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Osgood TD propels PSU

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Sophomore tight end Max Osgood (Nashua) pulled in a 17-yard touchdown catch with less than two minutes remaining to cap a wild fourth quarter of action as Plymouth State University outlasted Framingham State University, 29-28, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Bowditch Field on Saturday afternoon.

In a back-and-forth contest, the Rams entered the fourth quarter holding a 14-10 advantage. The lead exchanged hands three times in the final nine minutes, and nearly a fourth, but Framingham State’s fourth-down pass to the end zone with 15 seconds remaining fell incomplete.

Juniors David Hamilton and Jacob Szulc (Concord) had huge games for the Panthers. Hamilton set career highs with 30 carries and 130 yards while finding the end zone once, and Szulc hauled in four catches for a career-best 149 yards and a score as PSU’s offense came alive late.

“Today was another one-score, one-play game,” Plymouth State head coach Paul Castonia said “And fortunately we made some plays. I am proud of the team for how they competed and persevered.”

Plymouth State evened its record at 3-3 and improved to 2-3 in MASCAC play. The Rams dropped to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in league action.

How it Happened:

  • The Rams took the opening kickoff and drove 74 yards on five plays to get on the board first. Junior Adam Wojenski  started the drive with a 28 yard completion to senior Quron Wright and capped the drive with an 18 yard touchdown strike to Wright and the Rams converted the extra point for the 7-0 lead.
  • Plymouth State answered with a touchdown drive of its own on its first possession of the game. The Panthers, who converted on three third downs on the drive, went 69 yards on 12 plays using just under seven minutes. Hamilton capped the drive with an 11 yard scoring run and sophomore Jeremy Martin drilled the point after to tie the game at 7-7 with 6:03 left in the first.
  • PSU took its first lead of the game, 10-7, with 30 seconds remaining in the first half on Martin’s 35 yard field goal.
  • The Panthers put together a good drive to start the second half, but Framingham State’s defense held on a fourth and two from the FSU 29-yard line.
  • Using the momentum, the Rams drove 71 yards on 14 plays to retake the lead on a two yard touchdown run by junior Rufus Rushins. With the PAT, Framingham State pulled ahead 14-10 with 3:18 left in the third quarter to set up the late-game dramatics.
  • Plymouth State took then ensuing possession 54 yards and Martin’s second kick of the day, this time from 29 yards out, pulled the Panthers to within 14-13.
  • FSU drove right back down the field, extending the lead to 20-13 following a 17 yard end around by senior Napoleon Miller with 9:36 left to play.
  • It took the Panthers just 26 seconds to take the lead. On the first play following the ensuing kickoff, senior Zack Edwards hit Szulc for an 80 yard TD strike down the left sideline and Martin’s PAT tied the game at 20-20. The Rams fumbled the kickoff and recovered in the end zone for a PSU safety to give the Panthers a 22-20 lead and the ball with 8:54 remaining.
  • PSU was looking to extend the lead, but junior Jack Sullivan jumped in front of Edwards’ pass and rumbled 65 yards the other way for a go-ahead pick six. The Rams went for two and Wright hit Miller for the two-point conversion to put the home team ahead 28-22 with 6:33 to go.
  • The Panthers answered back again, using a nine play, 68 yard drive to pull ahead for one last time. Hamilton ripped off a 21 yard rush on the drive and Edwards connected with Osgood in the right corner of the end zone to even the game at 28-28. Martin was good on the PAT try to give the Panthers the lead for good.
  • FSU got the ball back with 1:51 to go and was able to bring the ball to the PSU 29 yard line. An offensive holding penalty backed the Rams up, though, and facing fourth and 13 with 15 seconds to play, Wojenski’s pass to the end zone fell incomplete.

Inside the Numbers:

  • Edwards finished 13-of-28 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while Wojenski went 28-of-42 for 280 yards and one score.
  • Hamilton has capped the 100-yard rushing mark in four of his five games. His 130 yards rushing are the most by a Panther since senior Mitch Banuskevich (Milford) exploded for 168 against Bridgewater State in a game last October.
  • Szulc’s 149 yards receiving are the most since Brandonn Drumgole had 172 in a 48-27 loss to Mass. Maritime Academy in Nov. 2015.
  • It was Szulc’s third career 100-yard receiving game. He also reached the plateau in a 30-28 overtime win over Mount Ida (122 yards) on Sept. 10, 2016, and a 37-7 win over UMass Dartmouth on Sept. 23, 2017.
  • PSU was penalized just twice for 10 total yards, while the Rams were whistled 11 times for 107 yards.
  • Junior Matt Shea (Windham) led the defense with eight tackles (six solo), while sophomore Zac Garside (Londonderry) had a pair of pass breakups.
  • PSU has gone 2-4 against the Rams since joining the MASCAC in 2013, with the Panthers winning each of the last two meetings.
  • Both of the last two games have come down to the final play. Last fall’s game was decided on a field goal in overtime.

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