Late Blocked Kick Lifts Rams Over Owls, 9-8

WESTFIELD, Mass.  – Framingham State's Jared Martino blocked a game-winning field goal attempt in the closing seconds as the Rams held on for a 9-8 win over Westfield State in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football game at Bowditch Field in Framingham on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams had to grind it out in rainy and windy conditions all day long, with the Rams taking a 3-0 lead late into the third quarter before Westfield seized the lead on a 22-yard Gabriel Fernandez touchdown pass to Michael Foley.    On the ensuing point after try, the Owls came up with a two-point conversion when the kick attempt resulted in a broken play, and holder Owen Thompson was able to pitch the ball ahead to Blake Simpson in the endzone for the two point conversion.  Thompson released the ball just as he was being brought down by the rush to give Westfield an 8-3 lead with less than a minute left in the third quarter.

Westfield had a chance to extend the lead in the fourth quarter, but a fumble gave Framingham possession at their own 5-yard line midway through the fourth quarter. The Rams mounted a seven-play, 95-yard scoring drive that was fueled by a bold 54-yard halfback option pass to Manny Lara out of the Framingham endzone, and capped by a 3-yard TD run from Devaun Ford to bring the score to give Framingham a 9-8 lead.  The two-point conversion failed when Westfield State's Cam Danahy dropped Kevin Leal in the backfield on the try.

The Owls got the ball back for a final scoring try with 3:57 left to play after a short punt gave Westfield 1^st and 10 at their own 42.  Westfield worked the ball into scoring possession with a methodical drive, getting a key fourth down conversion on a pass to Will Brewster and a pair of third down conversions to keep the drive alive.

Westfield set up for a 32-yard field goal try with seven seconds left, that could have won the game, but Martino flew in from the right side of the formation to block the attempt.

On a day where offense was hard to come by, Fernandez finished 12-29 passing for 162 yards, a touchdown and an interception.  Brewster caught three balls for 62 yards, and Foley added five catches for 54 yards.

Ford led Framingham with 158 rushing yards on 27 carries, and the 54-yard pass that keyed the winning drive.

Tyler Cooley led Westfield with six tackles and a fumble recovery.  Danahy picked off a pass for the Owls.

Westfield is now 0-4 overall and 0-2 in the MASCAC.  Framingham is 1-2 overall and 1-1 in the conference.

The Owls will be home next Saturday, September 30 to host Mass Maritime as part of Family and Champions weekend, with a noon kickoff at Alumni Field.