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Date: 11/13/2015
WORCESTER – Chicopee native Sam Laurin caught seven passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns for Westfield State, but the Owls fell to Worcester State in a high-scoring affair, 53-27 at John F. Coughlin field.
With the win, the Lancers improve to 4-5 on the season, and move to a 4-3 winning record in the conference. The Westfield State Owls drop to 2-7, and 1-6 in the MASCAC.
Worcester State’s Kemani Jones ran for 226 yards and four TDs to lead the way for the Lancers.
Senior quarterback Trevor Vasey directed the Lancers offensively as he went 17-24 in completions for a total of 303 yards and three touchdowns. His longest throw was for 57-yards. On the other end of the 57-yard pass from Vasey was junior wide receiver, Arron Witkus who claimed four receptions for 110 yards throughout the entirety of the game. Junior wide receiver, Tyler Barrie also had four receptions for a total of 69 yards.
The Lancers started the game out with a 20-0 run. Just 1:26 into the game, Jones scored the team's first touchdown on a 3-yard run. The good kick by freshman Noah Hwang put them up seven.
Another touchdown from Jones at 9:44 in the first put the Lancers up by 13, and then a great pass from Vasey to senior Mark Parker and a good kick brought the Blue and Gold to a 20-point lead.
Down by 20, the Owls fought back and senior quarterback Erik Washburn threw a 60-yard shot down the field to Laurin to put numbers up on the scoreboard for Westfield. The Lancers answered to the Owls just 35 seconds later with a 9-yard pass from Vasey to Jones, and a good kick from Hwang to regain their 20-point lead.
Worcester State dominated the second and third quarters, scoring three touchdowns and a field goal to increase the margin to 51-7.
The fourth quarter was in Westfield's hands when junior running back Bryan Waruhiu set the pace with a 5-yard touchdown to shorten the edge. Worcester State's only score in the fourth came slightly after this touchdown, as Mike Holder blocked the extra point attempt by freshman Tyler Duff, Holder and returned the ball down the field for two points.
Westfield State's sophomore quarterback, Phil Cohen came into the game in the second half and threw for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter – a 48-yard pass to Laurin, and a 20-yard pass to senior Colin Smith.
Cohen directed the Owls with 10 completions (25 attempts) for a total of 136 yards. Laurin led the team in receptions with seven for 156 yards, and Waruhiu rushed 18 times for 90 yards.
Defensively for the Owls, senior Marc Pettigrew led the team with 10 tackles (seven unassisted), one sack, and four tackles for losses. John Ollari came in second with nine tackles and one tackle for a loss.
The Owls will be on the road for their final game of the season, as they will square up with Western Connecticut State University on Nov. 13 for a 7 p.m. start time.