Football to Host RPI in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University football team has been selected to host Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in the 2014 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) North Atlantic Bowl on Saturday, November 22nd at noon.
The Rams, who appeared in the NCAA Division III Football Tournament the past two seasons, are making their first ECAC Bowl game appearance since they defeated Norwich University in overtime in the 2010 ECAC Northeast Bowl.
The Rams finished the 2014 regular season 9-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC). After falling to Rowan University in week two, the Rams closed the season with eight straight victories en route to their second straight MASCAC Title. The Rams have not lost a conference game since the MASCAC became their primary playing conference in 2013.
The Rams offense is averaging 33.9 points per game and is led by junior quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.). Silva has completed 54% of his passes this season (184-340) for 2,406 yards with 28 touchdowns and just 14 interceptions. Silva's main targets have been juniors Tevin Jones (Springfield, Mass.), Marcus Grant (Carver, Mass.) and Travis Hayes (Framingham, Mass.). Jones leads the Rams with 10 touchdown receptions and 540 receiving yards. Grant has made 40 receptions for 432 yards with five scores and Hayes has 37 catches for 566 yards and six TDs. The Rams leading rusher is sophomore Jalen Green (Brockton, Mass.). Green has netted 588 yards on 98 carries with six rushing TDs.
Framingham State's defense leads the MASCAC in six statistical categories including total defense (254.8 y/g) and scoring defense allowing just 15 points per contest. Senior safety Kevin Donahue (Norfolk, Mass.) leads the Rams on the defensive side of the ball with 82 tackles including 66 solo with five pass breakups and four sacks. Freshman linebacker Svenn Jacobson (Cumberland, ME) follows with 49 stops, two sacks, three interceptions and two forced fumbles. Junior Matt Mangano (Winchester, Mass.) has recorded 46 stops with five interceptions returned for 144 yards and two touchdowns, two fumble recoveries and 11 pass defended.
The RPI Engineers finished the 2014 season 6-4 overall and 4-3 in the Liberty League. The Engineers averaged over 27 points a game and were led by Nick Schlatz who rushed for 606 yards on 135 carries. The Engineer defense is led by Nick Borkowski who has accumulated 61 tackles including 34 solo and six for a loss with four interceptions and five breakups.
Saturday's bowl game will be the first meeting between the two schools in football. Live stats and video will be available at www.fsurams.com.