Falcons Fall to Panthers, 36-0 In MASCAC Action

Monteiro and Perez notch seven tackles each for Green and Gold   

Plymouth, N.H.– The Fitchburg State University football team dropped a 36-0 decision to the Panthers of Plymouth State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Panther Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Plymouth State 36

Records: Fitchburg State (0-7, 0-5 MASCAC) Plymouth State (2-4, 2-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Plymouth State grabbed a 6-0 advantage early in the opening quarter as senior tailback Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) took a handoff around the right edge and found the end zone from eight yards out.

The Panthers upped their lead with 5:20 remaining in the first frame when Sanchez plunged in from a yard out, capping an eight play, 28 yard drive for the 13-0 lead going into the half.

Following the intermission, Plymouth State upped its advantage with eight minutes left in the third quarter when senior Dan Carey (Plymouth, N.H.) connected on a ten yard field goal for the 16-0 edge. The hosts extended their lead (22-0) three minutes later as freshman Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) scooped up a loose ball and rumbled 20-yards for the touchdown.

The Panthers secured the victory midway through the fourth quarter with freshman Greg Walker (Boxford, Mass.) taking the handoff and going 25 yards into the end zone for his first career score, resulting in the 36-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

This afternoon's contest marks 13th matchup between the Falcons and the Panther on the Gridiron with Fitchburg State 3-10 all-time when taking on Plymouth State

Offensively for the Falcons, senior Joseph Haskins (Townsend, Mass.) finished 5-for-9 with 46 yards passing, while junior Frank Sims, IV (Peabody, Mass.) ran for 45 yards on 25 carries. Sophomore Matthew Aguirre (Laredo, Tex.) hauled in one pass for 18 yards.

For the Panthers, senior Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with 43 yards through the air and one TD, while Sanchez rushed for 28 yards on seven attempts and a pair of touchdowns.

Defensively, graduate defensive back Joel Monteiro (Brockton, Mass.) led the way with a team-leading seven tackles on five solo stops and two assisted tackles, while sophomore Logan Perez (Beaumont, Calif.) added seven total tackles on six solo tackles and on assist as well as one TFL.

For Plymouth State, junior defensive back Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) registered a game-leading nine tackles on six solo stops and three assisted tackles, while senior Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) chipped in with nine stops on five solo tackles, four assisted stops and 1.5 TFL's

Up Next

Falcons return to action next Saturday as they travel to UMass Dartmouth to take on the Corsairs in MASCAC action, starting at 3:30 PM. Panthers will host the Lancers of Worcester State on the same date for a conference clash with a 1:00 pm kickoff.