Lancers Football Unable to Climb Out of First Half Hole

PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Visiting Worcester State fell behind by a pair of touchdowns in the opening quarter and were unable to recover, dropping a 42-14 decision to Plymouth State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Panther Field on Saturday afternoon. 

Aaron-Moses Williams (Springfield, Mass.) and Mike Loveless (Nashua, N.H.) each threw touchdowns in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough to keep Worcester from falling to 2-5 on the year and 2-3 in the MASCAC. 

Senior Ryan Milliken (Lebanon, N.H.) returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown after Worcester State's opening possession to jumpstart Plymouth State, who improve to 3-4 (3-2 MASCAC). 

Loveless completed 6-11 passes for 64 yards and the score, while also leading the team in rushing 45 yards. Williams was 18-35 for 160 yards, as the Lancers outgained the Panthers 224-80 through the air. 

Plymouth had the edge in rushing yards, 299-74, thanks to senior Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.), who went for 135 yards on 18 carries. He gained 60 yards on six plays to set up Zach Caffrey (Hampton, Conn.) for the second score of the day for Plymouth State. 

The Panthers scored twice more in the second quarter to take a 28-0 lead into the half, the first two of three straight TD passes by Bryan Warren (Pine Bush, N.Y.) to Brett Lavanchy (Walpole, Mass.). 

They also kept MASCAC leading receiver Ke'Vaughn Davis (Utica, N.Y.) relatively quiet, holding the sophomore to just five catches for 31 yards. Worcester was led by Dan DiVerdi (Sterling, Mass.) with 57 yards receiving, while Drew von Klock (Walpole, Mass.) and Keith Smith Jr. (Ware, Mass.) caught touchdown passes.

Noah Peterson (Millbury, Mass.) led the Lancers with ten tackles, including one for a loss. Brad Baxter (Goffstown, N.H.) had two tackles for a loss of 15 yards, including a big ten-yard sack. 

Senior Connor Hiner (Brattleboro, Vt.) led the Plymouth defense with 11 tackles (seven solo), while sophomore Emmanuel Ughu (Milford, N.H.) was a presence in the Lancers' backfield with two tackles for a loss and a five-yard sack. Junior Ryan Edison (North Reading, Mass.) also got to the WSU quarterback in the backfield for a six-yard sack, while Lewis and Griffing came up with interceptions.

Worcester State returns home to host Western Connecticut State at noon next Saturday at Coughlin Field.

The Panthers look for their fourth straight win when they travel to Westfield State next Saturday at noon.