Framingham State Edges Fitchburg State, 40-37

Austin totals 185 yards rushing in Falcons NEFC opener

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (September 26, 2009) - The Fitchburg State football team endured a heart-breaking New England Football Conference setback, as Framingham State junior Phil Cosmos' (Natick, Mass./Natick) 21yd field goal sailed through the uprights as time expired to give the Rams a 40-37 victory this afternoon. 

Fitchburg State grabbed a pair of touchdowns early in the fourth quarter as senior Carlos De La Rosa (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) pulled in two TD receptions, but Framingham State matched the Falcons touchdown for touchdown to set up Cosmos game-winning kick. On the final drive, Framingham State used an 11-play, 98 yard drive, taking 1:38 off the clock to clinch their third victory of the season.

The Falcons dominated the first half, jumping out to an early 20-10 lead at the break. Junior Jordan Cannava (Woburn, Mass./Melrose) led the Falcons, putting Fitchburg State on the board first as he followed sophomore Chris Rose's (Gloversville, N.Y./Gloversville) 22 yard interception with a 1yd TD run. Later in the quarter, Cannava connected with senior Devon Jennings (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) on a 10yd touchdown pass, while senior Steve Austin (Jupiter, Fla./Stony Brook) capped the Falcons first half scoring with a 76 yard blast in the second period.

Framingham State took its first lead of the contest, 24-20, midway through the third quarter as the Rams rifled off two consecutive touchdown drives, resulting in two David Leach (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) scores. The Falcons pulled within one, 24-23, late in the period as senior Evan Georgopoulos (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) drilled a 20yd FG.

After the two teams traded scores in the fourth, Fitchburg State marched down the field, setting up a first and goal on the eight yard line with less than three minutes remaining. After creeping to a fourth one and goal the one yard line, Fitchburg State elected to go for the game-winning touchdown, but Framingham State defensemen Ken Glover (Waltham, Mass./Everett) and David Akasa (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) pulled out the goal line stop to set up the Rams game-winning drive.

Leach led all rushers with a game-high 270 yards rushing and four TDs, while Austin posted 185 yards on the ground for the Falcons and one TD. Cannava led the Falcons passing attack with 125 yards and three touchdowns, while De La Rosa hauled in two touchdowns with 54 yards receiving.

On the defensive side, junior Anthony Bizzotto (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) led the Falcons for the second straight week, posting 10.5 tackles (7 solo, 7 assists), while freshman Christian Guzman (Lawrence, Mass./Lawrence) and senior Dale Whittredge (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill) added nine stops apiece. Junior Joe Treacy (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) led the Rams with a team-high 5.5 tackles.           

Fitchburg State (2-2, 0-1 NEFC) will be back in action next Saturday as it hosts Bridgewater State College at 1:30 p.m. Framingham State (3-1, 1-0 NEFC) will travel to Worcester State College next Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Framingham State 40, Fitchburg State 37

Scoring:
First Quarter: FIT: Jordan Cannava (3yd run), 12:58; FRA: David Leach (4yd run), 7:07; FIT: Devon Jennings (10yd pass), 2:20;
Second Quarter: FIT: Steve Austin (76yd run), 13:52; FRA: Phil Cosmos (30yd FG), 10:23
Third Quarter: FRA: Leach (1yd run), 11:02; FRA: Leach (1yd run), 7:14; FIT: Evan Georgopoulos (20yd FG), 3:26;
Fourth Quarter: FIT: Carlos De La Rosa (27yd pass), 12:16; FRA: Kevin Garron (17yd pass), 9:45; FIT: De La Rosa (5yd pass), 8:09; FRA: Leach (10yd run), 5:00; FRA: Cosmos (20yd FG), 0:00