Football Falls Short Against Rowan, 31-21
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University football team turned the ball over six times which led to 14 points for Rowan University as the Profs defeated the Rams 31-21 in non-conference action this afternoon at Bowditch Field.
Framingham State and Rowan met for the first time a season ago with the Profs claiming a 10 point victory. After today's game both squads are now 1-1 on the young season.
The first half was controlled the by the Profs as they opened up a 17-0 lead. Their defense held the Rams to just 18 yards rushing and 52 passing yards while making three interceptions, while the Profs accumulated 171 yards of first half offense.
Junior Rashad Adams intercepted Rams quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.) at the Framingham 21 yard line on the first offensive play of the game. The Profs would move the ball down to the 12 yard line setting up a 29 yard field goal from Tyler Knighton that sailed wide right.
The Rams punted on their next possession and the Profs followed with a 10 play, 58 yard drive capped by a two yard touchdown run by junior Wilther Marcelin. Marcelin was initially stopped by the Rams interior line, but bounced outside and was able to reach the end zone. After the extra point, the Profs led 7-0 with 6:37 remaining in the first.
The Rams fumbled the ensuing kickoff and junior Eddie Davis recovered the loose ball for the visitors returning it 30 yards for the score.
Rowan extended their lead midway through the second quarter when Knighton capped a 13 play, 35 yard drive with a 35 yard field goal with 4:21 remaining in the half. Silva was intercepted by Kori Haggie on the Rams next possession giving the Profs one last shot to score before the half. The Profs moved the ball down to the Rams 17 yard line setting Knighton up for a 32 yard field goal with time expiring but his kick came up short.
Rowan, who won the toss and deferred, started the second half with the ball and was forced to punt. The Rams offense responded on the ensuing possession with their first score of the game. Junior Trevon Offley (Brockton, Mass.) rushed for 23 yards on the drive setting up a 21 yard touchdown toss from Silva to Tevin Jones (Springfield, Mass.). After Sean Wlasuk's (Peabody, Mass.) extra point, the Rams trailed 17-7.
Kristian Lewis intercepted a pass that deflected off a Rams receiver at the Rams 35 yard line with 4:02 left in the third to set up Rowan's next touchdown. Marcelin rushed for three yards on first down and Bill McCarty connected with Frankie Goris for a 31 yard touchdown on the next play extending the lead back to 17 points.
Silva tossed his second touchdown of the game late in the third when he connected with Randall Kelleher (Swampscott, Mass.) from 23 yards out. After the extra point was blocked, the Rams trailed 24-13 with 1:34 left in the third.
Rowan answered with a five play, 52 yard drive capped by a Dante Tobler six yard touchdown carry. The Rams tacked on a final touchdown with just over three minutes to go in the game when Offley caught a three yard pass from Silva and plowed his way into the end zone. Silva completed the two point conversion with a pass to Jones making the score 31-21.
After the Rams defense forced a three and out, the offense had one last possession. Silva moved the Rams down the field completing passes to Jones, freshman Stephen Beahn (Spencer, Mass.), and Marcus Grant (Carver, Mass.). After a Rowan holding call on an incompletion, the Rams had a first and goal from the seven with a minute remaining. Silva completed a pass to Grant who was dragged down just shy of the end zone, but the Rams would not score as they closed the game with three straight incompletions.
Despite their struggles in the first half, the Rams finished the game with 304 yards of offense to 286 for the Profs. The Rams defense held Rowan to just 115 yards in the second half, while it was the opposite for the Rams who had just 70 yards in the first half and 234 in the second. The Rams turned the ball over six times (5 INTs/1 fumble), while the Profs turned the ball over just once on a fumble in the third quarter.
Silva finished the game 21-of-52 for 216 yards with three touchdowns and five picks and was not sacked. Jones finished with four catches for 56 yards and a score, while Travis Hayes (Framingham, Mass.) caught five balls for 52 yards.
The Rams defense was led by a game-best 11 tackles including 10 solo and two for a loss from senior Kevin Donahue (Norfolk, Mass.). Junior Greg Peschel (Taunton, Mass.) also recorded double digit stops with 10, while defensive lineman Guychard Sampson (Lynn, Mass.) and safety Matt Mangano (Winchester, Mass.) added eight and seven, respectively.
The Profs were led by Marcelin who rushed for 113 yards on 34 carries, while Tober finished with 48 yards on the ground. McCarty, who threw six picks a week ago, went 12-for-23 for 103 yards with a touchdown and was not intercepted. Goris finished with five catches for 50 yards.
The Prof defense was led by seven tackles from Adams and Tyler Jenkins, while Bobby Barbieri finished with five.
The Rams head on the road for their next game which is slated for Friday night at Fitchburg State at 7 p.m., while Profs travel to Wesley for a non-conference game next Saturday at 1 p.m.