Football Falls Short to UMass Dartmouth

DARTMOUTH, MA: The Fitchburg State football team endured a tough loss to the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth this weekend in MASCAC play, losing by one point, 24-25.  

THE BASICS:

- Date: 9/13/25

- Score: UMD 25, Fitchburg 24

- Records: UMD (1-1, 1-0 MASCAC), Fitchburg (1-1, 1-1 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

- The Corsairs started the game with an opening drive touchdown. The drive lasted six plays, covering 65 yards, and ended with a nine-yard TD pass from JC Petrongolo to Naseim Harrison. After a series of stalled drives, the Falcons' punt return team made a big play by blocking the punt, giving them a short field to work with. Tomas Polanco (Lawrence, MA) got to the punter for Fitchburg, setting them up on the UMD 15-yard line. The Falcons capitalized on the short field by scoring on an unusual play. Fitchburg rushed the ball, fumbled it, but it was recovered at the 13-yard line and scored by Sahir Gomez (Whittier, CA).

- The first quarter ended with Dartmouth leading 13-7 after a two-yard touchdown pass from Daunte Melton to Markus Andrews. The second quarter saw only two touchdowns, both by the Falcons. The first was a six-yard run by Anthony Oquendo (Fitchburg, MA), making the score 14-13 after Jonah Costa (E. Providence, RI) kicked the extra point. Then, with 4:44 remaining in the half, Rocky Marchitelli (Gunnison, CO) plunged into the end zone from two yards out, bringing the halftime score to 21-13 in favor of the Falcons.

- The second half began with a lengthy drive for Fitchburg that stalled after numerous penalties pushed them out of field goal range. After the punt and UMD regaining possession on the one-yard line, Petrongolo attempted to pass to RJ Wiggins, but it was intercepted by Falcons safety Harvey Earley (Fitchburg, MA), again giving Fitchburg a short field. The Falcons managed to score three points on the short drive, with Costa kicking a 32-yard field goal to make the score 24-13.

- The third quarter ended with the Corsairs scoring again, this time from six yards out on a Mekhi Wilson run, finishing a 10-play, 64-yard drive. UMD carried a 24-19 deficit into the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter featured little scoring as both teams' defenses made critical plays. First, the Falcons forced a fumble on a big reception by the Corsairs that went for 57 yards before Patrick Cates (Worcester, MA) stripped it and Antonio Martinez-Pacheco (Nashua, NH) recovered. Then, after another Falcons punt, Petrongolo threw his third interception, which was returned 89 yards into the end zone by Jan Valls (Worcester, MA), but it was called back due to a block in the back, giving the Falcons the ball at their own 47-yard line. Right after, Marchitelli turned it over by throwing an interception to Xavier Lopes.

- The winning drive occurred right after that turnover, with Wilson rushing for a big 41-yard gain. He then finished the drive by plunging into the end zone almost untouched for the 5-yard go-ahead score. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, so the score remained 25-24. The Falcons got within field goal range. The 34-yard attempt was blocked by Ancil Alexander, sealing the comeback win for Dartmouth.

- Defensive leader for the Falcons was Camren Topkin (New London, CT), who finished with nine tackles. For the Corsairs, it was Dylan Lykins who led the way with 16 tackles in the game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Passing Yards: UMD 173, Fitchburg 105

-  Rushing Yards: UMD 217, Fitchburg 158

-  Total Offense: UMD 390, Fitchburg 263

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State football will return home next Saturday to host non-conference opponent New England College at noon on Elliot Field.  

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