Falcons Fall to Owls in MASCAC Season Finale

Fitchburg, Mass.– The Fitchburg State University football team dropped a 38-20 decision to the Owls of Westfield State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon from Elliot Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 20, Westfield State 38
Records: Fitchburg State (0-10, 0-8 MASCAC) | Westfield State (1-9, 1-7 MASCAC)

How It Happened

After fumbling on their first possession the Owls opened the scoring with a 9 play, 82-yard drive that lasted 2:41.  Senior running back Shane Clark (Bellows Falls, VT) had a big rush for 46 yards in the drive capped by a 12-yard pass from quarterback Gabriel Fernandez (Holyoke, Mass.) to sophomore Danny Farrell (Milford, Mass.) for the early 6-0 lead.

The Owls extended the lead (13-0) on the first play of the second quarter. From seven yards out Fernandez found senior Jamar Johnson (Lynn, Mass.) in the endzone for the touchdown. Fernandez pushed the Owls score to 19-0 with 40 seconds left in the first half with a quarterback sneak over the endline.

Trailing 25-0 the Green and Gold put together a 12 play scoring drive. On 3^rd and 2 at the Westfield 32-yard line sophomore Matthew Aguirre (Laredo, Texas) rumbled eleven yards to the Owls 21-yard line. Four plays later quarterback Joseph Haskins found wide receiver Timothy O'Neil on the fade route for an 11-yard score. Senior Mac Kimball connected on extra point to make the score 25-7.

The Owls countered with a yard touchdown run from Justin Jean-Charles (Springfield, Mass.) to extend the lead to 31-7 early in the 4^th quarter. The Falcons would answer on their next drive, on a toss back to Mac Jones he found Marvin Jean Baptiste (Billerica, Mass.) wide open at the Westfield 15-yard line. First year Justyn Stanford (Warrenton, Ga.) completed the drive for the hosts with a 10-yard rushing touchdown.

With 41 seconds left in the game Haskins found Stanford for 9-yards for his second score of the game. Senior Linnea D'Acchille had the good extra point en route to the 38-20 final.

Inside the Numbers

• In a pre-game ceremony the Falcons honored the senior class including: Joel Monteiro (Brockton, Mass.), Joseph Haskins (Pepperell, Mass.), Timothy O'Neill (Ashby, Mass.), Mac Kimball (Bow, NH), Mukandu Ashema (Worcester, Mass.), Rodny Bonhomme (Bridgeport, Conn.), Linnea D'Acchille (Valley Falls, NY) and John Galvin (Hanover, Mass.)
• Also recognized were senior cheerleaders: Nicole Epstein, Victoria Fuller, Madison Fitzgerald, Olivia Sullivan and Calista Lefebrve.
• Offensively for the Falcons Haskins was 8-for-24 for 107 yards with two TD's and an interception, while Stanford had 65 rushing yards and 9 receiving yards for two touchdowns. Wide receiver Aguirre had 59 receiving yards.
• Fernandez finished the day 8-for-15 for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Clark had 98 rushing yards and a score, while Simpson ran for 77 yards and a score for the visitors.
• Defensively, junior Torrian Wise, Jr. (Hampstead, NY) had 8 total tackles for the Green and Gold, while Cameron Monette (Winchendon, Mass.) had 8 total tackles and 1.5 sacks. First year Sebastian Burmester (Germantown, NY) contributed 8 total tackles.
• Junior Cameron Danahy (Kingston, Mass.) led the Owls with 6 tackles

Up Next

Both teams have concluded the 2021 campaign.