October 28, 2023
FB: Morris hauls in Hail Mary as Panthers stun Westfield State
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Freshman Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) made the most of his first career catch as he outleapt the secondary to haul in a Hail Mary pass in the front of the end zone as Plymouth State University stunned Westfield State University, 20-19, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game on Alumni Field on Saturday.
Junior Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) launched the 53-yard bomb as time expired, with Morris making a clean grab in heavy traffic to secure the Panthers' win.
Westfield State had grabbed the lead, 19-14, just moments earlier as the Owls found paydirt from four yards out to take the lead with just 36 seconds left on the clock.
Junior Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) set up the game winner with a 24-yard kickoff return to give the Panthers the ball at their own 26-yard line with 29 seconds remaining and one timeout left. PSU quickly moved the ball to midfield, using its final timeout to stop the clock with only 7.4 seconds left to play.
With the ball spotted at the Panthers' 47-yard line, Lynn received the shotgun snap as the Owls rushed just three. He danced in the pocket, allowing his receivers time to get down field, then set his feet and fired a dart to the front of the end zone where Morris elevated over three defenders to come down with the game-winner.
Plymouth State improves to 3-5 overall and evens its conference mark to 3-3, while Westfield State slides to 1-7 and 1-5 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 20, Westfield State 19
- Plymouth State (3-5, 3-3 MASCAC)
- Westfield State (1-7, 1-5 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers came out throwing the ball as Lynn connected with senior Jon Proia (North Chelmsford, Mass.) for seven yards before back-to-back completions to graduate student Jake Donahue (Hudson, N.H.) for gains of 11 and 12 yards. PSU converted a third-and-7 with a 20-yard catch-and-run by Lombard to get into the red zone and Lynn found Donahue in the end zone for a 7-0 lead just 3:35 into the game.
- Westfield State picked up a chunk of yardage on its ensuing first down play, but the Panthers' defense held strong on a fourth-and-2 when senior Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) and junior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) teamed up for a tackle behind the line of scrimmage as the Owls turned the ball over on downs.
- After the PSU offense stalled, Westfield State used a lengthy 15-play drive that consumed more than seven minutes and a one-yard TD run tied the game at 7-7 just four seconds into the second quarter.
- Plymouth State started to move the ball midway through the second, but the Owls picked off a pass in front of the end zone to thwart PSU's scoring chance.
- The hosts used a 54-yard interception return to get into PSU territory, ultimately pounding the ball in from eight yards out to go in front, 13-7, but senior Mike Terrazzano (Pelham, N.H.) blocked the extra point try.
- Neither offense was able to do much to start the third quarter. On its second possession of the half, Plymouth State built some rhythm as Lombard picked up yardage on the ground and through the air. Graduate student Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) had a nine-yard grab to convert a third-down play, while Proia picked up 11 yards on third-and-2 to extend the drive. Lombard dashed 12 yards to the end zone on another third-and-5 and junior Seth DiSalvo (North Andover, Mass.) converted the PAT as the Panthers went back in front, 14-13, with 2:09 left in the third.
- PSU had a chance to extend the lead early in the fourth quarter but was unable to convert a 40-yard field goal try.
- After a quick Owls' possession, Plymouth State burned 5:30 off the clock but was unable to convert on fourth-and-11 giving Westfield State the ball at its own 27-yard line with 1:58 to play. The Owls picked up big yardage on three separate plays to get to the PSU 8-yard line.
- Westfield State went ahead with a four-yard TD run with 36 seconds remaining to go in front, 19-14, but the two-point conversion attempt failed, setting up the dramatic finish.
By the Numbers:
- Lynn finished 22-of-32 for a season-high 265 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
- Lombard finished with 96 yards on the ground with a touchdown and added 40 receiving yards.
- Donahue caught a career-high ten balls for 113 yards, just eight yards shy of his career best.
- Normandeau led the defense with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss while registering a half sack. Wilson added nine stops, with graduate student David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.) chipping in with eight, including one behind the line of scrimmage.
- PSU put up 406 yards of total offense and held the ball for more than 35 minutes while converting 8-of-14 third down attempts.
- Plymouth State moves to 13-3 against the Owls dating back to the 1986 season. PSU has won each of the last six meetings.
Up Next:
- PSU wraps up the home slate with a Senior Day tilt against Mass. Maritime next Saturday (Nov. 4). Kickoff is set for noon.
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