Football Holds on for 23-17 Victory over Western Connecticut on Homecoming
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University football team held on for a 23-17 victory over Western Connecticut State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Framingham's Bowditch Field on Homecoming and Family Weekend.
With the win, the Rams improve to 3-1 on the year and are now 2-0 in the MASCAC, while the Colonials fall to 1-3 overall and are now 0-2 in the league.
The Rams defense came up with the big play in the closing minute of the game as junior end Campbell Marchant (Longmeadow, Mass.) sacked Colonials quarterback Quinn Fleeting (Windsor, Conn.) and forced a fumble that was recovered by the Rams. The sack-fumble ended the Colonials drive for the tying score on the Rams 36 yard line. Campbell finished the game with nine tackles, including seven solo, with a pair of sacks and scored a two point conversion as he received the Calder Award, which is presented annually to the FSU MVP of the Homecoming game.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Rams got on the board first on a six yard touchdown run from junior Stephen Beahn (Spencer, Mass.). The Rams led 6-0 with 9:59 left in the half after the extra point was missed.
The Colonials answered with a scoring drive of their own to take a 7-6 lead with 5:30 left in the frame. Fleeting scampered in from nine yards out and Jordan D'Onofrio (Orange, Conn.) converted the extra point. The lead was short-lived as sophomore Quron Wright (Worcester, Mass.) returned the ensuing kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown. The Rams led 13-7 at the half despite having a pair of touchdowns negated on penalties.
Western Connecticut tied the game in the opening minutes of the third on an interception and 55 yard return for a touchdown by Ryan Jarzavek (Cromwell, Conn.). After D'Onofrio converted the extra point, the Colonials led 14-13.
The Rams defense put the hosts on top for good on the first play of the fourth quarter with a fumble by the Colonials in their own end zone that resulted in a safety.
Senior Trevon Offley (Brockton, Mass.) extended the lead on a two yard touchdown run with just over 10 minutes remaining. The extra point was blocked, but Marchant carried the loose ball into the end zone for the 2-point conversion making it a two score game.
The Colonials used a 15 play, 81 yard drive capped by a 28 yard field goal from D'Onofrio with 1:10 remaining to pull within six. The Colonials onside kicked and recovered the ball at their own 45 yard line and were moving down the field until the sack and fumble sealed the win for the Rams.
Offley was the Rams leading rusher as he collected 114 yards on 13 carries including a 57 yard gain on the final drive of the game. Junior Zak Walker (Ayer, Mass.) and freshman Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) shared quarterback duties for the Rams and combined to throw for 180 yards.
Fleeting finished the game 17-of-30 for 186 yards with a touchdown and was sacked three times for the Colonials. Khalil Patterson rushed for 75 yards on 19 carries for the Colonials, while Jawad Chisholm had nine catches for 106 yards.
Junior Svenn Jacobson (Cumberland, ME) recoded 11 with two for a loss, while senior Jaleel Wingard (Everett, Mass.) also added nine tackles.
The Rams are back in action next Saturday when they travel to UMass Dartmouth for a 5 p.m. game, while the Colonials host Bridgewater State next Saturday night at 6 p.m.