Preview: Football Goes For The Win On "Senior Day" Against Plymouth State

ON THE WEB:

You can follow this Saturday's 1:30 PM home game against Plymouth State on video or livestats. 

THE SERIES

Worcester State has never beaten the Panthers in four straight matchups, which included defeats in the 1987 and 1988 NEFC Championship game. Last season, Plymouth State edged the Lancers, 34-31 in Plymouth.

LAST YEAR

Despite tying a school record with five touchdown passes and 334 yards by senior Pat Viencek (Bernardston, MA), Worcester State was defeated on the road by Plymouth State, 34-31. A 21 yard field goal with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter by senior Rob Giles (Derry, NH) was the difference for the Panthers.

Senior Jack Sprague (Hudson, MA) had a day with nine catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns as WSU was led on defense by senior Teddy Ferreira (Mansfield, MA) who logged a game-high 11 stops (10 solo) with one tackle for a loss. 

Andrew Goglia paced the Panthers with 82 rushing yards and three touchdowns as Josh Morgan had a squad-best seven tackles and two blocked kicks. Senior Kyle Wilson (Dover, NH) also had two rejected PATs.

THE LANCERS

Last Saturday, freshman Sebastian Paz (Orlando, FL) booted the game-winning 32-yard field goal with two seconds left in regulation to help lead Worcester State (5-2, 3-2 MASCAC) to a 52-49 victory over Western Connecticut.

Junior Kemani Jones (Milton, MA) scampered for 210 yards of total offense to go with 184 rushing yards and one touchdown while senior Casey Hippert (Douglas, MA) hauled in 10 receptions for 143 yards.

Defensively, sophomore Shane Gleim (N. Grovenorsdale, CT) collected 14 tackles (12 solo) in addition to 2.5 tackles for a loss. Freshman Aurian Dawkins (Mansfield, MA) also had a 72 yard fumble recovery for a score and an 11 yard fourth-quarter interception to set the stage for the late go-ahead field goal. The first-quarter recovery by Dawkins was voted the runner-up in this week's MASCAC Football Fan Play of the Week.

Jones, who went over the century mark for the fifth time in seven games this season, tops the MASCAC in rushing yardage (119.9 YPG) and is tied for second in scoring (66 points - 10 rushing TDs). Hippert is third in the league in recieving yardage (103.2 YPG), fifth in total (619 yards) and tied for tenth with three TDs.

Senior Zack Skerry (Milford, MA) is second in the MASCAC in sacks (7.5) and he leads the conference in tackles for a loss (15). Senior Bryan Narcisse (Medway, MA) is also among the leauge leaders with seven sacks and 13 tackles for a loss of 49 yards to his credit.

Hanley tops the club, tying for the sixth-most tackles in the conference (58 tackles - 42 solo) as he also has done a little bit of everything with 5.5 sacks, 10 TFL for 45 yards, three forced fumbles, a pair of breakups, one recovery, one interception and one blocked kick.

Paz is just two points off the leader in kick scoring with 49 points as he has five field goals and he is 34-for-34 on PATs.

In addition to claiming Co-ECAC Defensive Player of the Week honors this past week for his performance against the Colonials, Paz is two points shy of the single-season school record in PATs and he is 12 off the kick scoring record.

MARKING THE MILESTONES

Hippert is now third place in both receptions (146) and receiving yardage (2,448 yards) as he is just 16 catches away from second place (Bryan Keats - 1995-97 - 162) and 31 yards off the runner-up spot held by current student assistant coach AJ Scerra (2010-13).

Senior Dana Barry (Hudson, MA) is 67 yards away from becoming the 11th WSU football player to pass the millennial mark. Sprague is eight in receptions (103), ninth on the reception yardage list (1,264 yards) and he will be one of only 11 Lancers to finish their career with double-digit receiving scores.

This past week, Jones also moved into 7th on the all-time rushing list with 1,558 yards. His 19 career scores are tied for fourth on the rushing touchdowns list as he has averaged 5.1 yards on 307 carries in 22 games.

THE PANTHERS

Last Saturday, Framingham State held Plymouth State to 152 yards of total offense en route to a 38-0 final score in Plymouth. Defensively, Wilson led the charge with seven tackles, two of which were for a loss, as he also added two pass break-ups.

Senior Mark Hennessey (Westford, MA) is ninth in the MASCAC in rushing with 311 yards, averaging 51.8 yards per game.

Wilson ranks ninth in the conference with 10.5 TFL, two sacks and a pair of forced miscues as sophomore RJ Ramsden (Florence, MA) tops the league with a trio of fumble recoveries.

The Panthers, who last won on September 13 in a 30-24 victory against Mount Ida, try to end a five-game skid.

PREGAME

19 seniors will be recognized on "Senior Day" for playing in their final home regular season contest.

Along with Barry, Viencek, Hanley, Sprague, Narcisse, Ferreira, Hippert and Skerry, the full list includes Josh Fortin (Danielson, CT), Antone Wilson (Natick, MA), Justin Pennellatore (Mansfield, MA), Brendan McFeeley (Malden, MA), Mike Goulden (Rehoboth, MA), Mike Dance (Rocky Hill, CT) , Brian Sanchioni (Milford, MA), Dakota Cullen (Mansfield, MA) and Jeremy Burke (Mansfield, MA).

The four senior members of the cheerleading team will also be honored.

NEXT WEEK

Worcester State heads to Westfield State for a 1 PM matchup against the Owls. In a back-and-forth and storied history between the two squads, the Blue and Gold look to even the all-time series at 14-14 with a win.

Plymouth State entertains Mass Maritime at high noon.