Worcester, MA- After a bye week of rest and planning the Worcester State Football team (2-3, 2-2) are back on home turn as they prepare to take on regionally ranked UMass-Dartmouth during this years Rosen Awareness Pink Out Game, which will see the Lancers wearing Rosen Cancer Awareness Fund stickers on their helmets to help raise awareness for research, testing and symptoms. Donations are actively being collected to support the campaign.

Final

Worcester State: 7

UMass-Dartmouth: 58

How it Happened:

First quarter action started with an initial possession by the Lancers with senior Nico Holmes (Mansfield, MA) starting his day running for four yards but an incomplete pass and a sack would force an early three and out. UMass-Dartmouth would capitalize on their first possession going 41 yards to end the drive with a thirty yard pass from graduate student Dante Aviles-Santos (Cumberland, RI) to junior Jael Cabrera (Holyoke, MA) to take the 7-0 lead. Worcester's second drive would see a punt for the Lancers, but they were quickly given second life off an interception by sophomore Griffin Metcalf (Leicester, MA) but, while Worcester would eat away at the clock, they would end up punting the ball away again. The Corsairs would respond with a three drive touchdown that saw Aviles-Santos go deep to senior Angel Sanchez (Providence, RI) for a 50 yard touchdown to take the 14-0 lead into the second quarter. Worcester would close out the first in a bit of flare of excitement as UMass-Dartmouth was called for roughing the kicker on the ending Punt, allowing Worceser a second chance to start the second.

The second quarter though would still find Worcester struggling to connect as another four and out would ensue, putting the ball back in the Corsairs hands for another touchdown this time off the reception of senior Antonio Brown (Montville, CT) to claim a 21-0 lead. Another punt followed by another Aviles-Santos to Sanchez score would extend the score to 28 before Worcester was able to answer with a score of their own when junior Cam Ayotte (Millbury, MA) connected with senior Deion Osei-Sarpong (Holden, MA) for a 41 yard scoring reception, closing the gap in Dartmouth's lead. The Corsairs would grab one more touchdown before the clock hit zero, this time off a rush from graduate student Marvens Jean (Saugus, MA) to take a 34-7 lead into the half.

The third quarter would see the Corsairs run 11 plays but ultimately come away with another Aviles-Santos to Sanchez touchdown for the 41-7 lead before adding a field goal later in the quarter to claim an additional three points. In their final possession in the third, UMass-Dartmouth would claim the 51-7 lead, this time from Aviles-Santos to junior Naseim Harrison (E. Hartford, CT). In the lone score of the fourth, sophomore Mekhi Wilson (Narragansett, RI) would take the ball 26 yards for the score and the Corsairs would end the game at 58-7.

Ayotte would end the game going 11-24 for 195 yards with a touchdown on the day, while Holmes would have 13 carries for 22 yards just ahead of sophomore Jermaine Norfleet, Jr. (Agawam, MA) who had three carries for 11 yards. Senior John McMasters III (Raynham, MA) led the defense with eight solo tackles and five assists. 

What's Next:

Worcester State (2-4, 2-3) is back on the road next week as they journey to Western Connecticut for a 4pm kickoff.