Posted: Sep 26, 2014
Falcons Come From Behind to Defeat BSU, 21-17
Fitchburg St.
(2-2)
21
Bridgewater St.
(2-2)
17
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fitchburg St. (2-2) | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
|
Bridgewater St. (2-2) | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Sophomore quarterback Garrett Dellechiaie threw for 409 yards and two touchdowns, and senior safety Elizear Torres returned an interception 29 yards for the game-winning score, as the visiting Fitchburg State University football team posted a 21-17 MASCAC victory over Bridgewater State University on Friday night at Swenson Field.
The visiting Falcons improve to 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the MASCAC, while the Bears fall to 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Trailing 17-7 early in the third quarter, Dellechiaie connected with senior wideout Phillip Saint-Juste on a 46-yard touchdown pass to pull the Falcons to within 17-14.
In the closing seconds of the third quarter with the Bears in possession of the ball at their own 12, Torres intercepted a third and long pass from BSU sophomore quarterback Danny Higgins at the 29 yard-line and raced into the end zone for the go ahead score. Neither team would score again in the game as the Falcons would hold on for the 21-17 win.
Dellechiaie completed 31 of 46 passes for his game-high 409 yards and two touchdowns. He also hooked up with sophomore tight end Devin Summiel on a 48-yard scoring strike to open the scoring in the first quarter.
Summiel finished with game-high totals of 11 catches and 174 yards. Saint-Juste added ten receptions for 102 yards.
The Bears tied the game in the second quarter on a Higgins 17-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Michael Viola. The score capped a 13-play, 94-yard drive. Later in the period, following a David Console interception and subsequent 29-yard return, the Bears moved the ball 63 yards in just 39 seconds. The drive was capped off by a Colin Neri 22-yard field goal with just 13 seconds left in the half as the Bears headed to the intermission with a 10-7 lead.
Bridgewater took the opening possession of the second half and marched 65 yards on just six plays with Higgins scoring on a five-yard TD run to extend the advantage to 17-7. A pair of receptions by freshman wide receiver Travis Bassett 19 and 25 yards highlighted the drive.
Higgins completed 24 of 52 passes for a BSU school-record 326 yards and a touchdown. He was also intercepted twice and sacked four times. Higgins broke his own mark of 313 passing yards set just last week against Worcester State.
Bassett finished with a career-high eight receptions and 106 yards. Senior wideout Matt Green added seven catches for 102 yards.
BSU sophomore tailback Blaise Branch led all ball carriers with 62 yards on 19 carries.
Fitchburg amassed 459 yards of total offense with just 50 coming on the ground. Bridgewater finished with 414 yards of offense with 326 passing and 88 rushing.
The two teams combined to punt 13 times in the game. Time of possession favored the Falcons who had the ball for 32 ½ minutes.
Both teams are back in action a week from Saturday. The Bears travel to Western Connecticut State University for a one o'clock MASCAC game with the Colonials, while the Falcons entertain conference rival Massachusetts Maritime Academy at 1:30.
