DANBURY, CT - Senior quarterback Quinn Fleeting (Windsor, CT) threw four first-half touchdown passes in Western Connecticut State University's 55-34 victory over visiting Fitchburg State University on Senior Day at the Westside Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonials improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference.  They remain one game back of Plymouth State University (8-1, 5-1), which defeated Westfield State University, 17-0 today and are even with next week's opponent, Framingham State University (7-1, 5-1).  WestConn travels to the Rams next Saturday, November 4 for a noon kickoff.  The Panthers travel to take on Fitchburg State, which drops to 3-5 overall and 2-4 in the league, a week from today, also a noon.

Fleeting, already a four-time MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week, completed 15 of 23 passes for 242 yards with scores from 13, 12, 74 and 10, respectively on Saturday.  He also opened the scoring for WestConn with a 10-yard touchdown run off the option to the right side.  In the first 30 minutes, he completed 13 of 17 passes for 233 yards to give the Colonials a 34-20 advantage going into intermission.

After a 13-yard TD pass to Austin Calamita (North Branford, CT) gave the Colonials a 14-0 lead at the 2:41 mark of the first quarter, but the Falcons' Jevon Brown-Simpson (Lynn, MA) took the ensuing play after the kick-off 69 yards to cut the visitor's deficit in half, 14-7.

Brown-Simpson carried the ball 24 times for a game-high 166 yards, for an averaged 6.9 yards a haul.

Fleeting connected with Zatrell Lyons (New Haven, CT), from 12 yards out then Calamita for his longest completing of the season, 74 yards, and WestConn's lead blew up to 21 points, 28-7.  Calamita finished with a team-high 87 yards on just two catches, both touchdowns.

"It was a really good job by our offense, coming out with a purpose today," said WestConn's sixth-year head coach Joe Loth.  "We wanted to be balanced in the run and pass games today, and we accomplished that.  Our defense did a solid job creating turnovers as well."

Sophomore quarterback Connor Fitzsimons (Flushing, NY) found Devin Summiel (Tewksbury, MA) in the end zone from seven yards out and Fitchburg gave notice that it was not rolling over and drew within 14 points, 28-14.

Fitzsimons completed 22 of 41 pass attempts for 272 yards and four touchdowns, but was intercepted three times.

Jawad Chisholm (Bridgeport, CT) was the on the end of Fleeting's 10-yard TD strike with 6:13 left in the second quarter.  Jordan D'Onofrio (Orange, CT), who had connected on his first four point-after tries, hit the right upright and WestConn led, 34-14. 

Fitchburg's Jesse Brown (Yonkers, NY) caught a three yard pass from Fitzsimons in the end zone with 20 second remaining before the recess.  Geoffrey Richert (Northbridge, MA) sailed the point after attempt wide to the left to give the host a 34-20 at halftime.

WestConn, which amassed 299 yards of total offense in the first half, was held to 199 yards, but tacked on 21 more points.

Junior Duane Gary (New Haven, CT) scored on runs of 42 yards and four yards before the midway point of the third quarter and the Colonials led, 48-20.  He finished with 78 yards on 10 carries and caught a team-high five passes for 77 yards.

Fitzsimons hooked up with Connor Flynn (Fairhaven, MA) for a 43-yard touchdown to cap off a three-play, 73-yard drive and the Falcons drew within three scores, 48-27.

In the early going of the fourth quarter, Kevin Maxen (Waterbury, CT) sacked Fitzsimons and forced a fumble on Fitchburg's goal line.  Michael Kaiser (Northford, CT) pounced on the ball in the end zone to close out a threat of a miraculous comeback by the visitors.  WestConn led, 55-27 with 10:43 left in the game.

Jacqua Solomon (Bridgeport, CT) and Fitzsimons connected on a two-yard TD toss after both teams exchanged interceptions on the Colonials' goal line.  Richert's kick closed out the scoring, 55-34.

Defensively, Devon Smith (Wethersfield, CT) and Nick Crowley (Bristol, CT) led the Colonials with eight tackles apiece.  Smith registered on of three WestConn interception.

Jovon White (Meriden, CT) led all players with nine tackles, including eight solos.  He also had a pick and one pass break up.

NOTE:  24 Colonials honored prior to the start of the game against the Falcons.