November 11, 2023
FB: UMass Dartmouth overpowers Panthers in finale
DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Graduate student David Salazar (Waltham, Mass.) posted a game-high 13 tackles and senior Luc Normandeau (Dover, N.H.) forced two fumbles, but the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth powered past Plymouth State University, 41-7, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football action at Cressy Field on Saturday.
Plymouth State ends the season with a 4-6 mark and an even 4-4 record in the MASCAC to finish .500 or better in league play for the seventh straight season. UMass Dartmouth jumps to 9-1 (7-1 MASCAC) and captures a share of the MASCAC title, as Bridgewater State and WestConn also finished 7-1 in league play.
UMass Dartmouth scored on the opening possession, but Plymouth State moved the ball into Corsairs' territory with senior Kyle Baker (Pelham, N.H.) picking up 25 yards on a catch-and-run. The Panthers got to the UMD 32-yard line, but junior Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) was stopped short on a fourth-and-four to give the Corsairs the ball back.
Normandeau forced a fumble on the very next play and junior Josh Crosswhite (Littleton, Mass.) pounced on the loose ball to give PSU great field position. The UMass Dartmouth defense held, though, forcing another turnover on downs before the Corsairs raced 76 yards in nine plays to double the lead.
UMD pushed the margin to 21-0 early in the second quarter and the score held into halftime.
Normandeau popped the ball loose on the Corsairs' first possession of the second half and the Panthers took over at the UMD 40-yard line. Junior Matthew Griffing (West Brookfield, Mass.) and senior Tyler Gleifert (Bristol, Conn.) took over from there, with the duo pushing the ball downfield until Griffing's 11-yard TD run put the Panthers on the board, 21-7, 3:54 into the third quarter.
UMD answered right back, though, and the hosts coasted the rest of the way.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 7, UMass Dartmouth 41
- Plymouth State (4-6, 4-4 MASCAC)
- UMass Dartmouth (9-1, 7-1 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- UMass Dartmouth received the opening kickoff and marched 75 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead after 3:17 of action.
- Lynn connected with graduate student Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) for 13 yards on the Panthers' first play from scrimmage, and Baker added a 25-yard catch-and-run to push the ball into UMD territory. Plymouth State's drive stalled out, though, when Lynn was forced out of bounds short of the sticks on a fourth-and-four.
- Normandeau ripped the ball loose on a Corsairs' rush on the very next play and Crosswhite recovered at the UMD 27-yard line. The UMass Dartmouth defense held strong, though, forcing another turnover on downs.
- UMD followed with a 76-yard TD drive to make it 14-0 with 1:38 left in the frame.
- The hosts added another scoring drive early in the second quarter and the 21-0 score held into halftime.
- Lynn was intercepted on a deep ball during the first series of the third quarter, but Normandeau popped the ball out for his second forced fumble of the day on the next play and senior Collin Crowe (Simsbury, Conn.) recovered at the UMD 40-yard line.
- Griffing and Gleifert jumpstarted the drive with strong runs and Gleifert picked up nine yards on a short pass to help push the ball to the UMD 11-yard line. Griffing followed with an 11-yard run through the right side to get the Panthers on the board just 3:54 into the third.
- The hosts countered right back with a TD of their own and the Panthers were unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Salazar led all players with 13 tackles (four solo), while Normandeau finished with five solo stops and his two forced fumbles.
- Junior Evan Wilson (Derry, N.H.) added nine tackles and a sack, while Crosswhite chipped in eight tackles and his fumble recovery.
- Junior Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) averaged an impressive 6.0 yards per carry, rushing for 48 yards on eight carries.
- Griffing finished with 47 rushing yards and a TD, while Gleifert added 20 yards on the ground and nine through the air.
- Baker and Warren combined for four catches for 59 yards.
- Lynn finished 7-of-14 for 71 yards.
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