Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior wide receiver Angel Sanchez caught a 25 yard pass from senior quarterback Dante Aviles-Santos in overtime to lift UMass Dartmouth to a 26-23 victory at Westfield State in MASCAC football action on Saturday afternoon. The Corsairs improve to 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the conference, while the Owls are now 1-5 and 1-2 in MASCAC play.
Westfield received the ball to open the overtime session as the Owls marched down the field to the 35-yard line, setting up a field goal attempt for Cooper Harvey. The Owls kicker made it through the uprights, giving the home team a 23-20 advantage, but the Corsairs took over.
Beginning on the 25-yard line to start the drive, Aviles-Santos found Sanchez as the junior wideout caught the ball at the eight-yard line then dove toward the pylon, stretching across for the completion and the game-winning touchdown.
The visiting Corsairs got things going in the second quarter as junior wide receiver Thomas Zednick caught a 20-yard pass, which was completed with a rush by junior Marvens Jean for the 2-point conversion and the 8-0 advantage.
Westfield State made it a one point game (8-7) minutes later, but a 65-yard pass from Aviles-Santos to Jean with 3:14 remaining in the second, sent the Corsairs into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
In the third, Zednik caught a pass from Jean to open the frame and make it a 20-7 margin, but the Owls countered in the fourth, scoring a rushing and passing touchdown to make it 20-all and set up the overtime drama.
Aviles-Santos went 16-of-34 on the day for 319 yards. He had three touchdowns and one interception. Grad student rusher Luis Gonzalez had 16 carries for 89 yards, while Sanchez led all receivers with 113 yards on six catches with a touchdown. Jean had three receptions for 90 yards and a TD, while Zednik notched three catches for 48 yards and two scores.
Defensively, senior defensive back Logan Chappell recorded 11 tackles, including five solo, while senior captain Trell Best had nine tackles, including a team-high six solo. Senior linebacker Jackson Wellman posted eight tackles, while junior linebacker Mike Henricksen had six tackles, including one for a loss of two yards and an interception for 69 yards.
As a team, the Corsairs recorded 161 rushing yards and 326 passing yards for 487 yards of total offense.
UMass Dartmouth returns to action on October 21st, hosting Fitchburg State in MASCAC play on Cressy Field. Game time is set for 4pm.