MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME FOOTBALL

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Elliot Field, Fitchburg, Mass.

FINAL:              FITCHBURG STATE 26, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 21

FITCHBURG, Mass. --  Sophomore Taylor Ekstrom (Tiverton, R.I.) hauled in a pair of touchdown receptions, including the game-winner with just over 12 minutes remaining, as Fitchburg State held on for a 26-21 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football victory over Massachusetts Maritime Saturday afternoon at Elliot Field.

The two teams were deadlocked at 14 heading into the late stages of the third quarter before sophomore quarterback Garrett Dellechiaie (Leominster, Mass.) connected with Ekstrom on a 23-yard scoring strike to give the host Falcons (4-1, 2-1 MASCAC) a 20-14 lead with 1:18 remaining in the stanza, and the duo connected again just over four minutes later on the game-winner that extended Fitchburg State’s advantage to 26-14.  Senior quarterback John Trudel (Niantic, Conn.) responded on the visiting Buccaneers’ (1-3, 0-2 MASCAC) ensuing drive, as his 21-yard touchdown pass to junior David Yerxa (Milford, Conn.) with 9:21 remaining sliced Massachusetts Maritime’s deficit to five, but neither team was able to move the ball for the final minutes of the contest, as the Falcons punted twice after gaining a total of 25 yards on two possessions, with the final one setting the Buccaneers up at their own 31-yard-line with 1:42 remaining.  The hosts’ defense held in the closing seconds, however, as the visitors advanced near midfield before time expired.

Fitchburg State opened the scoring when Dellechiaie threw the first of his four touchdown passes on the day, a six-yarder to senior Phillip Saint-Juste (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 3:39 into the contest, but Massachusetts Maritime answered on its ensuing possession when Trudel connected with senior E.J. Bennett (East Wareham, Mass.) on a 26-yard scoring strike to even matters.  Interceptions by Buccaneer senior Kyle Hardy (Salem, Mass.) and sophomore Richard Fidler (Marshfield, Mass.) thwarted a pair of Falcon second quarter drives to keep the game tied at the break, and the two teams traded touchdown in the opening 11-plus minutes after intermission, as Dellechiaie found sophomore Devin Summiel (Tewksbury, Mass.) on a 48-yard strike before Trudel connected with junior Kevin Healy (Palmetto, Fla.) on a 14-yarder to tie the score for the final time, setting up Ekstrom’s heroics.

Dellechiaie completed 29-of-42 pass attempts for 314 yards to go with his four scores in the win for Fitchburg State, which also received 85 rushing yards from junior Cody Titus (Peterborough, N.H.) in amassing 446 yards of total offense.  Summiel hauled in five receptions for 123 yards to go with his touchdown for the Falcons, while Saint-Juste had six catches for 54 yards for the winners.  Trudel completed 24-of-38 pass attempts for 256 yards to go with his three touchdowns in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, which received 71 rushing yards from senior Brad Skeffington (Salem, Mass.) as part of 379 yards of total offense.  Senior Bobby Rosano (North Reading, Mass.) had a career-high 10 receptions for 123 yards for the Buccaneers, while Bennett hauled in six catches for 62 yards and set the school career receiving yards record in the process with 2,043, breaking the previous mark of 2,041 set by Keith Caruso last season.

Senior Junior Louissant (Queens Village, N.Y.) paced Fitchburg State defensively with 12 total tackles (five solo) and a pair of sacks, while fellow senior Talib Barksdale (Hudson, N.Y.) added 10 stops (five solo) for the Falcons.  Hardy and fellow senior Victor Andrade (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) each collected eight total tackles (six solo) on the day for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received six stops and a pair of pass break-ups from Fidler.

Massachusetts Maritime hosts Western Connecticut in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference outing next Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium beginning at Noon, while Fitchburg State heads to Worcester, Mass. next Saturday afternoon for a MASCAC contest with Worcester State that also kicks off at Noon.