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Worcester, MA --- Junior Bryan Narcisse (Medway, MA) paced a defensive effort with seven tackles – including 3.5 for a loss and 2.5 sacks – as Worcester State defeated Westfield State, 27-20, in their NEFC Bogan Division opener this afternoon at Coughlin Field.
With the win the Lancers improve to 3-1 overall (1-0 NEFC Bogan) and the Owls slip to 1-3 and 0-1 in the division standings. The squads renewed a rivalry that Westfield State leads in the all-time series, 14-13 since it started in 1986.
As Worcester State nursed the 27-10 lead at the end of the third quarter, the visitors made it a game with a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown by senior Kevin Parnell (Berlin, CT) to start off the final period.
Westfield State then held the Lancers scoreless on their next two drives with a fourth-year Erik Wellhoff (Natick, MA) interception at the Worcester State 13-yard line and a three and out.
Sparked by a 12-yard burst by sophomore Michael Mercandante (Wilbraham, MA) and a 29-yard completion to Mercandante out of the backfield, the Owls inched the score closer with a 30-yard field goal by senior Kennan Starzell (Rockland, MA) with 2:54 remaining to trail by a touchdown.
The visitors put themselves in great position on their own 30 yard-line to try for a game-tying drive after the Lancers shaved 1:30 off the clock, but were forced to punt with 51 seconds left.
Following a third-down conversion that junior Tim Rich (Chelmsford, MA) completed on a nine-yard pass to Parnell to put the Owls at midfield, Narcisse sacked Rich on third down and sophomore Justin Pennellatore (Mansfield, MA) had the final deflection on a hail mary to seal the win for the hosts.
Both squads started out the contest trading possessions before Worcester State opened with the early 7-0 lead on a 13-play, 86 yard drive that culminated in a one-yard plunge by sophomore Kemani Jones (Milton, MA) at the 5:11 mark.
Westfield State promptly answered on a 24-yard field goal by Starzel with 1:02 remaining in the first quarter for the 7-3 score. Narcisse had a big sack on second down for the defense and sophomore Adam Scerra (Marlboro, MA) had a stop in the secondary to force the special teams unit onto the field on fourth-and-two.
Early in the second quarter, the Lancers gave themselves some breathing room when the hosts took advantage of good position, near midfield. A 37-yard flick from senior Corey Spencer (Malden, MA) to sophomore Casey Hippert (Douglas, MA) put Worcester State on the goal line to set the table for Jones' one-yard TD burst at the 10:26 mark (PAT blocked).
But the Owls answered right back after Parnell had a 31-yard kickoff return to put his team on the 50-yardline.
Mercadante was clutch for the visitors with 34 yards on the ground and Westfield State made the score 13-10 with 7:21 left in the opening half on an 11-yard touchdown reception to Parnell.
Westfield State did force the Lancers to punt twice in the final seven minutes of the stanza, but the Worcester State defense sacked Rich twice to keep them out of field goal range.
In the third quarter, Worcester State's defense held the Owls to 81 yards of total offense and three first downs as they scored twice to build up the lead to three possessions by the time both teams switched sides again.
In addition, junior Matthew Begley (E. Bridgewater, MA) ended a drive with his first collegiate interception for WSU late in the third stanza.
To build up their cushion, the Blue and Gold scored with 9:05 on the clock on a seven-yard touchdown reception from Spencer to Hippert and sophomore Mike Dance (Rocky Hill, CT) added a 63-yard scoring scamper with 3:22 remaining in the third for the 27-10 score which set the stage for Westfield State's final charge.
Spencer completed 75 percent of his passes (24-for-32) to go with 238 yards and one touchdown. Junior AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA) finished with a game-best seven receptions for 40 yards and Hippert caught four passes for 82 yards and one score.
Mercadante paced the Owls with 151 yards on 23 rushes (6.6 yds per rush) in addition to 47 yards through the air. Rich had 203 yards with one score as junior Kevin Terilli (Cranston, RI) added four catches for 85 yards.
Begley led the charge on defense with nine tackles (six solo) and two tackles for a loss. Sophomore Zack Skerry (Milford, MA) collected six tackles – 2.0 TFL and 1.5 sacks – while junior Adam Straughn (Rockland, MA) and classmate Nick Doria (Watertown, MA) both pitched in with one sack each.
Westfield State sophomore Troy Cutter (Lunenburg, MA) and classmate Mike Mizzoni (Westford, MA) both made their presence known with 10 stops apiece and junior Cam Willcox (Groton, MA) tacked on seven tackles, including one sack.
Parnell had 182 all-purpose yards to lead the visitors on special teams with 35 yards receiving, 54 yards on kick returns and 93 on punts.
While scoring two touchdowns for Worcester State, Jones also was a force in the specialty unit with 79 yards rushing, 32 in the passing game and 32 on kickoffs.
The Lancers outgained their opponents in total offense (412-343) and they had the slight edge in the passing game (238-203) while they were just ahead in possession time (30:41-29:19). The Blue and Gold also had a season-best six sacks as a team.
Both teams continue Bogan Division play on Saturday at 1 PM. Worcester State ventures up to Castine, Maine to face off against Maine Maritime while the Owls host Bridgewater State.