FRAMINGHAM – The Framingham State University football team recovered an onside kick in the final minute of regulation as the Rams held off Westfield State University for a 30-28 victory Saturday in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Framingham’s Bowditch Field.
With the win, the Rams improve to 4-2 on the year and are now 3-1 in the league, while the Owls fall to 2-3 on the season and are now 1-2 in the MASCAC.
Westfield State sophomore Travon Holder rushed for 112 yards and a pair of scores on Saturday. (WSU File photo by Bon Blanchard)
The Rams led 30-19 after a five yard touchdown run from junior Stephen Beahn (Spencer, Mass.) with 13:22 remaining in the game. Two possessions later, the Owls capitalized on a short field after a short punt by the Rams and attempted a 35 yard field goal with 4:27 remaining in the game. The attempt was blocked and the Rams took over on their own one yard line. On the first play from scrimmage, the Owls tackled the ball carrier in the end zone for a safety.
On the following possession, the Owls used a 63 yard, 16 plays drive that was aided by a pair of penalties on the Rams to tack on a five yard touchdown run by sophomore Travon Holder (Hartford, Conn.) to pull within two, 30-28, with 33 seconds remaining. The Owls attempted an onside kick, but the kick was recovered and returned 34 yards down to the 13 yard line by sophomore Clayton Minnich (Westerly, RI) to seal the victory.
The Owls opened the game with a 21 yard field goal from freshman Norman Carroll (Springfield, Mass.) to take a 3-0 lead with just under 10 left in the opening quarter. The Rams found the end zone twice in the quarter to take a 14-3 lead after one. Beahn caught a 34 yard touchdown pass from freshman Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) to cap a six play, 66 yards drive and sophomore Quron Wright (Worcester, Mass.) scored on a 12 yard run with 4:03 left in the quarter.
The Rams extended the lead to 17-3 on a 24 yard field goal from freshman Shawn St. Marie (Wilbraham, Mass.) with 8:37 left before the half, but Westfield used a 20 yard touchdown run from Holder and a two point conversion to cut the lead to 17-11 at the half.
Wojenski connected with sophomore Napoleon Miller (Boston, Mass.) for a 52 yard touchdown late in the third quarter, but a one yard run from Ryan Wilder (Turners Falls, Mass.) and another two point conversion made it a 23-19 game after three quarters.
Wojenski finished the game 8-of-17 for the Rams for 137 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Beahn finished the game with four catches for 69 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 29 yards on nine carries with a score.
Phil Cohen (Old Lyme, Conn.) completed 18-of-39 for 195 yards with an interception for the Owls, while being sacked three times. Holder finished the game with 112 yards rushing on 32 carries with two scores.
Defensively, the Rams were led by 12 tackles, nine solo, and a sack from sophomore Brian Donahue (Norfolk, Mass.), while senior Aaron Owens (Springfield, Mass.) added 10.
The Rams enjoy their bye next week, but are back in action on October 22nd when they travel to Plymouth State for a 1 p.m. game, while the Owls travel to Mass. Maritime next Saturday at 12 p.m. – Story courtesy Framingham State
