Fitchburg State Falls At Framingham State, 42-21

Saint Juste notches six catches for 129 and one TD

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (September 21, 2013) The Fitchburg State football team registered a pair of second half scores but the Rams of Framingham State registered a 42-21 victory in MASCAC action this afternoon.

The Rams improve to 2-1 on the year and 1-0 in the conference, while the Falcons fall to 1-2 overall and are now 0-1 in the MASCAC.

Senior running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) had an outstanding day, accounting for 215 of the Rams 436 yards of offense in the game. He rushed for 192 yards on 30 carries with a touchdown and had three receptions for 23 yards and a score.

After punting on their first possession of the game, the Rams scored on their next five.  They got on the board first with 8:46 remaining in the first quarter when sophomore quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.) hit classmate Travis Hayes (Framingham, Mass.) with a 36 yard touchdown strike. After sophomore Sean Wlasuk (Peabody, Mass.) converted the extra point the Rams led 7-0.

Freshman Jalen Green (Brockton, Mass.) set up the Rams second touchdown with a 49 yard punt return giving the Rams the ball on Fitchburg's 21 yard line. After a pair of rushes by Green netted seven yards, Silva connected with junior Jared Gauthier (Dracut, Mass.) for a 14 yard touchdown pass.

The Rams needed just five plays to go 64 yards to put their next points on the board.  Van Alstyne racked up 37 yards on the drive including capping it off with a 12 yard TD run.  Wlasuk, who was perfect on PAT's for the game, converted the extra point giving the Rams a 21-0 lead with 2:01 left in the first quarter.

On its fifth possession of the day, Fitchburg State finally were able to put a drive together that resulted in its only score of the first half.  Freshman quarterback Garrett Dellechiaie (Leominster, Mass.) rushed for 18 yards on the drive and completed a pair of passes to junior Phillip Saint-Juste (New Rochelle, N.Y.). Sophomore Mike Delaney (Marion, Mass.) capped the drive, going  over the top of the pile for a one-yard touchdown  to cut the Rams lead to 21-6.

The Rams answered on their next drive as Silva and Hayes connected on their second touchdown of the day this one a nine yard fade to the corner of the end zone.

The second half was a different story as the Rams turned the ball over three times on a fumble and a pair of interceptions which the Falcons converted into a pair of touchdowns.  Junior Talib Barksdale (Hudson, NY) stripped Van Alstyne on the Rams opening possession of the second half, but the Rams defense once again came up big forcing another three and out.

Silva was intercepted by junior Tevin Bienaime (Swansea, Mass.) on the Rams ensuing possession and the Falcons went 17 yards in three plays for their second score of the day – a 17 yard touchdown pass from Dellechiaie to freshman Jesse Lastra (Lehigh Acres, Fla.)

Bienaime intercepted Silva once again early in the fourth quarter giving the Falcons the ball on their own 33 yard line with 11:05 left in the game.  The Falcons took advantage as Dellechiaie started the drive with a 22 yard completion to Saint-Juste and eluded the Framingham State rush on a fourth and three completing an 18 yard pass to Lastra to keep the drive alive. After a Framingham State penalty, Dellechiaie completed a 10 yard touchdown pass to Saint-Juste cutting the deficit to 35-21 with 8:57 left in the contest.

That was as close as the Falcons would come as the Rams added a final touchdown with 2:33 left in the game on a 15 yard screen from Silva to Van Alstyne to reach the margin.

Fitchburg State will be in action again next Saturday as it hosts Bridgewater State at 1:30 p.m. Framingham State will travel to Western Connecticut State at 12 p.m.