Strong Defense Grounds Falcons as Football Defeats Fitchburg State 14-0
Fitchburg, Mass.. – Led by junior Campbell Marchant (Longmeadow, Mass.) and senior Aaron Owens (Springfield, Mass.) the Framingham State football team shutout Fitchburg State by a score of 14-0 in the MASCAC opener for both squads on Friday night at Elliot Field. With the win the Rams improve to 2-1 and 1-0 in the MASCAC. The Falcons drop to 2-1 and 0-1 in league play.
Framingham State took the lead on its opening possession as junior quarterback Zak Walker (Ayer, Mass.) connected with classmate Mike Calicchio (Chelmsford, Mass.) in the back corner of the end zone on a 12-yard strike for the 7-0 advantage, capping a nine-play, 57-yard drive.
The Falcons threatened late in the second quarter when Fitchburg State senior signal caller Garrett Dellechiaie found fellow senior Devin Summiel on a 55-yard catch on third and nine from their own 29-yard line to set up a field goal attempt as time expired, but Marchant blocked the kick as the score remained 7-0 after one half of play.
In the third quarter, the Rams doubled their lead as Owens intercepted a pass at the Fitchburg State 30-yard line and sprinted into the end zone to make the score 14-0.
With time winding down in the final frame, Fitchburg State nearly cut into its deficit when sophomore James Antonelli found freshman wide out Jesse Brown for 18 yards before connecting with Summiel for another 32 yards to bring the ball inside the Framingham 15, but the drive stalled out as Framingham State regained possession on downs after recording two of their sevens team sacks.
Marchant paved the way for the Rams on the defensive side of the ball, collecting seven tackles with five solo tackles, 2.5 TFL's and 3.5 sacks. Junior linebacker Svenn Jacobson (Cumberland, ME) had a team-leading ten tackles on four solo stops, six assisted tackles and one tackle for loss, while Owens had an interception and touchdown with seven stops.
On the offensive side of the ball Walker went 12-for-20 with a touchdown, while seniors Jalen Green and Trevon Offley combined for 107 yards on 17 carries.
Fitchburg State was led by Dellechiaie, who finished 21-of-39 for 215 yards, while Summiel and junior Jesse Lastra combined to catch 14 balls for 184 yards.
Defensively for the Falcons, senior linebacker Tre Watson totaled a game-best 11 tackles with four solo stops, seven assisted tackles, 1.5 TFL's and one sack, while classmate Ousmane Samb registered nine stops, including five solo tackles, four assisted stops and one tackle for loss.
Fitchburg State returns to action next Friday as it travels to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears at 7 p.m. Framingham State will host Western Connecticut State next Saturday September, 24th at noon.