DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Under the bright lights of Cressy Field, the UMass Dartmouth football team shined, posting a 58-13 victory over Framingham State University in MASCAC action on Friday evening. The game, which was the team's annual Gold Rush event, saw the Corsairs move to 3-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play, while the Rams drop to 0-3 and 0-2 in the MASCAC.
UMass Dartmouth - which entered the game as the second-high scoring offense amongst all NCAA teams - opened the game's scoring in the first quarter as graduate student and quarterback
Dante Aviles-Santos found senior wide receiver
Angel Sanchez for eight yards. The Rams battled back in the opening of the second quarter as Treyvon Fields rushed for a yard to find the endzone and knot the game at 7-all.
The Corsairs made a statement to open their next drive as on the Rams kickoff, junior return specialist
Eli Matthews sped 74 yards down the field for the touchdown and a 13-7 UMassD advantage. The home team pushed the margin to 20-7 with 4:38 to play as senior rusher
Jalyn Aponte caught a 23-yard pass from Aviles-Santos, while the Corsairs headed into halftime with a 26-7 lead thanks to a three-yard run from graduate student running back
Marvens Jean.
Third quarter action proved to be the
Kevin Brown show for the Corsairs as the junior rusher posted back-to-back scores of three-yards and eight yards to push the home team lead to 38-7. Jean added his second touchdown of the evening on an outstanding 45-yard run to conclude the third quarter scoring.
Holding a 44-7 edge into the fourth quarter, Aviles-Santos punched in a touchdown of his own from one yard out, before Framingham found the endzone as Donovan Cole launched a 75-yard bomb to Ty Kelley for the score to cut the lead to 51-13. A three-yard run by sophomore running back
Mekhi Wilson into the end completed the game's scoring.
Aviles-Santos posted nine completions with 103 yards and two touchdowns, while the Corsairs running game stole the show. Jean finished with 123 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns, while Aponte carried the ball 18 times for 117 yards. Sanchez paced the receivers with 37 yards on four catches and a touchdown, while Aponte also had a receiving touchdown and 23 yards.
Defensively, the Corsairs were led by senior linebacker
Mike Henricksen, who had eight total tackles, while junior defensive lineman
Kairis Codio posted seven tackles, three solo with a forced fumble. Graduate student Shane Meerbot, fifth year
Logan Chappell and junior
Xavier Lopes – all defensive backs – each recorded an interception.
The Corsairs return to action next Saturday, hosting Vermont State University Castleton on Cressy Field. Kickoff is set for 12pm.
