Fitchburg State Roars Past Plymouth State, 30-7

Summiel sets new single season TD receptions mark for Falcons on senior day

FITCHBURG, Mass. - As was the story line throughout the year, Fitchburg State's stout defense held Plymouth State to 148 total yards of offense, leading the way for the 30-7 Falcon victory on Senior Day at Elliot Field.

For Fitchburg State, junior quarterback Garrett Dellechiaie finished 17-of-30 through the air with 196 yards and four touchdowns, while senior wide receiver Ty Spencer hauled in eight catches for 95 yards and one score. Junior tight end Devin Summiel was also solid for the Falcons in the passing game, catching two passes for 34 yards and pair of TD's

Freshman QB Cody Edwards led the way for the Panthers offense, completing 11-of-22 passes for 125 yards, while senior Andrew Vallaro ran for 43 yards on seven carries. Newcomer Mitch Banuskevich added to the mix as well with six catches for 80 yards.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Luis Feliz totaled a team-leading eight tackles, including six solo stops, three sacks and a fumble recovery, while junior Malcolm Brown-Simpson added six stops to go along with one tackle for loss and a fumble forced for the Green and Gold.

For Plymouth State, junior defensive back RJ Ramsden finished with a game-best 11 stops, including nine solo tackles, while senior linebacker added to the mix with ten total tackles, two and half stops for loss and an assisted sack.

"Defense has always been the mark of a good Fitchburg State football team," said head coach Pat Haverty following the win, "these guys have done a good job and they've earned their success because they've worked hard".      

Plymouth State opened the scoring at the 7:20 mark, driving 72 yards on 12 plays as sophomore running back Joe Ceraldi ran it in from one yard out for the early 7-0 advantage.

The Falcons knotted the score (7-7) with 12:13 remaining in the second quarter, capping an 11 play, 40 yard drive when Dellechiaie found Summiel in the far corner of the end zone for the six yard touchdown for Summiel's tenth touchdown grab of the year.

Fitchburg State struck again taking the lead with six minutes left in the half on a 26 yard field goal by junior kicker Christopher Ludwig for the 10-7 lead before the Green and Gold extended its lead with 4:07 left as Dellechiaie hit senior Trayvon Neal in the back of the end zone to make the 16-7 going into the break.

The second half would resume with the Green and Gold receiving the kickoff and the offense continued to flow, as they took it 70 yards on seven plays capping off the scoring drive with a touchdown pass as Dellechiaie connected with Spencer from 22 yards out, widening the gap 23-7.

In the fourth quarter Dellechiaie threw his fourth and final touchdown finding pay-dirt in under a minute hitting Summiel for six to break the school's single-season touchdown receptions record with 11, resulting in the 30-7 final

"I just tried giving it all I had for these guys," he said following the potential bowl-clinching win, "we believe and we know good things are going to happen" he continued.

The Falcons defense didn't allow any progression on the ground and all game were successful in stopping the triple-option attack of Plymouth State, allowing just 23 total yards of rushing offense to the Panthers in the contest.

Fitchburg State (8-2, 6-2 MASCAC) concluded its regular season this afternoon and awaits a possible bid into an ECAC Championship Bowl Game. Plymouth State concludes its 2015 season with an overall record of 2-8 and a 1-7 mark in conference play.

Release courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme

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