Westfield State Stops Fitchburg State, 37-30

Miller collects four total touchdowns in key conference setback

FITCHBURG, Mass. (November 1, 2008) - The Fitchburg State football team collected suffered a tough 37-30 setback to Westfield State College in New England Football Conference action this afternoon at Elliot Field.

Senior Jim Miller (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) led the Fitchburg State offense with a 23-for-33 performance and 313 yards passing. Miller added to his conference leading season with one TD pass and three rushing touchdowns. The veteran quarterback was also led the Falcons on the ground, totaling 95 yards on the ground on 13 carries.

Classmate Marlon Thornton (Bromfield, Conn./Bromfield) was also solid with the run for the Falcons, totaling 73 yards on 20 carries. Sophomore Kenneth Russell, Jr. (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) led all receivers with 127 yards and seven catches, including one for a touchdown. Thornton added 68 yards through the air, while junior Steve Austin (Jupiter, Fla./Stony Brook) hurled in five catches for 38 yards.

Westfield State started the scoring late in the first half as junior Jason Proule (Bridgewater, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) gave the Owls a 7-0 lead, capping a ten-play, 80-yard drive  with a six yard dash to the end zone.

Fitchburg State rallied back early in the second quarter has Miller called his own number and pushed through a 5-yard run to bring the Falcons within one. After a quick Westfield score, Miller found the end zone again, busting a 3-yard run to cap a nine play drive. Leading 14-13, Westfield State exploded for nine points in the final 1:19 to take a 23-13 lead into the half. Junior David Benoit (Ludlow, mass./Ludlow)  led the charge with a 16 yard TD reception, while kicker Chris Stengel (Forest Hill, Md./North Harford) connected for a 27-yard field goal.

KENNETH RUSSELL, JR.

In the third quarter, Westfield increased its lead to 37-20, out-scoring the Falcons 14-7 in the frame. Junior defensive back Josh Mathieu (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) sparked the Owls with a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown, while Benoit notched his second score of the game off a 10-yard pass. Russell, Jr. found the end zone for the Falcons, connecting with Miller for a 56 yard TD pass.

Trailing 37-20 in the fourth quarter, Fitchburg State turned on an offensive explosion to bring the game within striking distance. After a 27-yard field goal by kicker Evan Georgopoulos (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) and a stellar defensive stand by the Falcons defense, Fitchburg State drove 99 yards in 4:36 to bring the game within seven. Miller and Thornton led the drive, connecting for a 33 yard pass before Miller found the end zone for his third rushing score of the game. The 99-yard drive tied a program record previously set the Fitchburg State football program.

Fitchburg State mustered another strong defensive stand late in the fourth quarter, giving its offense one last chance to tie the game. The Falcons started the drive with 26 seconds on the clock from the own 32 yard line before Millers last ditch effort was picked off by Mathieu to clinch the game.

Proule paced Westfield State with game-high 147 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown, while freshman Luke Johnson (South Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) registered 70 yards on ten carries and one TD. Quarterback Dan Cohen (Wilbraham, Mass./Minnechaug) tossed for 218 yards and two touchdowns, while Benoit pulled in a team-high five catches for 50 yards.

Freshman Andrew Cavanagh (Brattleboro, Vt./Brattleboro Union) led all Fitchburg State tackles with ten stops on the day (8 solo, two assist), while freshman Andrew Fodera (Peabody, Mass./Peabody) led the Owls with a game-high 11 tackles (seven solo, four assists). Senior Eugene Boakye (Worcester, Mass./South) was also solid for the Falcons, totaling eight stops and one sack.

Fitchburg State (4-5, 4-2 NEFC) is back in action next Saturday as it travels to Maine-Maritime at 12 p.m.. Westfield State (5-4, 3-3 NEFC) will host Worcester State College next Saturday at 12 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Westfield 37, Fitchburg State 30

 Scoring:
First Quarter: WES: Jason Proule (6-yard run), 3:11;
Second Quarter:  FSC: Jim Miller (5-yard run), 13:17; WES: Luke Johnson (14-yard run), 11:01; FSC: Miller (3-yard run), 5:00; WES: David Benoit (16-yard pass), 1:19; Chris Stengel (27-yard FG), 00:00;
Third Quarter: WES: Josh Mathieu (35-yard int), 14:43; FSC: Kenneth Russell, Jr. (56-yard pass), 14:27; WES: Benoit (10 yard pass), 9:20
Fourth quarter: FSC: Evan Georgopoulos (27 yard FG), 14:58; FSC: Miller (4-yard run), 8:35;