CAMBRIDGE, MA – Despite blustery wind conditions, the Plymouth State Football team defeated the MIT Engineers 35-3 on Sunday at Steinbrenner Stadium in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The win raised the Panthers’ win record to 3-5 overall, with a 3-3 Boyd Division record in the New England Football Conference. MIT’s loss knocks them to a record of 2-6 on the season with a 1-5 NEFC record.
The game started well for the PSU offense as they took the first drive 69 yards and capped it off with a touchdown from sophomore fullback Brandon Clough. A missed extra point kept the score to 6-0. The Engineers came back with an equally impressive drive, but were held to a 31-yard field goal from kicker Corey Garvey. The kick would prove to be the only points MIT would score that afternoon.
PSU continued their dominance on the next drive, when junior running back Jeff Mack ran 59 yards for a touchdown. A converted two-point attempt raised the score to 14-3. Mack struck again in the second quarter; with a 20-yard scamper for another touchdown to give the Panthers a 21-3 lead. The half was capped off with an excellent 53-yard touchdown pass from PSU quarterback John DeMarco that hit wide receiver Brad Largy in stride. The extra point from Largy gave the team a 28-3 halftime lead.
The Panthers continued their impressive performance in the second half. The offense would score one more time in the third on a 22-yard touchdown run from Clough to make the score 35-3. The play ended a 14-play, 74-yard drive that took nine minutes off the clock, sustaining the Panthers’ season long reputation for having long, clock killing drives.
Defensively, PSU was just as impressive, as they were led by the pass rushing of junior defensive end Justin Smith, who had a sack on Sunday. The game was capped off by an interception by senior defensive lineman Aaron Elston in the fourth quarter.
The real story of the game had to be the Panthers’ dominance in the rushing game. Despite dealing with the wind, the offense ran the ball 47 times out of the 49 plays they had, rushing for a total of 298 yards. Clough and Mack both led the way, with Clough gaining 127 yards on 16 carries, and Mack rushing for 101 yards on eight carries. On defense, senior defensive back Dan Fallon once again led the charge with eight tackles, along with two pass break-ups. Defensive backs Jimi Lampron and Mike Lannon, along with defensive lineman Jeff Ethier, also chipped in with five tackles apiece.
MIT was led offensively by their running backs. Thomas Scotton rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries, while DeRon Brown ran for 69 yards on 11 carries. Quarterback Rick Mancuso completed 14 out of 30 passes for 127 yards and an interception. The Engineers were helped on defense with the collaboration of defensive back David Kalk, who had ten tackles, and linebacker Phil Zakielarz, who had nine tackles and a sack.
PSU will end its season next Saturday at Currier Field in Plymouth against Salve Regina. The Panthers will also be saying goodbye to 11 seniors, led by defensive back Fallon, linebacker John DiPasquale, and offensive lineman Joe Fellini. Kickoff will be at 12:00 p.m.