Football Clipped by Fitchburg State

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Worcester State University football team was clipped 30-14 by Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference action at Coughlin Field.

With the loss, Worcester State continues to search for its first win of the season with a record of 0-8 and 0-6 in the MASCAC. Fitchburg State claims its first MASCAC win of the season, advancing to 1-6 in the conference and 2-7 overall.

Fitchburg State found the scoreboard first in the contest, opening the game with a 14-play, 64-yard drive that ended in a one-yard Steven Lawton touchdown run. Linnea D'Acchille tacked on the first of her four extra points to extend Fitchburg's lead to 7-0.

With 8:31 remaining in the second quarter and the Falcons still ahead by a score, the Lancers bit into Fitchburg's lead, taking advantage of a shanked punt. After getting the ball on Fitchburg's 31 yard-line, Worcester State needed only three plays to find the end zone, with sophomore Amir Mells (Dorchester, Mass.) punching it in from a yard out. The extra point was blocked, and Fitchburg maintained its lead at 7-6.

A blocked punt deep in Worcester State territory set up Steven Lawton's second touchdown jaunt of the day in the final minute of the first half. Robert Jackson blocked the punt for the Falcons, giving Fitchburg the ball on the five-yard line, and the visitors would score two plays later. The teams went to the locker room with Worcester State trailing 14-6.

Neither team scored in the third quarter, but on the second play of the fourth, Fitchburg State capped a 13-play, 62-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown catch by Joshua Nelson from quarterback Connor Fitzsimons to put the Falcons on top 21-6.

On the impending Worcester State possession, the Falcons all but put the game to bed. Again punting from deep in their own territory, the Lancers fell victim to another Jackson blocked punt, and this time the freshman hopped on the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

A bad snap on a Lancers punt moments later sailed out of the back of the end zone for a safety, putting Fitchburg State ahead 30-6.

Worcester State had a morale-boosting 18-play, 58-yard touchdown drive in the game's final minutes, capped by a seven-yard touchdown reception by freshman Cam Kergo (Mashpee, Mass.) from Aaron-Moses Williams (Springfield, Mass.). Williams again found Kergo for the two-point conversion, giving the game its final score of 30-14 with 1:15 remaining. 

Lawton was the offensive star of the game for the Falcons, with 141 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Williams was Worcester State's top offensive player, completing 21 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. 

Defensively, Worcester State's Anthony Casparriello (Westborough, Mass.) and Gus Ramstrom (Natick, Mass.) led all players with 12 tackles each. Casparriello also had 2.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry in the contest, while Ramstrom recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Nine tackles for Fitchburg's Evan Drake led the Falcons.

Fitchburg State held the Lancers to just 164 yards of total offense in the game, while gaining 280 yards of total offense. The Falcons received 192 yards on the ground in the contest.

Worcester State will travel to Westfield State next weekend when the team returns to action, playing Saturday at 12 p.m. Fitchburg State will conclude its season the same day, hosting Western Connecticut for Senior Day.

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