Framingham State Downs Fitchburg State, 41-7

C. Bachand scores lone TD for Falcons with nine-yard run

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (October 8, 2011) – The Fitchburg State football team battled cross-town rival Framingham State University, falling 41-7 in New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division action this afternoon.

The Rams accumulated 325 yards of total offense (167 rushing and 158 passing) to just 123 total yards for the Falcons (94 rushing and 29 passing). With the victory, Framingham State improves to 4-2 on the season and 3-0 in the NEFC, while the Falcons fall to 2-4 on the year and 1-2 in the division.

Sophomore quarterback Dino Mancinelli (Madison, Conn.) completed 11 of 17 pass attempts for 158 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Rams, while senior wide receiver James McCarthy (Newton, Mass.) made five catches for 84 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Framingham State started the contest off strong, taking the opening kickoff and driving 59 yards on four plays for the game's first score.  Mancinelli completed a 22-yard touchdown pass to McCarthy on the left sideline for the early 7-0 lead.

The Rams defense followed with their first take away of the game – a Mark Nunes (Taunton, Mass.) interception – that set Framingham up on their own 25 yard line.  Sophomore tailback Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) capped the Rams second scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run that put Framingham ahead 13-0 just over eight minutes into the game.

Framingham State added a pair of touchdowns before the half to take a 27-0 lead at the break.  Late in the first quarter Mancinelli and McCarthy connected on their second TD of the game, this one a 17-yard strike, and late in the second Mancinelli hit Alex Avery (Milford, Mass.) in the back corner of the end zone for a score.

The Falcons got on the board with 7:44 remaining in the third quarter as their defense recovered a fumble, giving the offense the ball on the Rams 49-yard line. Eight plays later, after the Falcons' drive was kept alive by a pair of Ram penalties on fourth downs, sophomore running back Chris Bachand (Newington, Conn.) scored the Falcons lone touchdown with a 9-yard TD run.

The Rams padded their lead with a pair of touchdowns down the stretch to reach the final margin of 41-7.  Van Alstyne scored his second of the game on a one yard run with 1:05 left in the third and freshman Greg Little (Danvers, Mass.) scored on a one yard QB keeper with just over five left in the game.

Freshman Steph'fon Teague (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) led the Falcons with 69 yards on 13 carries, while Bachand rushed for 30 yards and a score.  Quarterbacks Brian McDonald (Westwood, Mass.) and Tanner Bachand (Newington, Conn.) split time behind center, combining for 29 yards through the air.

The Falcon defense was led by senior Anthony Bizzotto (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) who picked up a game-high ten tackles, including nine solo stops and a sack.  Senior defensive back Chris Rose (Gloversville, N.Y./Gloversville) picked up a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (2-4, 1-2 NEFC) will be back in action next weekend as it hosts Mass-Maritime Academy at 1:30 p.m. Framingham State (4-2, 3-0 NEFC )returns to action next Saturday as they travel to Maine Maritime Academy for a 1 p.m. kickoff