Fitchburg State Holds Off UMass Dartmouth, 22-14

Perkins notched first collegiate touchdown in Falcons key MASCAC win

NORTH DARTMOUTH. Mass – The Fitchburg State football team defeated UMass Dartmouth, 22-14 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at Cressy Field.

Fitchburg State took the lead with 4:42 remaining in the first quarter as freshman quarterback Connor Fitzsimmons hooked up with classmate Quinton Perkins for a 60-yard touchdown reception down the far side line, capping a four play 64-yard drive for the 7-0 advantage.

The Corsairs cut the deficit to one (7-6) when senior wide out John Beardsley hauled in a three-yard touchdown catch from classmate Cory Burnham to polish of a six play, 27-yard drive with just over seven minutes left in the half.

The Green and Gold upped its margin on its ensuing possession, driving 54-yards on ten plays as senior place kicker Christopher Ludwig drilled a 25-yard field goal to make the score 10-6 going into the break.

Following intermission, Fitchburg State added to its lead when Fitsimmons found freshman Jesse Brown for a four-yard strike for the 16-6 margin to finish off an eight play, 54-yard drive with 10:28 to go in the third frame.

UMass Dartmouth answered back, going 25-yards in five plays as junior running back Eddie Sheridan plunged in from a yard out to cut the Falcons lead to 16-14 following a successful two-point conversion attempt.

The Falcons put the game out of reach however with just under two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when junior tailback Jevon Brown-Simpson raced 29 yards into the end zone (five plays, 59-yards), resulting in the 22-14 final.

Fitchburg State was led by Fitzsimmons, who finished 11-for-25 for 155 yards and two touchdowns, while Brown-Simpson ran for 166 yards on 32 carries and one TD. For the Corsairs, Burnham threw for 62 yards (6-of-13) with one TD, while Sheridan added 103 yard on the ground (30 carries) and one touchdown.

Defensively, senior linebacker Mamour Samb registered a game-best 14 tackles on 11 solo stops and three assisted tackles, while classmate Malcolm Brown-Simpson added eight stops with four solo tackles and four assists.

UMass Dartmouth was paced by senior linebacker David Collins, who registered a team-leading 13 tackles on five solo stops and eight assisted tackles as well as one sack and two TFL's, while junior Brandon Miller collected 12 stops on nine solo tackles, three assists, one sack and a tackle for loss.

Fitchburg State (5-4, 3-4 MASCAC) returns to action next Saturday as it travels to Plymouth State to take on the Panthers at 12 p.m. UMass Dartmouth concludes its 2016 slate with an overall record of 5-5 and a 4-4 clip in conference play.