Westfield, MA --- Senior Marcus Price (Worcester, MA/Doherty) scored the game-tying touchdown in the third and final overtime while carrying 37 times for 149 yards and a pair of scores as Worcester State held on for a wild 42-40 victory over Westfield State.
The Lancers improve to 4-0 overall after surviving a Westfield State comeback in the New England Football Conference Bogan Division opener. The Owls, who rallied from a late 24-7 first-half deficit to tie the score 24-24 at the end of regulation, are 1-3 overall.
Westfield took a 40-34 lead on the first possession of the third overtime on a one-yard touchdown run by senior Justin Karrat (Ashland, MA).
Westfield had to go for the two-point conversion in the third overtime and a pass to Karrat in the end zone was batted down by junior PJ Robinson (Winthrop, MA).
On the Lancers' first play of the third overtime, Price made a brilliant 25-yard touchdown scamper, weaving his way through several defenders down the left side. Junior reserve quarterback Corey Spencer (Malden, MA) then threw to a wide open sophomore Dana Barry (Hudson, MA) in the left corner of the end zone for the game-ending two-point conversion.
After both teams booted short field goals in the first overtime, Barry put the Lancers ahead, 34-27 on the first possession of the second overtime. Barry leaped over several defenders to haul in the 21-yard touchdown reception.
Westfield knotted the score in the second overtime on a 12-yard touchdown pass-run play by junior Jake Storey (Uxbridge, MA).
The regulation game-tying score for the Owls came in the form of a school-record 89-yard touchdown fumble recovery by senior Ryan O'Connell (Athol, MA) 24-24 to force the extra session.
The Lancers appeared to have the game wrapped up after Spencer and Barry hooked up for a 64-yard pass play to the Westfield 14 yard-line with less than three minutes left in fourth quarter. On the next play junior Chris Walker (West Springfield, MA) forced the Price fumble and O'Connell scooped up the ball and raced down the left sidelines.
Worcester still had an opportunity to win the game in regulation as sophomore Derek Muccini's 42-yard field goal attempt had the distance, but it went wide left.
Westfield trailed 24-7 with 2:09 remaining in the first half following a 26-yard touchdown pass from starting senior Tony Tokarz (Holden, MA) to sophomore AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA).
Westfield began its comeback when junior Kennan Startzell (Rockland, MA) booted a 26-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining in the first half.
Westfield scored the only third-quarter points midway through the period on a one-yard plunge by freshman Michael Mercadante (Wilbraham, MA) that capped off a 13-play, 53-yard drive, cutting the Lancer lead to 24-17.
The Lancers led 10-0 after the first quarter on a two-yard Price TD burst that capped an 11-play, 83-yard drive and a Muccini 31-yard field goal.
Westfield made it 10-7, scoring early in the second stanza, on a one-yard TD run by sophomore Brian Beauchemin (Orange, MA) to cap a 9-play, 64-yard drive.
However, the Lancers scored four minutes later on Tokarz's one-yard TD to make it 17-7. It was Tokarz's 10th rushing touchdown of his career, and he is only 68 yards away from 1,000 while wearing a Lancer uniform.
Tokarz rushed for 43 yards and completed 7-of-14 passes for 86 yards while Spencer completed 4-of-9 passes for 107 yards and had 32 yards on four carries, including a big first-down run of 13 yards in overtime. Scerra led the Lancer receivers with five catches for 62 yards followed by Barry (3-91).
Senior quarterback Tyler Dow completed 17-of-31 passes for 260 yards and a touchdown for the Owls. Mercadante and Beauchemin rushed for 57 and 42 yards, respectively. Sophomore Jeff Winchell (Scituate, RI) had five catches for 48 yards and junior Kevin Parnell (Berlin, CT) had four catches for 115 yards.
Senior Cameron Jones (Stow, MA) led the Lancers with a team-high 11 tackles, including nine solo stops. Classmate Andrew Tokarz (Holden, MA) posted nine tackles and junior Josh Key (Putnam, CT) returned an interception 46 yards that set up Worcester's first-half field goal.
Westfield junior Dan Dowling (Stoneham, MA) recorded a game-high 12 tackles while Walker recorded nine tackles with a sack and forced fumble.
The contest marked Price's fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game of the season, as he has 587 on the year. He is averaging 146.8 yards per game, to go along with his team-high seven touchdowns. Price is 323 yards away from second on Worcester State's all-time rushing list with 2,285 yards.
The Lancers continue with NEFC play next Saturday as they play host to Maine Maritime for a 12 PM tilt.
Major Portions of Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information