Falcons Fall to Owls in MASCAC Action

Quarterback Brandon Brown throws for 219 yards

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University football team dropped a 41-27 decision to the Owls of Westfield State University on Friday evening in Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Elliot Field.

The Basics:

Score: Fitchburg State University 21, Westfield State 41
Records: Fitchburg State University (1-6, 1-4 MASCAC), Westfield State University (4-3, 3-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Westfield State's Travon Holder (Hartford, Conn.)  was a one-man wrecking crew for the Owls in the first half with three touchdowns . The senior capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive with a 5-yard scamper up the middle and an extra point for the 7-0 lead with 2:15 to play in the first frame.

The Falcons answered on their next possession. After a key 3^rd down conversion where quarterback Brandon Brown (Lake Mary, Fla.) found Chris Tamukedde (Lowell, Mass.) for 37 yards down the left sideline, running back Sterlin Garvin (Canton, Mass.) finished the scoring drive with a 14-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 7-6 game.

The Owls dominated the second quarter with three unanswered scores. First Holder powered 35-yards to push the lead to 14-7, then quarterback Jake Cassidy (Swampscott, Mass.) found wide receiver Evan Garvey (Dalton, Mass.) for a 25-yard touchdown reception. Holder ended the stanza with a 2-yard run to give the visitors a 27-6 lead heading into intermission.

After the intermission, the Owls extended the lead to 34-6 before the Falcons answered with a pair of scores. Garvin notched his second TD of the day with a 21-yards touchdown to cut the deficit to 34-14. Then after holding the Owls to three plays and out, B. Brown found Jesse Brown (Yonkers, NY) in the corner of the endzone for their second consecutive score.

The quarterbacks each added late rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter for the 41-27 final.  Owls' QB Cassidy kept it himself for a 14-yard rushing touchdown, while his counterpart B. Brown scored from 4-yards out.

By the Numbers

Garvin led the Falcons ground game with 83 yards and two touchdowns

Brown finished the night going 18-for-25 with two interceptions and a touchdown pass.

Senior Herbert Acosta (Los Angeles, Calif.) had 71 yards receiving on seven catches.

Holder led the Owls with a game-high 173 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Freshman Kiambu Jones (East Orange, NJ) paced the Falcons defense with 6.5 total tackles and a sack,

34th meeting between the two teams on the gridiron with the Falcons currently 10-24-0 all-time when taking on the Owls.

Fitchburg State has won three of the last five contests against Westfield State, with the Owls coming away with a 33-21 triumph last season at Alumni Field.

Up Next

The Falcons have a bye next week and return to action on Saturday, October 27^th vs. Western Connecticut State University at home. It will be senior day for the Falcons, kick-off is slated for 2:00 pm.