capped off with a six-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end R.J. Gagne (Seekonk, MA). After a failed extra point, the Bison trailed 12-6 at the half.
In the third quarter the Rams defense once again forced a turnover by the Bison, this time junior saftey Anthony Pappagallo (Malden, MA) returned a Smith-Vaughn interception 41 yards giving the Rams the ball on the Nichols one yard line. After a loss of two on a failed rush play, Franey and Leach connected for their second 3-yard touchdown pass of the game. After Bill Hassett (Oxford, MA) blocked the extra point, the Rams led 18-6.
The Rams defense forced the Bison to punt on their ensuing possession and Kewley returned that punt 80 yards for a touchdown and a 24-6 Framingham lead with 4:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Nichols responded on their next possession with a seven play 68-yard drive capped by a one-yard touchdown run by Smith-Vaughn to cut the Rams lead back to 24-12.
The Bison forced a Framingham turnover on the Rams next possession as junior Patrick Gregory (Webster, NY) deflected and intercepted a Franey pass attempt. The Rams defense responded and forced a three and out by the Bison to keep the score 24-12.
The Bison had a chance to further cut the Rams lead late in the fourth quarter with the ball first and goal from the Framingham seven yard line. After Smith-Vaughn incompletions on first and second down, the Rams sophomore defensive end Connor Anderson (Maynard, MA) sacked Smith-Vaughn for an eight yard loss on third down. The Bison's fourth down pass attempt fell incomplete and the Rams were able to run out the final 3:57 of the game to pick up the win.
Franey finished the day 20 of 35 with one interception and three touchdowns for the Rams with McCarthy making four catches for 58 yards and a score. Kewley made eight catches on the day for 87 yards and finished the game with 240 yards of total offense. Leach rushed for only 56 yards on 16 attempts but made five catches for 21 yards and two touchdowns.
The Rams defense was led by freshman safety Carlito Weaver (Brockton, MA) who made a team-high nine tackles including eight solo stops and Pappagallo who finished with eight tackles, three pass break ups and an interception. Anderson finished the game with two sacks.
The Bison, who tied a team record for pass attempts in a game with 53, were led by Smith-Vaughn who finished the game 25 of 52 with three interceptions and a touchdown. Brian Dean (Seymour, Conn.) and Anthony Pillari (Lumberton, N.J.) were Smith-Vaughn's favorite targets. Dean finished the game with 11 catches for 120 yards, while Pillari made six receptions for 101 yards. Gregory finished with a game-high 10 tackles and an interception for the Bison.
The Rams return to action on Saturday as they travel to MIT at 1 p.m., while the Bison travel to Worcester State on Friday night at 7 p.m.