FRAMINGHAM, MASS. -  The Framingham State University football team forced three fumbles and recorded four sacks including a key sack-fumble in the fourth quarter as the Rams defeated Western Connecticut State University, 35-21 this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Bowditch Field.  

WestConn, now 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the league, was led by Chad Blaszky's (Seldon, N.Y.) 88 yards rushing on 10 carries.

Mack Driver (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) scored both of WestConn's touchdowns, from two and four years, respectively.  His second drew the visitors within seven points, 21-14 with 6:47 remaining before intermission.  He finished with 10 carries for 32 yards.

The Rams defense stopped WestConn four times in the fourth quarter to secure the victory including a stop on the goal line as time expired. WestConn's final four possessions resulted in a fumble, a punt, a turnover on downs and the stop on the goal line as they tried to come from behind. 


Joshua Onujiogu added eight tackles including two for a loss with 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.  The sack gives Onujiogu 28.5 sacks for his career with the Rams which surpasses the old FSU career record of 27.5 held by James Muirhead who was a Rams from 2009-12. 

The Rams amassed 470 yards of total offense in the game, while WestConn accumulated 286. 

UMD quarterback Nicolas Goffredo completed 16-of-28 in the game for 276 yards with three touchdowns and two picks. 

Devaun Ford rushed for 93 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown, while also making three catches for 76 yards and a score to lead the winners.. 

Elijah Nichols made six catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, while Devaughn White had two catches for 38 yards and a touchdown. 

John Giller (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) completed 11-of-36 passes for WestConn for 130 yards with a touchdown.

The Rams got on the board on the first possession of the game when Ford capped a six play drive with a two-yard touchdown run. After Matthew Farley converted the extra point, the Rams led 7-0 with 12:15 on the clock. 

WestConn tied the game on a fourth and goal with 3:59 left in the opening quarter when Driver rushed in from two yards out. 

Marcus McBean Jr. found the end zone from three yards out with 11:28 on the clock in the second. 

After a punt by WestConn's Brandon Ciullo (South Setauket, N.Y), Goffredo connected with Ford on a 59-yard catch and run touchdown pushing the lead to 21-7 with ten remaining in the first half. 

Western Connecticut's defense came up with an interception and good return setting up their next scoring drive in the second quarter. Driver capped a four play, 40-yard drive with a four-yard score cutting the deficit to 21-14 with just over six on the clock. 

The Rams answered with a 27-yard touchdown pass from Goffredo to Nichols on their next possession to head to the locker room leading 28-14. 

WestConn then cut the deficit to one score after Giller connected with Julian Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.) for a 16-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the third quarter. 

The Rams defense took over from there holding WestConn out of the end zone in the fourth and recording a sack-fumble that set up the Rams final touchdown of the game – a 21-yard pass from Goffredo to White. 

Peter Bencivengo (Meriden, Conn.) led WestConn with seven tackles and an interception return of 19 yards in the loss.  Matt Forti (Bronx, N.Y.) had six tackles and one interception return of 31 yards.
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The Rams are back in action on October 30 when they travel to Mass. Maritime for a MACAC contest at 12 p.m., while WestConn hosts Mass. Maritime next Saturday at noon, on Senior Day.