Football Halted by Husson

PHOTO BY BRIANNA STEVENS

The Plymouth State football team hosted their final home game of the season, recognizing seniors and our veterans in Salute the Troops. Going up against Husson University Eagles was going to be a big game as they were walking in with a 7-2 record to Plymouth 6-3. Even with a strong comeback in the second quarter, the third was the most decisive and ultimately is what ended the season for the Panthers. It isn’t the way the seniors wanted it to end, especially from being the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference champions last year. 

Panthers went 7-1 in the MASCAC with their only loss being against Western Connecticut. This year they went 5-3 in the conference, losing against Western Conn again (32-28), UMass Dartmouth (21-16) and Bridgewater State (19-13); all games within five points. “… keep working hard and to appreciate when the going gets tough. It goes by fast and you'll appreciate the difficult aspects of playing football the most when it's over” senior Grant McGregor (Burlington CT) had to say to the underclassmen continuing their career in football at Plymouth. 

The ball went back and forth for a while in the first quarter, both teams getting close but not able to convert on anything. Plymouth was moving the ball forward but with the final minutes remaining in the quarter, Husson intercepted the ball followed by a 35-yard drive that set them up to put the first point on the board. They covered another 40-yards before making the 8-yard pass into the end zone and give them the lead with two minutes left, and that’s how the first 15 minutes would end. The second quarter brought better fortune for the Panthers as senior Zack Edwards (Brookfield MA) was able to connect with Gavin Moody (Warner NH), Max Osgood (Nashua NH) and David Hamilton (West Deptford NJ) to charger the ball down the field and ultimately ended with Hamilton diving into the end zone. Jeremy Martin (Charlton MA) tied the game up with his extra point conversion, leaving seven minutes left in the half. Husson to their 43-yard line but the Plymouth defense prevented them from moving any further. Plymouth was slapped with a holding penalty but that couldn’t stop them in their next possession, starting on the Eagles’ 48-yard line. Edwards connected with Hamilton and then rushed for another eight yards to give Martin a chance at a 42-yard field goal; which he made. Husson was only left second in the half to do anything and it ended in the Panthers' favor, 10-7. 

PHOTO BY BRIANNA STEVENS

Husson took complete control of the third quarter, converting on plays and ending with one-yard touchdown with under five minutes to go. The coffin nail for Plymouth was after Martin’s punt was blocked and recovered by Husson on the 14, setting them up perfectly for another touchdown. Plymouth had a few chances in the fourth to add a touchdown on their score but suffered in turnovers and unable to convert on fourth downs. The clock would eventually run out, ending 16 football careers for Plymouth. “We were able to get some drives going and came up with a few stops; however, we lost the field position and turnover battles and that's what was reflected on the scoreboard” McGregor had to comment on the game. 

Even though the loss wasn’t ideal, Plymouth still accomplished limiting of Husson’s scoring; they usually average almost 43 points per game. Possession time was only two minutes greater for Husson but they ran almost 60-yards more than PSU. McGregor ended with a high of 11 tackles on defense to cap his career. “My performance this season is a reflection of a solid defensive unit. It takes all 11 doing their job on every play, starting with a push from the defensive line, working back to filling gaps and covering the deep middle at my free safety spot. Being able to count on my teammates to be in the right spot makes my job easier, just as counting on me makes their job easier.”