WESTFIELD, Mass. – Worcester State's Aaron-Moses Williams (Springfield, Mass.) fired a 41 yard pass to Ke'Vaughn Davis (Utica, N.Y.), who caught the ball amid heavy traffic at the front right pylon of the end zone for a game-winning touchdown as time expired to give the Lancers a dramatic 33-30 win over Westfield State University in a MASCAC football game at Alumni Field on Saturday.
Westfield had battled back from a 20-6 deficit early in the 2nd half to grab a 30-27 lead on Danny Farrell's 24-yard field goal with 1:29 left to play.
Amir Wells (Boston, Mass.) capped a short Worcester drive with a 1-yard run with 11:39 left in the third quarter to give the Lancers a 20-6 lead.
Williams marched the Lancers 85 yards on nine plays on the game winning drive that started with 1:25 left in regulation. A 7-yard rush by Williams moved the chains early, then he found Deion Osei-Sarpong (Holden, Mass.) for 21 yards on a 3rd-and-4 play that moved the ball to the Owls 45.
With time winding down, Williams found Osei-Sarpong on a completion that appeared to moved the ball down to the Owls' 20 yard line with 3 seconds left, but an ineligible man downfield penalty left the Lancers in desperate straits at the Westfield State 41-yard line. Williams rolled right to buy time, and found Davis, who tapped both feet inside the right side of the end zone and held on to the ball for the game winning score.
The last-second loss spoiled the Owls senior day, as Westfield honored its eight graduating seniors before the game.
Westfield finished with 555 yards of total offense on the day, led by 258 yards passing and three TD tosses from first-year QB Gabriel Fernandez. Fernandez tossed a 72-yard scoring strike to Anthony Cintron, and 19 yard swing pass to Lee Colon, and an 18-yarder to Dylan Disabella. Cintron added a 5-yard run on an end around play as well.
Cintron finished with five catches for 127 yards, while Farrell caught 10 balls for 94 yards. Colon finished with 132 yards rushing on 11 carries.
Westfield finished with 533 yards of total offense – just 1 yard shy of the school record.
Worcester's day was highlighted by 274 yards passing from Williams, who finished 28-47 with two passing TD's, and added 87 yards rushing along with TD runs of 5 and 13 yards. Osei-Sarpong totaled 125 yards on nine catches
Defensively Christian Julian led the Owls with 14 total tackles. William Soto added 12 stop and forced a fumble, which Matt Hadley recovered. Cullen MacNeil also had 12 tackles.
Worcester State's Brad Baxter (Goffstown, N.H.) finished with 11 tackles, including 1.5 for losses. John McMasters III (Raynham, Mass.) added 10 tackles, and Matt O'Connor (Selkirk, N.Y.) had nine tackles and a sack.
Westfield State slips to 0-9 on the season and 0-7 in the MASCAC. Worcester is 3-6 overall and 3-4 in the league.
Westfield State will be back in action next Saturday, playing their final game of the season at Fitchburg State with a noon kickoff.
Worcester State will host Framingham at Noon next Saturday, November 13th for their season finale and their own senior day.