Westfield State’s Sam Laurin makes a sensational touchdown catch with 46 seconds remaining in the game. (Photo by Nancy Bals)
WESTFIELD – Senior running back Melikke Van Alstyne rushed for 112 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns as Framingham State University held on for a thrilling 17-15 victory over Westfield State University in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) mideseason showdown on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Framingham is the only undefeated team in the MASCAC with a 4-0 record; the Rams are 5-1 overall. Westfield drops to 2-1 in the conference and 3-2 overall.
The Owls nearly tied the score in the game’s final seconds as they drove 69 yards in eight plays, capped by a sensational 18-yard touchdown reception by Sam Laurin to make the score 17-15 with 46 seconds remaining. Laurin made a leaping grab in the left corner of the end zone on perfect pass from quarterback Tim Rich just over the Framingham defender.
Kevin Nicol sprints for the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown reception. (Photo by Nancy Bals)
Westfield went to its workhorse – junior running back Michael Mercadante (32 carries, 153 rushing yards) – for the game-tying two-point conversion attempt. It appeared to many that Mercadante had crossed the goal line on left side run, but the officials quickly whistled the conversion attempt no good. Framingham safety Matthew Mangano made a quick charge near the goal line to halt Mercadante’s forward progress.
Framingham recovered the onsides kick to hold on for the key MASCAC victory.
The hard-nosed defenses dominated most of the game. The teams traded blows in the first half and went into the locker room tied at 7-all. Framingham took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter on a six-yard touchdown run by Van Alstyne. The big play in the 7-play, 77-yard drive was a 36-yard pass completion from freshman reserve quarterback Mike Lukes to Travis Hayes.
Westfield tied the score with 1:30 remaining in the first half on a 4-play, 55-yard drive capped by Kevin Nicol’s 39-yard touchdown reception. Rich found a wide open Nicol in the right flats near the 15-yard line and Nicols beat the Ram defenders to the pylon.
Framingham regained the lead midway through the third quarter on a three-yard run by Van Alstyne. The big play in the 3-play, 60-yard drive was a 39-yard pass completion to Jared Gauthier to the Owl 3. Lukes actually underthrew the ball on the key reception and Westfield defensive back Greg Sheridan appeared to be zeroing in on an interception. But Sheridan lost his balance coming back to get the ball and lost control of it, and Gauthier came up with the loose ball.
The rugged Westfield defense records a safety to make the score 14-9. (Photo by Nancy Bals)
The determined Owls made the game interesting in the fourth quarter, beginning with a safety to make the score 14-9 with 7:12 remaining. The safety was set up when Lauren made an outstanding athletic play to down a 40-yard punt on the Framingham 1-yard line. On the next play, the Owl defense swarmed Van Alystyne a yard in the end zone for the safety.
Following a three-and-out by the Owls, the Rams put together a key, 8-play, 59-yard drive that resulted in a booming 40-yard field goal by William Menter to make the score 17-15 with 2:27 remaining.
GAME NOTES: Framingham starting sophomore quarterback Matthew Silva injured his arm on the first play of the game on a 24-yard scamper; he did not play the rest of the game. Luks completed 7 of 21 passes for 146 yards. Rich completed 19 of 40 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Nicols was his favorite target (5 catches, 84 yards), followed by Kane Terilli (4-46). Westfield sophomore Michael Orellana just missed on three field goals attempts. He was wide right on a 40-yard attempt on the final play of the first quarter and he hit the right upright on a 41-yard attempt with 4:16 remaining in the second quarter. In the quarter, he was just wide right from 32 yards. The game’s only turnover was a fumble recovery by Framingham on a Westfield kickoff return in the second quarter. The turnover did not result in a Ram score. Westfield racked up 24 first downs to Framingham’s 15. The Rams were only 1 of 12 on third-down conversions. Framingham defensive back Kevin Donahue was the game’s leading tackler with 13 stops. Linebacker Patrick McGrath had 11 tackles and end Chever Archer had four tackles, two quarterback hurries, and both of the game’s sacks. The balanced Owl defense was led by tackle Jonathan Lytle and linebacker Nick Adams with eight tackles apiece.
