Panthers Upend Falcons in MASCAC Action
Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University
football team dropped a 42-7 decision to the Panthers of
Plymouth State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate
Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Saturday afternoon at
Elliot Field.
The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 7, Plymouth State 42
Records: Fitchburg State (1-6, 0-5 MASCAC) |Plymouth State
(5-1, 3-1 MASCAC)
How It Happened
The Panthers put together a seven-play, 74-yard scoring drive on their opening possession. Junior Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) had a 2-yard touchdown run to give Plymouth State the 7-0 lead after one quarter.
Plymouth State would double the lead (14-0) just three minutes into the second quarter. Senior Kayden Baillargeon (Derry, NH) blocked a Fitchburg State field goal attempt to give the Panthers the ball on the Falcons' 40-yard line. Five plays later, running back Thanos Boulukos (Old Bethpage, NY) found the endzone.
A pair of rushing touchdowns from senior Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) extended the visitors' lead to 28-0. With 2:20 remaining in the second quarter Lombard added his second touchdown of the game with a 10-yard scamper to push the lead to 35-0.
Fitchburg State broke the shutout with a strong 9-play scoring drive. Quarterback Logan Wilson (Woburn, Mass.) found rookie Kwasi Boakye (Worcester, Mass.) for a 10-yard play to extend the drive on 3rd-and-9 on the Plymouth 33-yard line. Junior Elijah Zaire McKnight (Tracy, Calif.) capped the drive with a 3-yard run.
Inside the Numbers
- Wilson finished 10-for-16 for 80 yards for the Falcons, while McKnight had 81 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown for the Falcons.
- Lombard led the Panthers with 110 yards on 11 carries and two touchdowns, while Sanchez notched 88 yards on 8 carries and two scores.
- Rooke Camren Topkin (Ledyard, Conn.) led the Falcons' defense with 11 total tackles (1 solo, 10 assists), Jordan Cummings (Swampscott, Mass.) chipped in with 10 tackles (3 solo, 7 assists).
- The Panthers' defense was led by sophomore Evan Wilson (Derry, NH) with 7 tackles (4 solo, 3 assists).
Up Next
Fitchburg State will host UMass Dartmouth next Saturday (10/22). Along with Homecoming festivities, the Falcons will honor their senior class in a pre-game ceremony.