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UMass-Dartmouth 46, Plymouth State 21

PLYMOUTH – Senior Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) rushed for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but UMass Dartmouth amassed more 500 yards of total offense to top the Panthers, 46-21, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday.

GAME STATISTICS

With the win, UMass Dartmouth claims the MASCAC title and the league’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. Plymouth State will hope for a bowl berth.

Prior to the game, Plymouth State honored its 23 seniors for their dedication and contributions to the program; Jake Donahue (Hudson, N.H.), Quinn Girard (Glens Falls, N.Y.), AJ Laccona (Stamford, Conn.), Ryan Edison (North Reading, Mass.), Christian Paillet (Nashua, N.H.), Daniel DiMinno (West Milford, N.J.), Tanner Plourde (Nashua, N.H.), Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.), Kayden Baillargeon (Derry, N.H.), Jack Glanville (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), Cooper Varano (Manchester, N.H.), Thanos Boulukos (Old Bethpage, N.Y.), Sam Fleming (Boxborough, Mass.), Bryce Wronski (Middleton, Mass.), Marvin Josaphat (Lynn, Mass.), James Mauro (Commack, N.Y.), Nicholas Rendon (Boynton Beach, Fla.), Austin Harnish (Wethersfield, Conn.), Tracy Cristiano (Thornton, N.H.), Chris Coburn (Hooksett, N.H.), Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.), Sam Bolinsky (Stow, Mass.) and Sanchez.

The Corsairs got out to a quick start using an up-tempo offense to find the end zone on each of their first two possessions, but a pair of missed PATs left the score 12-0.

Plymouth State forced a turnover and the offense converted to cut the deficit to 12-7, but UMass Dartmouth came right back with a 13-play, 82-yard drive to make it 19-7.

Sophomore Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) heated up with a pair of long throws as the Panthers came right back and a TD pass to Donahue made it 19-14 at the half.

The visitors pulled away in the third quarter scoring after a turnover on downs, a PSU punt, and an interception to extend the lead to 39-14.

UMD found the end zone once more in the fourth quarter before a late Sanchez run accounted for the final score.

Plymouth State ends the regular season with an 8-2 mark (6-2 MASCAC), while UMass Dartmouth improves to 9-1 and goes unbeaten in MASCAC play (8-0).

The Basics:

  • Plymouth State 21, UMass Dartmouth 46
    • Plymouth State (8-2, 6-2 MASCAC)
    • UMass Dartmouth (9-1, 8-0 MASCAC)

How it Happened:

  • UMass Dartmouth came out firing, using an up-tempo offense to charge down the field on its opening possession, as a lengthy run through the defense resulted in a 37-yard TD. The nine-play drive covered 81 yards in 2:54, but the PAT was off target for a 6-0 lead.
  • PSU went three-and-out and the Corsairs raced right back down the field using a 10-yard completion to double the lead. Again, the visitors missed the extra point as the score remained 12-0.
  • After another Plymouth State punt, Edison dove on a fumble to get the Panthers the ball right back, but again the offense was unable to get anything going as the first quarter came to a close.
  • Wronski punched the ball loose early in the second quarter and the Panthers recovered at midfield. A key roughing the passer penalty gave PSU a fresh set of downs and Lynn connected with Glanville for a 16-yard gain on the next play. Lynn hit Coburn for another 16 yards on the next play and Sanchez burst through the line to make it 12-7.
  • Plymouth State nearly got the ball right back as the ensuing kickoff was muffed, but the Corsairs were able to recover. UMD moved backwards after an offensive pass interference to make it third-and-23, but a long throw up the right sideline got the Corsairs a first down and seven plays later a run up the gut made it 19-7.
  • Lynn hooked up with junior Nikos Bouzakis (Farmington, Conn.) and Warren for consecutive 20-yard gains to jumpstart the next drive. Later in the drive, Warren hauled in a 17-yard reception and PSU moved to the 8-yard line after a Corsairs penalty. Lynn capped the drive when he found Donahue in the end zone to make it 19-14 at the half.
  • PSU turned the ball over on downs to open the third and UMD raced 61-yards on ten plays to get into the end zone.
  • Plymouth State was forced to punt on the ensuing possession and the Corsairs used a big 53-yard gain through the air to set up another TD strike to make it 32-14.
  • UMD came up with an interception on PSU’s next drive and four plays later the visitors were in the end zone again to make it 39-14.
  • UMass Dartmouth added another score to open the fourth quarter before Sanchez accounted for the final score when he busted through the line from three yards out in the final seconds.

By the Numbers:

  • Lynn finished 12-of-28 for 158 yards with one TD and one interception and added 17 yards on the ground.
  • Sanchez carried the ball 22 times for 91 yards and two scores to give him 11 on the season and eight over the past four games.
  • Warren was the top receiver with five catches for 75 yards, while Donahue’s TD catch was his fifth of the year.
  • The Corsairs were an efficient 8-of-12 on third down.
  • Plymouth State was looking for its second MASCAC title.
  • Entering the game, the teams had evenly split all 22 meetings. The Corsairs have won each of the last four head-to-head matchups.

Up Next:

Plymouth State will await word on a potential bowl invitation.

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