Framingham, MA – Framingham State University senior wide receiver Tyrone Figueroa accounted for a pair of touchdowns as the Rams shutout the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth this afternoon and picked up a 30-0 win in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) cross divisional game at Framingham’s Bowditch Field.

The Rams, who last recorded a shutout on October 1st, 2010 in a 26-0 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy, improve to 2-1 on the season, while the Corsairs are still in search of their first victory of the year as they drop to 0-3.

Framingham State controlled the game from the onset as they accumulated 383 yards of total offense while holding the Corsairs to a measly 118 yards. The Rams rushed for 284 yards in the game including 218 in the first half, while UMass Dartmouth could only muster 52 yards of total offense in the first half and were held to just 46 passing yards for the game.

Framingham State got on the board first when sophomore quarterback Matt Mangano (Winchester, MA) hit Figueroa in the corner of the end zone for a 21 yard touchdown pass with 7:12 left in the first.

The Rams extended their lead with a pair of second quarter rushing scores. Figueroa scored first with 10:33 on the clock as he scampered in on a reverse from 15 yards out, while junior Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, MA) powered through a Corsair defender to cap a 10 play 61 yards drive with a one yard score with 4:34 on the clock. Sophomore Phil Clain (Swampscott, MA) finished the first half scoring with a 22 yard field goal as time expired to give the Rams a 23-0 halftime advantage.

UMass Dartmouth tried to swing momentum to their side on the opening possession of the second half when they used a fake a punt six yard rush by senior Edgar Osols (Summit, NJ) to keep their drive alive. The Rams defense responded and held the Corsairs to just four yards on the next four plays to turn the ball over on downs.

Neither team could find the end zone in the third quarter, but the Rams added a final score early in the fourth quarter after a roughing the kicker penalty on the Corsairs. Clain was attempting a 38 yard field goal that sailed wide left, but was tackled by a Corsair resulting in a penalty to keep the drive alive. Mangano took over from there, gaining nine yards on first down and driving into the end zone from two yards out for the touchdown with 13:18 left in the game to finish the scoring.

Van Alstyne led the Rams with 142 yards on 25 carries with a touchdown, while Mangano rushed for 81 yards and a score. Mangano complete 5-of-15 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, while Figueroa finished the game with 15 yards rushing and a score and four receptions for 69 yards and a score.

UMass Dartmouth quarterback Patrick Orlando (Manchester, MA) completed 15-of-34 pass attempts for 46 yards, while junior Jordan Guyton (Canton, MA) was the leading rusher with 31 yards on nine carries.

The Rams defense was led by junior linebacker Michael Altavesta (Tewksbury, MA) who made nine tackles on defense and special teams. Altavesta also picked up his first interception of the season, while junior Sam Hill (Lynn, MA) made four tackles and also intercepted his first pass of the year.

Senior Joune Fraser (Barnstable, MA) led the Corsairs defense with a game-high 12 tackles, while junior Joe Teixera (Seekonk, MA) and sophomore Art Azatyants (Brookline, MA) added 11 and 10 tackles respectively.

The Rams return to action next Friday night, (Sept 21, 2012), with their first divisional game at rival Bridgewater State University. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m.

Thanks to Kathy Lynch, Assistant Director of Athletics/Sports Information at Framingham State University for contributing this story. For more FSU RAMS sports info, box scores, calendar of upcoming games and sporting events, visit their website at: www.fsurams.com

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