Van Alstyne Rushes for Four TDs and Defense Forces Four Turnovers as Football Defeats Mass. Maritime 26-0

Buzzards Bay, Mass. - Sophomore Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns to lead Framingham State to a 26-0 New England Football Conference Bogan Division victory over Massachusetts Maritime Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium.

The visiting Rams (3-2, 2-0 NEFC Bogan) recovered their second fumble of the contest late in the opening quarter inside the host Buccaneers' (2-2, 0-2 NEFC) 25-yard line, and Van Alstyne gave Framingham State the only score it would need with a three-yard plunge on the first play of the second stanza and a 7-0 lead. 

The Rams extended that margin to 14-0 at the break by driving 80 yards in just four plays, capped by Van Alstyne's five-yard scoring scamper with 29 seconds to play in the half, and the visitors took advantage of a Massachusetts Maritime muffed punt inside the hosts' 2-yard line to set up Van Alstyne's third visit to the end zone from two yards out midway through the third quarter for a 20-0 advantage.  Van Alstyne's one-yard plunge on the first play of the final stanza capped a 13-play, 58-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes of action and accounted for Framingham State's final score.

The Rams amassed 357 yards of total offense while holding the Buccaneers to just 132 total yards and only 38 on the ground, as Framingham State held the ball for over 40 minutes while forcing four total turnovers.  Freshman quarterback Al Krasco (Medford, Mass.) completed 10-of-21 passes for 64 yards in his first collegiate start for the winners, who were paced defensively by junior James Muirhead's (Middleboro, Mass.) eight total tackles (seven solo).

Sophomore quarterback Mike Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) completed 10-of-24 passes for 88 yards in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, which was led defensively by seniors Walter Butler (Bourne, Mass.) and Mike Bois (Lakeville, Mass.), who registered 12 and eight total tackles, respectively.

Massachusetts Maritime hosts Worcester State in a New England Football Conference Bogan Division match-up next Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium that kicks off at Noon, while Framingham State hosts Fitchburg State in a New England Football Conference Bogan Division contest next Saturday afternoon at Maple Street Field in Framingham, Mass. that also kicks off at noon.

Release courtesy of MMA Sports Information.