FRAMINGHAM, MA – The Framingham State University football team received four turnovers and six sacks from the defense while senior quarterback Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) accounted for five touchdowns as the Rams defeated previously unbeaten Western Connecticut State 39-14 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Bowditch Field this afternoon.

The Rams defense held the high scoring offense of Western Connecticut to just 14 points in the game well below their league leading scoring average of 39.5 points per game. The Rams defense allowed 347 yards of total offense including 319 passing, but came up with four turnovers and six sacks.

Senior Dwayne Hunter-Parker (Waterbury, Conn.) recorded a pair of interceptions for the Rams to go along with six tackles, while classmate Carls Alphonse (Somerville, Mass.) added an interception with a 55-yard return and five tackles.  Junior Joshua Smiley (Springfield, Mass.) recorded five solo stops with three sacks including a sack-fumble. Sophomore Adeboye Oyaronbi (Revere, Mass.) added seven tackles and a pair of sacks, while junior Joshua Onujiogu (Wareham, Mass.) added four tackles and the Rams final sack.  Sophomore Cully Curran (Arlington, Mass.) paced the defense with 10 tackles including eight solo.

The Rams balanced offense recorded 341 total yards in the game including 176 yards passing and 165 yards on the ground.  Wojenski completed 15 of 25 for 176 yards with four touchdowns, while rushing for 84 yards on 16 carries with a score.  Freshman Devaun Ford (Mashpee, Mass.) rushed for 73 yards on 18 carries and scored on an 88 yard kickoff return.

Senior Jacob Maher (Marshfield, Mass.) recorded six catches for 69 yards, while junior Emmanuel Exilhomme (Roslindale, Mass.) added three catches for 54 yards and a pair of scores.  Freshman Elijah Nichols (Burlington, NJ) had a pair of catches in the game including a touchdown.

David James completed 21 of 42 passes for 319 yards for the Colonials with two touchdowns and three interceptions while being sacked six times. Will Daniels was James’ favorite target catching eight balls for 149 yards with a score, while Chris Pascall had five catches for 92 yards.

Anthony Via was the Colonials leading rusher with 50 yards on 13 carries. The Colonials defense was led by nine tackles including on for a loss from Austin Thornberg, while Vincent Scancarello added eight.

The Colonials had a chance to get on the board on their first possession of the day on a 29-yard field goal attempt from Jordon D’Onofrio, but the kick was short.

The Rams went 80 yards on 11 plays on their next possession taking the lead for good when Wojenski capped the drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Exilhomme. Wojenski picked up a pair of key runs on the drive to keep the chains moving. After the kick was blocked, the Rams led 6-0 with under a minute in the first.

Alphonse’s interception on the Colonials ensuing possession and 55-yard return with added yardage for a penalty set up the Rams second score of the game. Wojenski hit Exilhomme on the sideline and Exilhomme dove for the pylon for a 14-yard touchdown reception. The PAT failed and the Rams led 12-0 with 12:08 on the clock in the second.

Western Connecticut responded with a touchdown on their next possession of the game. James connected with Pascall for a 47-yard pass giving the Colonials the ball on the Rams 10-yard line. Three plays later James hit Daniels in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard touchdown. After the PAT, the Colonials trailed 12-7.

Late in the second quarter a short punt by the Colonials gave the Rams the ball on the 32-yard line. A nine-yard rush from Wojenski and seven yards from Ford put the ball on the 16-yard line. Wojenski completed two straight passes an 11-yard gain to Maher and a five yard scoring strike to Nichols. After the PAT was blocked, the Rams led 18-7 with 1:30 on the clock before the half.

The Colonials moved the ball into Ram territory on their final possession of the half, but a sack by Smiley and a pair of incompletions kept the Colonials out of the end zone.

The Rams defense stopped the Colonials on the first possession of the second half before Wojenski tossed a four-yard touchdown to William Jean on the Rams first possession of the half. The Rams went for two and converted leading 26-7 with 8:17 left in the third.

The Colonials defense forced a fumble and came up with the recovery on the Rams 19-yard line with 2:36 on the clock in the third. On the first play from scrimmage Jams tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to Devon Smith. After the PAT, the Rams led 26-14. Ford returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown extending the lead to 32-14. A muffed snap on a punt by the Colonials set up the Rams final touchdown of the game. A one-yard quarterback sneak from Wojsenski with 11:07 left in the fourth. The Rams defense came up with an interception and a sack-fumble in the fourth to seal the victory.

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As Massachusetts’ premier state college, Framingham State University offers prepared and motivated students a wide range of challenging undergraduate and graduate programs. Located just 20 miles from Boston, the university offers many options for students to engage in real-world learning both on its quintessential New England campus and in Boston and its thriving MetroWest region.

Thanks to Kathy Lynch, Assistant Director, Athletics, Sports Information at Framingham State University for contributing this story.

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