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PSU 31, Westfield St. 22

PLYMOUTH– Junior Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) threw three touchdowns and sophomore Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) had 10 tackles and a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown as Plymouth State University held off a pesky Westfield State University team, 31-22, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday.

GAME STATISTICS

Wilson cut in front of a Westfield State receiver and bolted up the left side to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game and Lynn connected with graduate student Jake Donahue (Hudson, N.H.) on a 16-yard TD pass late in the frame as PSU took a 14-0 lead into the second quarter.

Westfield responded with a lengthy drive, covering 65 yards over 12 plays while using nearly seven minutes to cut the deficit to 14-7, but the Panthers answered right back when Lynn found Donahue again, this time for a 37-yard scoring connection.

The Owls responded in kind on the very next play from scrimmage when a Westfield receiver got behind the defense and hauled in a bomb before racing to the end zone for a 63-yard score, but the Panthers blocked the point after to lead 21-13.

PSU extended the lead to 28-13 right before the half on Lynn’s third TD pass of the day, this time a 40-yard catch-and-run to senior Jack Glanville (Cape Elizabeth, Maine).

After a scoreless third quarter, Westfield capped off another long drive, again covering 65 yards in 12 plays and eating 6:36 off the clock, to make it a one-score game, 28-20, but PSU answered with a six-minute drive of its own and sophomore Seth Disalvo (North Andover, Mass.) booted home a 34-yard field goal to make it 31-20.

The Owls marched right back down the field and were knocking on the door, but a key holding offensive holding penalty forced Westfield to try a 28-yard field goal and senior Sam Fleming (Boxborough, Mass.) ripped through the line to block the kick.

With 10 seconds remaining and facing a fourth-and-two play, Plymouth State attempted to kill off the remaining time resulting in a safety to account for the final score.

Plymouth State improved to 7-1 (5-1 MASCAC), while Westfield State stays winless at 0-8 and 0-6 in conference play.

The Basics:

  • Plymouth State 31, Westfield State 22
    • Plymouth State (7-1, 5-1 MASCAC)
    • Westfield State (0-8, 0-6 MASCAC)

How it Happened:

  • After trading three-and-outs, Wilson jumped into the passing lane to pick off a Westfield State pass before running up the left side to the end zone to give PSU a 7-0 lead.
  • Plymouth State doubled the lead with 29 seconds left in the quarter. Lynn hooked up with junior Kyle Baker (Pelham, N.H.) for a 12-yard gain before hitting Donahue for a 16-yard score to make it 14-0.
  • The Owls used a big 28-yard run to kickstart their next drive, eventually scoring from a yard out to cut the lead in half, but senior AJ Laccona (Stamford, Conn.) burst through the kick coverage on the ensuing kickoff to setup PSU with prime field position at the Westfield 41-yard line. Three plays later Lynn and Donahue connected again, this time for a 37-yard scoring play, to restore the 14-point margin, 21-7.
  • Westfield State responded immediately as the receiver got past the safeties and hauled in a deep pass before outrunning the defense for a 63-yard TD on the next play from scrimmage. Fleming got through the line, though, to deny the PAT to make it 21-13.
  • The Panthers ran a perfect two-minute drill after getting the ball back with 1:22 left in the half on their own 27-yard line. Lynn hit Donahue for 18 yards, then scampered up the left side for a 15-yard gain to get into Westfield territory. On second-and-ten, Lynn hit Glanville on a short pass and Glanville cut back across the field to elude the defense and get into the end zone for a 40-yard score with just 24 seconds remaining as the Panthers took a 28-13 lead into halftime.
  • PSU stalled out on its opening drive of the second half and Westfield State chewed up over seven minutes of clock, converting a pair of fourth-and-ones to extend the drive, but the Owls’ field goal attempt from 46-yards out missed wide left.
  • The Owls cut into the deficit early in the fourth quarter to make it a one-score game, 28-20, but Plymouth State answered right back. Facing fourth-and-ten from the Westfield 16-yard line, PSU opted to put the points on the board. Senior Sam Bolinsky (Stow, Mass.) recovered from a bad snap to get the ball down and Disalvo’s field goal bounced off the crossbar and through to extend the margin to 31-20.
  • Westfield drove to the PSU 11-yard line, but Fleming burst through the line to block the Owls’ short field goal try and the Panthers ran out the clock, opting to take a safety with time winding down instead of punting the ball away.

By the Numbers:

  • Lynn finished 13-of-21 for 170 yards and three TDs.
  • Donahue caught seven balls for 104 yards and two scores.
  • Senior Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) led the defense with 12 tackles (11 solo), while Wilson added ten stops (eight solo), 1.5 for a loss, and his 38-yard interception return TD.
  • PSU had seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage, while senior Ryan Edison (North Reading, Mass.) had the team’s lone sack.
  • Fleming had a pair of blocked kicks – one on the extra point and a second on a field goal try.
  • PSU moves to 12-3 against the Owls. The Panthers have won each of the last five meetings.

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