Western Connecticut Rolls Past Fitchburg State, 70-14

Wrice highlights Falcons with a  91 yard kick return TD

DANBURY, Conn. (October 19, 2013) -  Senior running back Octavias McKoy (Stratford, CT) led Western Connecticut, rushing 22 times for 226 yards and five touchdowns as the Fitchburg State football team fell to the Colonials, 70-14 this evening.

McKoy scored on runs of 36, 14, 16, 14 and 29 yards, respectively before being summoned to the bench for the final quarter of play. Also setting new a school record was sophomore kicker Michael Killoran (West Hartford, CT) who converted all 10 of his extra-point attempts.

Western improves to 4-2 overall and are now 3-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference while the Falcons drop to 3-4 overall an 2-3 in the league.

After holding Fitchburg State to three plays on its first possession, Western began its first drive with good field position at the 32 yard line in spite of a 53-yard Fitchburg State punt.  The Colonials wasted little time in going 68 yards in five plays to take a 7-0 lead when junior Will Arndt (Sandy Hook, CT) connected with sophomore Connor Falaguerra (Milford, CT) down the left side-line for a 51 touchdown pass, giving Western the early lead.

On Fitchburg State's next possession, the Falcons moved the ball into the Western end of the field, but freshman defensive back Devante Credle (West Haven, CT) intercepted a pass by freshman Garrett Dellechiaie (Leominster, MA), putting the Western offense back on the field.

Arndt found Falaguerra again for a 35-yard completion, and on the game's next play McKoy  burst through the left side of the line and sprinted 36 yards for the second Western touchdown of the day and a 14-0 lead with 5:46 remaining in the first quarter.

On the ensuing Western kickoff, freshman Taylor Wrice (Malden, MA) received the kick at the nine yard line and ran 91 yards up the left side to put the Falcons on the board and narrow the Western lead to 14-7.

Western Connecticut connected for 21 more points over its next couple drives to take a commanding 35-7 advantage, but Fitchburg State ended the first half strong as Dellechiaie found junior Ty Spencer (Foxboro, MA) in the end-zone for a touchdown with 0:45 seconds remaining in the half.

In the second half, its was all Western Connecticut, who notched five more scores for the 70-14 final. Falaguarra led Western's receiving corps with five catches for 122 yards and a TD, while defensively, Bill Birdsell (Newtown, CT) and Michael Lacaria (Watertown, CT) led the winners with eight and seven tackles, respectively. Teven Bienaime (Swansea, MA) and Taron Seaforth (Lynn, MA) had six and five tackles for the Falcons, respectively.

Fitchburg State will hit the gridiron again in two weeks as it travels to Westfield State University on November 2nd at 12 p.m.