Falcons Hold Off Corsairs, 32-29

Garvin rushes for 296 yards and four TD's in MASCAC victory

Dartmouth, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University football team defeated the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth, 32-29 this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Cressy Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 32, UMass Dartmouth 29

Records: Fitchburg State (2-8, 2-6 MASCAC) | UMass Dartmouth (5-5, 4-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

UMass Dartmouth took a 14-6 advantage at the end of one quarter of play as freshman running back Devonte Greaves (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) found the end zone twice from eight yards and 18-yards out.

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 14-12 with 11:36 left I the second quarter as senior Sterlin Garvin (Canton, Mass./Canton) scampered 64 yards on the Falcons first play of the second frame. The Green and Gold took the lead midway through the frame as Garvin capped a five play, 73-yard drive with a 15 yard touchdown to make the score 18-14.

Fitchburg State would take a 26-14 edge into the locker room when freshman quarterback Brandon Brown (Lake Mary, Fla./Lake Mary) connected with junior Jesse Brown (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) from 26 yards out to finish off a four play, 65 yard drive.

Following the intermission, the Falcons extended its margin (32-14) as Garvin struck for his fourth score of the contest, this time from nine yards out. UMass Dartmouth battled back however in the final quarter of play.

Trailing by three scores, the Corsairs answered back with 3:23 remaining in the contest when sophomore quarterback Stephen Gacioch (Tiverton, R.I./Tiverton) found classmate DJ Machado (Swansea, Mass./Diman Regional) from 17-yards out to cut the lead to 32-21.

The hosts made it a one score game with 31 seconds left as junior Jacen Hudson (Hudson, N.H./Hudson) hauled in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Gacioch, but the Falcons recovered the ensuing onside kick, resulting in the 32-29 final.

Inside the Numbers

22nd meeting between the two teams on the gridiron with the Falcons currently 8-14 all-time when taking on the Corsairs.

Fitchburg State has won four of the last six contest against UMass Dartmouth, with the Corsairs coming away with a 38-0 triumph last season at Elliot Field.

Offensively for the Falcons, Garvin led the way with 296 rushing yards on 36 carries and four TD's, while B. Brown threw for 51 yards (2-of-6) and one touchdown as well as rushing for 149 yards on 12 rushes.

For the Corsairs, Gacioch finished 26-for-53 for 391 yards and a pair of TD's, while Greaves added 82 yards on the ground (14 carries) and two touchdowns.

Defensively, junior Malik Crawford (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) collected a game-best 12 tackles on 11 solo stops and one assisted tackle, while freshman Samuel Kenny (South Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) added two solo tackles, two assisted stops and a pair of sacks for the Green and Gold.

UMass Dartmouth was led by junior Connor Russ (Middletown, R.I./Middletown) with eight tackles on four solo stops, four assisted tackles and one fumble recovery, while classmate Dwayne Hunter-Parker (Waterbury, Conn./Hyde) chipped in with five total tackles on four solo and one assisted.

Garvin's 296 rushing yards for Fitchburg State was the second most rushing yards in a single game, the most since former Falcon standout Deandre Freeman's total of 299 during the 1999 season.

Up Next

Falcons conclude their 2018 season this afternoon with an overall record of 2-8 and a 2-6 mark in conference play. Corsairs also wrap up their 2018 season today with a record of 5-5 and a 4-4 clip in MASCAC play.