Fitchburg State Cruises Past Mass-Maritime, 42-31

Thornton paves the way to Falcons fourth victory with 203 yards and three TD's

BUZZARD'S BAY, Mass. (October 25, 2008) - The Fitchburg State football team collected its third consecutive victory, defeating conference foe Mass-Maritime, 42-31 in New England Football Conference action this afternoon. With the victory, the Falcons remain tied with Bridgewater State College at the top of the NEFC's Bogan Division.

Senior running-back Marlon Thornton (Bromfield, Mass./Bromfield) sparked the Fitchburg State offensive attack with 203 yards on 37 carries and three touchdowns. The shifty veteran averaged 5.5 yards per carry while posting his second highest ground total of the season. Classmate Jim Miller (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) was also solid behind the line with a 19-of-31 performance. The senior leader added to his conference leading season, with 225 yards passing and three total touchdowns (2 passing, one rushing).

Sophomore Kenneth Russell, Jr. (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) led all receivers with a game-high 112 yards on five catches and one TD, while classmate Carlos De La Rosa (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) rounded out the Falcon scoring with one TD and 26 yards receiving.

Fitchburg State jumped out to an early lead in the first half and never looked back to clinch its fourth victory of the season. Thornton found the end zone first, forging through the line with a 3-yard run for his first score of the game. After a quick score and failed extra point by Mass-Maritime, the Falcons notched back-to-back TD's by Russell, Jr. and Miller to take a 21-9 lead into halftime. Miller connected with Russell, Jr. for a 7-yard TD pass before tallying a one yard rush for his own TD.

In the third quarter, Fitchburg State increased its lead to 28-6 as Thornton busted a three-yard run to cap a 13 play, 84-yard drive. The 13 play drive totaled six minutes as Fitchburg State held the ball for 9:20 in the third frame.

JIM MILLER

Mass-Maritime rallied back early in the fourth quarter with consecutive scores by freshman Matt White (Westwood, Mass./Westwood) and junior Adam Butler (Bourne, Mass./Bishop Stang), but Fitchburg State kept the offensive attack rolling with De La Rosa and Thornton touchdowns. De La Rosa hauled in an 11-yard TD reception, while Thornton added his third score of the game off a 2 yard run.

Butler led the Mass-Maritime ground attack with a 124 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while freshman Nick Montalto (South Yarmouth, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth Regional) 92 yards and one TD. White was also solid for the Buccaneers with 65 yards rushing on nine carries and one touchdown.

Fitchburg State senior Dan Underwood (Bellflower, Calif./Bellflower) led all Falcon tacklers with a game-high 13 tackles (11 solo, 2 assists) while senior Tim Beane (Kingston, Mass/Silver Lake) recorded seven stops on five solo tackles and two assists. Junior Jim Erlwein (Livingston Manor, NY/Sullivan West) led Mass-Maritime defensively with 13 tackles (eight solo, five assists).

Fitchburg State (4-4, 4-1 NEFC) is back in action next Saturday as it host Westfield State College in its final regular season home match at 1:30 p.m. Mass-Maritime (0-8, 0-5 NEFC) will host Framingham State next Saturday at 2 p.m.

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE & PLAY-BY-PLAY

Fitchburg State 42, Mass-Maritime 31

Scoring:
First Quarter: FSC: Marlon Thornton (3-yd run), 7:36; MMA: Nick Montalto (4-yd run), 3:59; FSC: Kenneth Russell, Jr. (7-yd pass), 1:30;
Second Quarter:  MMA: Jake Bickley (39-yd FG), 9:51; FSC: Jim Miller (1-yd run), 5:44;
Third Quarter: FSC: Thornton (3-yd run), 3:17;
Fourth quarter: MMA: Matt White (8-yd run), 14:12; MMA: Alex Butler (4-yd run), 10:22; FSC: Carlos De La Rosa (11-yd pass), 6:51; FSC: Thornton (2-yd run), 3:50; MMA: Butler (2-yd run), 1:17