Football Captures MASCAC Title in the Inaugural Season of MASCAC Football
Bridgewater, Mass. – Senior Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) found the end zone on a nine yard run with 29 seconds remaining to propel the Framingham State University football team to a 35-28 victory over Bridgewater State University that secured the 2013 MASCAC Football Championship for the Rams.
The Rams (8-1, 7-0 MASCAC) are winners of four straight MASCAC Titles including the 2013 title which is the first season with the MASCAC as the Rams primary playing conference. The Bears are now 5-4 overall and 4-3 in the MASCAC.
Van Alstyne rushed for 158 yards on 24 carries (6.6 yards per rush) with three touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.) completed 22 of 36 for 230 yards and two scores with no picks. Junior Jared Gauthier (Dracut, Mass.) led the receiving core with six catches for 55 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Quarterback Mike McCarthy led the Bears with 95 yards rushing on 27 carries with three touchdowns while completing 10 of 19 for 117 yards and two scores.
Van Alstyne put the Rams onto with a one yard scoring run with 8:05 on the clock in the first, but the Rams missed the extra point and led 6-0. McCarthy led the Bears right back down the field and capped a six play, 65 yard drive with a five yard run tying the score. The extra point by Jarred Diorio put the Bears on top 7-6.
Gauthier caught a 14 yard touchdown strike from Silva with 27 seconds left in the first half to take the lead back. A good return and a personal foul on the Rams set the Bears up with good field position with 20 seconds remaining. McCarthy hit Matthew Green for a 41 yard gain bringing the ball down to the one yard line with 12 seconds on the clock. McCarthy followed a timeout with a one yard touch down run to reclaim the lead (14-13) at the half.
The Rams scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns to take a 27-14 lead. Van Alstyne capped a seven play, 39 yard drive with his second one yard touchdown run of the game. Gauthier followed with a 4 yard touchdown reception with 4:08 on the clock in the third.
Bridgewater answered with 14 straight fourth quarter points to take a 28-27 lead with 3:51 left in the game. McCarthy scored first on a one yard run with 14:51 left in regulation. McCarthy was looking for his second touchdown run of the fourth quarter, but senior linebacker Pat McGrath (Everett, Mass.) forced a fumble before McCarthy could break the plane of the goal line. Offensive lineman Mike Duran was able to fall on the loose ball in the end zone for the go ahead score.
The Rams answered with the game winning drive that saw Silva open with a pair of completions for 23 yards moving the ball to midfield. Van Alstyne took over from there going 16 yards on the next two plays. Silva completed a pass for a short gain on first down and two plays later Van Alstyne found the end zone from nine yards out. Van Alstyne rushed for the two point conversion to reach the final differential.
McGrath finished the game with a game-high 13 tackles including 10 solo with a forced fumble, while senior Sam Hill (Lynn, Mass.) finished with 11 including 10 solo. Sophomore Tyllor McDonald (Lynn, Mass.) picked up a pair of interceptions with 27 return yards.
The Rams close the regular season next weekend at Worcester State with kick off slated for noon.