Falcons Edged By Lancers, 38-35

Haskins rushes for 71 yards and a pair of TD's

Worcester, Mass.– The Fitchburg State University football team dropped a tough 38-35 decision to the Lancers of Worcester State this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Coughlin Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 35, Worcester 38

Records: Fitchburg State (0-3, 0-1 MASCAC) Worcester State (1-2, 0-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State got on the board first as senior quarterback Joseph Haskins (Pepperell, Mass.) ran it in from a yard out on a quarterback keeper for his first collegiate touchdown, capping an 18 play, 92 yard drive for the 7-0 edge.

Worcester State knotted the score (7-7) early in the second quarter when sophomore Mike Loveless (Nashua, N.H.) kept it on a quarter sneak from a yard out on fourth and goal to polish off a seven play, 50 yard drive.

The Falcons regained the lead with eight minutes left in the second quarter with Haskins running it in from four yards out for the 14-7 advantage. The Green and Gold extended its margin on the next Lancer position as sophomore Devin Current (New Carlisle, Ohio) recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for the 21-7 lead.

The Green and Gold upped its lead (28-7) when freshman Elijah Zaire McKnight (Tracy, Calif.) took a handoff and proceeded to go 65 yards for his first collegiate TD to make the score 28-7. The visitors continued to pressure as newcomer Lessie Jones IV (Fitchburg, Mass.) picked off a pass and went 62 yards into the end zone to make the score 35-7.

The Lancers cut the lead to 35-13 just before halftime as senior quarterback Aaron-Moses Williams (Springfield, Mass) capped a seven play, 71 yard drive with a 25 yard strike to sophomore receiver Ke'Vaughn Davis (Utica, N.Y.).

Following the intermission, Worcester State wasted no time cutting into the deficit as Williams found Davis, who went 68 yards into the end zone to make the score 35-19.. The Lancers continued to battle (35-25) when Loveless plunged in from two yards out.

Trailing 35-31, the hosts completed the comeback capping an eight play 51 yard drive as Loveless scrambled nine yard for the touchdown as the Lancers secured the 38-25 triumph.

Inside the Numbers

This afternoon's contest marks 36th matchup between the Falcons and the Lancers on the Gridiron with Fitchburg State 9-27 all-time when taking on Worcester State

Offensively for the Falcons, Zaire McKnight ran for 77 yards on four carries and one touchdown, while Haskins added 71 yards on 12 rushes and a pair of TD's.

For the Lancers, Williams finished 19-of-34 for 350 yards and two touchdowns, while Loveless ran 14 yards on five carries and four TD's.

Defensively, senior defensive back Rodny Bonhomme (Bridgeport, Conn.) lead the team with ten tackles on six solo stops and four assisted tackles as well as half a sack, one TFL and one pass breakup, while sophomore Michael Brown (San Antonio, Tex.) chipped in with ten tackles on four solo tackles and six assisted stops to go along with one sack, two TFL's and one blocked kick.

For Worcester State, junior defensive back Mason Broyles (Millbury, Mass.) finished with a game-leading 13 tackles on seven solo tackles and six assisted stops as well as one fumble forced and one pass break up, while newcomer Matt O'Connor (Selkirk, N.Y.) made 11 tackles on six solo tackles and five assisted stops to go along with one sack and one TFL.

Up Next

Falcons return to action next Saturday as they visit Mass. Maritime for a MASCAC matchup, starting at 12:00 PM. Lancers will travel to UMass Dartmouth on the same date for a conference tilt with a 12:00 pm kickoff.