Falcons Defeated By Colonials, 55-34

Summiel sets Falcons All-Time career receptions mark

Danbury, Conn. – The Fitchburg State University football team dropped a tough 55-34 decision to the Colonials of Western Connecticut State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at the Western Athletic Complex.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 34. Western Connecticut State 55

Records: Fitchburg State (3-5, 2-4 MASCAC) | Western Connecticut State (7-1, 5-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Western Connecticut State raced out to a quick 14-0 advantage on a 10-yard touchdown run by senior Quinn Fleeting (Windsor, Conn.) and a 13-yard TD reception from junior Austin Calamita (N. Branford, Conn.) before the Falcons cut the deficit in half (14-7) on a 69 yard touchdown run from senior Jevon Brown-Simpson (Lynn, Mass.) with 2:26 left in the opening frame.

Following a 10 yard Fleeting to Jawad Chisholm (Bridgeport, Conn.) connection that upped the Colonials margin to 34-14. The Green and Gold responded as sophomore quarterback Connor Fitzsimons (Flushing, N.Y.) found Brown-Simpson on a 3 yard swing pass to make the score 34-20 going into halftime.

In the second half, Western Connecticut State extended its lead (48-20) on a pair of Duane Gray (New Haven, Conn.) TD runs (42 yds, 4 yds) before Fitchburg State capped the scoring midway through the fourth quarter on a two yard touchdown reception by sophomore tailback Jacqua Solomon (Bridgeport, Conn.), resulting in the 55-34 final.

Inside the Numbers

Fitzsimons led the Falcons passing attack, completing 22-of-41 passes for 272 yards and four touchdowns.

Senior tight end Devin Summiel (Tewksbury, Mass.) set Fitchburg State's all-time career receptions mark, finishing with nine grabs for 91 yards and one TD to surpass the previous mark of 170 held by former Falcon wide out Ty Spencer '17. Summiel now has 175 career catches.

Brown-Simpson paced the Green and Gold's running game, concluding the contest with 166 rushing yards on 24 carries and one score.

Defensively, junior defensive back Jovon White (Meriden, Conn.) finished with a team-best nine tackles on eight solo stops and one assisted tackle as well as one interception.

Sixth meeting between the two schools on the gridiron with the Falcons 1-5-0 when taking on the Colonials.

Western Connecticut State won the first four contest against Fitchburg State before the Falcons registered a 17-14 win over the Colonials last season at Elliot Field (10/15/16).

Up Next

Falcons will host the Panthers of Plymouth State University on Saturday for a MASCAC tilt, starting at 12 p.m. Colonials will travel to Framingham State on the same day to take on the Rams for a 12 p.m. kickoff.