FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – The Framingham State University football team cruised to a 47-13 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victory over visiting Bridgewater State University on Saturday afternoon at Bowditch Field.
The Rams improve to 7-2 on the season and 7-0 in the MASCAC with their seventh straight win. Framingham clinched their fourth straight MASCAC title and tenth in the last 11 years. The Bears fall to 5-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play. The Rams have won ten of the last 11 meetings between the two teams, while Bridgewater holds a 32-16 advantage in the all-time series which dates back to 1973.
Junior quarterback Nicolas Goffredo (Hyde Park, Mass.) paced the Rams' offense as he completed 23 of 37 pass attempts for 281 yards and two touchdowns. Goffredo also added 54 yards on the ground and a rushing TD.
FSU sophomore running back Devaun Ford (Mashpee, Mass.) rushed for a game-high 99 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and caught five passes for 79 yards and another score. Junior running back Marcus McBean Jr. (Norwood, Mass.) added 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 rushing attempts.
The Rams amassed 530 yards of total offense with 281 coming through the air and 249 on the ground in a very balanced attack. Framingham also totaled 34 first downs and finished with a decided edge in time of possession as the Rams had the ball for over 41 minutes (41:15).
Junior quarterback James Cahoon (Buzzards Bay, Mass.) threw for 234 yards and a touchdown to lead the BSU offense. Cahoon's 44 pass attempts for the game marked a career-high. Grad receiver T.J. Hairston (Watertown, Mass.) hauled in a game-best eight receptions for 66 yards and a TD.
After a scoreless opening period, the Rams strung together a ten-play, 67-yard drive on their first possession of the second quarter resulting in a McBean Jr. five-yard touchdown run. The two key plays in the drive were a 51-yard pass from Gofreddo to freshman wide receiver Kareen Coleman (Methuen, Mass.) on third-and-20 from the FSU 33, and a fourth down conversion pass from Goffredo to sophomore receiver Nicholas Gordon (Franklin, Mass.) which set up the McBean TD run.
A 12-yard touchdown run by Ford capped off a seven-play, 57-yard drive as the Rams extended the lead to 14-0 with 2:10 remaining until halftime.
After punting on four of their first five possessions, the Bears' offense finally got untracked on their final possession of the first half. Cahoon complete three straight passes to open the eight-play, 75-yard drive including a 42-yard strike to senior wideout Wyatt Shisler (Hanover, Mass.) to move the ball down to the FSU 21. A 13-yard pass to Shisler on third down set up a first-and-goal at the Framingham eight. Two plays later, Cahoon connected with Hairston on an eight-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 14-7.
Framingham took control in the second half as the Rams found the end zone on each of their first five possessions to put the game well out of reach.
Goffredo hooked up with Ford on a 54-yard scoring strike, connected with junior wideout Isaiah Hanks (Chelsea, Mass.) on an 11-yard TD pass and added a 20-yard rushing score, all in the third quarter. McBean then broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run to give the hosts a commanding 40-7 lead with 14:08 left to play in the final period.
Shisler capped off a five-play, 75-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to make it a 40-13 game. A 32-yard pass from Cahoon to senior wide receiver Kyle Torres (Waltham, Mass.) and a pair off FSU pass interference penalties keyed the drive. The Bears went for two but were able to convert.
Framingham recovered the ensuing onside kick and took advantage of the short field. The Rams moved the ball 48 yards on ten plays and converted three times on third down including a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore quarterback Noah Leonard (Taunton, Mass.) to account for the final score of 47-13.
The Rams' defense held Bridgewater State to 240 yards of total offense and just six rushing yards. The Bears entered the game averaging 155.1 yards on the ground.
Framingham went 10-for-16 (63%) on third down and converted 3 of 4 fourth down attempts, while Bridgewater converted just 5 of 14 (36%) third down attempts and went 0-for-3 on fourth down.
Senior defensive end Joshua Onujiogu (Wareham, Mass.) notched four of the Rams' five sacks on the afternoon, while sophomore safety Chase Buono (Lynn, Mass.) notched a team-high seven tackles (six solo).
Junior linebacker Brendan Albert (Canton, Mass.) recorded a game-high ten tackles (seven solo) to lead the BSU defensive effort, while junior linebacker Steven Silvia (Dighton, Mass.) and grad linebacker Michael Rosa (Uxbridge, Mass.) added eight tackles apiece.
Senior kicker/punter Thomas Fay (Raynham, Mass.) averaged 40.3 yards on six punts and connected on his only point after try to pace the Bears' special teams. Sophomore Kion Gilzene-Tucker (Boston, Mass.) averaged 23.5 yards on two kickoff returns.
Both teams wrap up regular season play next Saturday at noon. The Bears travel to Massachusetts Maritime Academy for the 42nd Annual Cranberry Bowl, while the Rams head to Worcester State University.
Notes: Hairston vaulted over BSU Hall of Famer Andy Macaione for fourth place on the Bears' all-time receptions list. Hairston now has 121 career receptions for 1,392 yards and nine touchdowns.