Football Wins Inaugural New England Bowl 37-34 over Salve Regina

Newport, RI – The Framingham State University defense stopped Salve Regina University on four straight plays inside the ten in the final two minutes as the Rams defeated the Seahawks 37-34 in the Inaugural New England Bowl.  The Rams close the season at 8-3, while the Seahawks are 8-2.

Salve Regina was driving for the go ahead score and had a first and goal from the seven with 2:07 remaining in the fourth.  Sam Pascale rushed for five yards on the first two plays setting up a third and goal from the two yard line.  After a timeout, Pascale gained a yard on third down and then was stuffed for no gain by Zach Lozzi (Lynn, Mass.) on fourth down to secure the victory for the Rams.

Freshman quarterback Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) was selected MVP New England Bowls after completing 13-of-20 passes for 224 yards with a pair of touchdowns, while also rushing for 21 yards and another score.

Sophomore Quron Wright (Worcester, Mass.) rushed for 121 yards on 12 carries with a touchdown, while junior Mike Calicchio (Chelmsford, Mass.) mad three receptions for 123 yards in the game.

The Rams defense was led by eight tackles apiece from senior Aaron Owens (Springfield, Mass.) and junior Svenn Jacobson (Cumberland, ME) and Tom Burns (Attleboro, Mass.).

The Rams jumped out to a 7-0 lead just 19 seconds into the game on a 79 yard scoring run from Wright.  Wojenski connected with Calicchio for a 75 yard scoring strike with 9:24 left in the first to extend the lead to 14-0.

Salve Regina cut the lead in half three minutes later on a 26 yard touchdown  run by Pascale, but a 38 yard  field goal from freshman Shawn St. Marie pushed the lead to 17-7 after one.

Senior running back Trevon Offley (Brockton, Mass.) capped a nine play, 62 yard drive with a six yard touchdown in the final minute of the second giving the Rams a 23-7 lead at the half.

Salve Regina cut the lead to 10 in the opening minutes of the third, but sophomore Napoleon Miller (Boston, Mass.) caught a 21 yard touchdown from Wojenski with five minutes remaining in the third to push the lead to 30-13.

Salve cut the lead back to 10 in the final minute of the third, but the Rams pushed the lead back to 17 on an 18 yard touchdown run by Wojenski.  Salve added a pair of scores just over a minute apart to pull within three with 7:32 remaining.  James Dawson scored on a 25 yard run and John Salute scored on a 12 yard fumble recovery.

Four Division III conferences in New England presented the Inaugural New England Bowl – the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) absorbing five members of the New England Football Conference (NEFC), the Eastern College Football Conference (ECFC), the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC).