Springfield Tops Fitchburg State, 55-27

Miller leads Falcons offensive attack with four touchdowns in season opener

FITCHBURG, Mass. (September 4, 2008) - The Fitchburg State football team suffered a tough 55-27 season-opening loss to Springfield College in non-conference action this evening at Elliot Field.

Senior quarterback Jim Miller (East Hampton, N.Y./East Hampton) led the Fitchburg State offense, going 23-of-47 for 292 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Senior running back Marlon Thornton (Bloomfield, Conn./Bloomfield) was also solid in the season-opener, rushing for 223 yards on 25 rushes (8.9 yards/carry), while sophomore wide-out Carlos De La Rosa (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) notched 150 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

Freshman Josh Carter (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) was explosive for the Springfield offense, both on the ground and in the air, as the rookie rushed for 145 yards (6.8 yds/carry) with two touchdowns and threw for 97 yards with one TD. Classmate Mark Safer (Saint Johns, Fla./Bartram Trail) was also stellar in his collegiate debut, rushing for 199 yards, on five carries (23.8 yds/carry), and two touchdowns. Sophomore Justin Fuller (Berkley, Mass./Somerset) chipped in with 73 yards rushing on 13 carries and one touchdown.

Springfield opened the first quarter with an early 14-0 lead as Fuller and Safer combined for back-to-back scores. Fuller ignited the scoring surge at the 12:01 mark as he completed a three yard run for his first touchdown of the match. After a blocked point after attempt (PAT), and a Fitchburg punt, the Pride put together a two-play, 54 yard drive, capped by a 36 yard TD run by Safer and a two-point conversion by Fuller.

Fitchburg State responded late in the first half with back-to-back scores of its own to cut the Springfield lead to 14-13.  De La Rosa led the first Falcon scoring drive with a 65 yard touchdown reception, before completing the Falcons second scoring drive (6 plays, 86 yards) with a 20 yard TD pass from Miller.

In the second quarter, Springfield exploded for 13 unanswered points to take a commanding 27-13 lead at the half. Carter sparked the first Springfield, six play scoring drive with a one yard dash to the end zone at the 6:16 mark, before connecting with Safer in the air for the Pride's second score of the quarter.

Springfield jumped out to a 34-13 lead midway through the third quarter as Carter capped off an eight play, 73 yard drive with a one yard TD run for his second rushing score of the game. Moments later, Springfield junior Corey Spencer (Dorchester, Mass./Sharon) intercepted a Miller pass and returned it 40 yards to give the Pride a 41-13 advantage.

Fitchburg State responded just 1:23 later as sophomore Kenneth Russell, Jr. (Bedford, Mass./Bedford) finished a five play, 65 yard drive with a 29 yard touchdown reception from Miller to cut the Springfield lead 41-19.

Springfield connected for two more scores in the final frame as sophomore Tim Brady (Southbury, Conn./Holy Cross) collected a 52 yard touchdown reception and sophomore quarterback John Schmaltz (Cromwell, Conn./Cromwell) pushed through a three yard TD run. Fitchburg State added a score in the fourth quarter on a five yard pass to De La Rosa for his third score of the match.

Defensively, Fitchburg State was led by senior Josh Francis (Ashburnham, Mass./Oakmont) who totaled eight tackles (four solo, four assisted), including 1.5 tackles for a loss. Senior Eugene Boakye (Worcester, Mass./South) was also solid defensively, adding seven tackles (five solo, two assisted), while junior Tim Beane (Kingston, Mass./Silver Lake) notched four solo tackles and one sack.

Springfield's defense was led by senior Sean Richey (Setauket, N.J./Ward Melville) and junior Cody Flanigan (Auburn, N.Y./Union Springs). Richey was solid, totaling 11 tackles (ten solo, one assisted), while Flanigan also notched 11 tackles with 1.5 sacks.

Fitchburg State (0-1, 0-0 NEFC) is back in action next Saturday as it travels to Curry College at 7 p.m. Springfield College (1-0, 0-0 E8) will host Union College on Saturday at 7 p.m.

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Springfield 55, Fitchburg State 27

 Scoring:
First Quarter: SPR: Justin Fuller(3-yd run), 12:01; SPR: Mark Safer (36-yd run), 8:17; FSC: Miller-De La Rosa (65-yd pass), 6:16; FSC: Miller-De La Rosa (20-yd pass), 00:15;
Second Quarter: SPR: Josh Carter (1-yd run), 8:21; SPR: Safer (37-yd run), 00:21;
Third Quarter: SPR: Carter (1-yd run), 6:46; SPR: Spencer (40-yd interception), 6:28; FSC: Miller-Kenneth Russell, Jr. (29-yd pass), 5:05
Fourth Quarter: SPR: Carter-Brady (52-yd pass), 11:43; FSC: Miller-De La Rosa (5-yd pass), 6:16; SPR: John Schmaltz (3-yd run), 4:15