FRAMINGHAM, Mass — Football took to the road to play Framingham State on Saturday afternoon. Though the Bucs scored first, they couldn’t hold off the Rams as Framingham won the conference game by a final of 34-10.
The Basics
Final: Rams 34, Buccaneers 10
Records: Framingham 4-4 (3-3)
Maritime 3-5 (3-3)
Inside The Numbers
For The Bucs
- Marc Murphy threw for 160 yards on 13 completions with a touchdown.
- Jonah Mitchell led the team in rushing with 18 yards on three carries.
- Evan Vieira had a career day with four receptions for 80 yards.
- Charlie Naylor had a breakout game, catching six passes for 51 yards and his first collegiate touchdown.
- Defensively, Keven Paul and Demetri Boozer each had eight tackles in the loss.
- Chris O’Brien racked up seven tackles with a forced fumble.
- The Bucs had six tackles for loss including one from Hugh Wells and two from Nicolas Ford.
- On special teams, Mike Epifano extended his career long field goal from 22 yards to 32 yards in the game. He also converted his lone PAT.
- Jack Mulligan punted six timed for 245 yards, an average of 40.8 yards with a long of 48 and he put one inside the Rams 20 yard line.
For The Rams
- Quarterback Noah Leonard completed 11 of 18 passes for 137 yards.
- Running back Devaun Ford ran the ball 27 times for 119 yards and two touchdowns.
- Marcus McBean Jr. rushed 10 times for 41 yards and two touchdowns.
- Omarion Otto carried the ball twice for four yards and a ground touchdown.
- Manny Lara led the team in receiving with five catches for 99 yards.
- Defensively, Cully Curran led the Rams with eight tackles.
- Chase Buono had four tackles and three tackles for loss in the win.
- Mick Coronel and Anderson Larosilliere each had a sack for Framingham.
- On special teams, Matthew Farley made four of five extra points.
- Henrique De Boni punted four times for 206 yards, an average of 51.5 yards per attempt with three of the punts pinning the Bucs inside their own 20.
How It Happened
The game opened with back to back three and outs. Five minutes into the game the Bucs began their second drive and ended up going 82 yards in seven plays for a score. Murphy connected with Naylor for a 10-yard touchdown. Epifano converted the PAT and the Bucs led 7-0. On the next drive for Framingham, the Rams went 81 yards in six plays and capped the drive off with a Ford 15-yard touchdown run. Farley’s extra point was good and the game was knotted at seven and that’s how the first quarter would end.
On the first drive of the second quarter, by Maritime, the Bucs got great field position on a short punt followed by a 15-yard penalty. The Bucs started at the Rams 15 and though they didn’t gain a yard on the drive, Epifano made his 32-yard attempt to give the Bucs a 10-7 lead. The lead didn’t last long as on the ensuing Framingham drive Ford did it again, this time from 21 yards out to finish off a nine play, 68-yard drive for the rams. Farley’s PAT was good and the Rams led 14-10, a lead that they would not relinquish the rest of the game. Later in the second, Otto extended the lead to 20-10 on his one-yard score. Farley’s kick was blocked by Wells to keep the extra point off the board. Framingham took the 20-10 advantage to the half.
The third began the same as the first, with a punt by each team. This time, the Rams got the ball on the third possession of the half and much like the Bucs in the first half, took full advantage, driving 33 yards in six plays and scored on a McBean five yard touchdown run. Farley converted and the Rams led 27-10. A lead they took to the fourth.
After a Buccaneer turnover to begin the fourth quarter, The Rams had a long, monotonous drive that took 9:30 off the clock. It was a 15 play, 75-yard drive finished off by McBean’s second score of the day, this time from three yards out which gave Framingham the lead they would eventually win by, 34-10.
What’s Next
The Bucs will host Plymouth State on Saturday, November 5th in their final home game of the season and senior day for the Buccaneers. Kickoff is set for 12pm.
