Football Opens 2024 with a Win Over Dean

FRANKLIN, MA: Fitchburg State football won this afternoon in non-conference action against the Bulldogs of Dean College. The victory marks the first career win for Head Coach Izzy Abraham in his first game as the Head Coach. 

THE BASICS:

- Date: 9/7/24

- Score: Fitchburg 12, Dean 0

- Records: Fitchburg (1-0), Dean (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

This game was back and forth for most of it. Neither team was able to find the endzone consistently. The Falcons defense shut the Bulldogs down, while Fitchburg was able to break the goal line twice.

- The Falcons would finally take the lead on their fourth drive of the game. After a fake punt rush by Matthew Aguirre (Laredo, TX) for 26 yards, Sophomore quarterback Rocky Marchitelli (Gunnison, CO) found Sahir Gomez (Whittier, CA) open for the 40-yard touchdown completion. Marchitelli found Gomez just behind the linebackers over the middle of the field. Gomez turned and saw there was no safety help and scampered his way into the endzone.

- The Falcons would add one more touchdown on their first drive of the fourth quarter. Backed up to their own one-yard line, quarterback Devin Lebron (Peabody, MA) would find freshman wide receiver Emilio Cabey (Boston, MA) at the ten-yard line over the middle wide open. Cabey would then take off and run 90 yards for the score, giving Lebron a 99-yard touchdown pass, giving him the longest play in Falcons football history. The two-point conversion was then unsuccessful to get the final 12-0.

- In the shutout, the Falcons were led on defense by Camren Topkin (Ledyard, CT) and Cameron Monette (Winchendon, MA). Tompkin topped the team with 12 tackles, coming on one solo and eight assists. Monette was just behind him with 11 tackles, with three solo and eight assists. He also added four sacks in the effort for a total of 26 yards lost for the Bulldogs. Also aiding in the first shutout for the Falcons football team since 10/10/15 against Worcester State was Jordan Cummings (Swampscott, MA), who had an interception for the Falcons to go along with nine tackles. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Total Yards: Fitchburg 199, Dean 171

-  Passing: Fitchburg 148, Dean 62

-  Rushing: Dean 109, Fitchburg 51

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State football will return next Saturday for their home opener against UMass Dartmouth, starting MASCAC action at noon.

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