Box Score DANBURY, Conn. - Senior running back
Chad Blaszky rushed 28 times for 161 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns to lead the Western Connecticut State University football team to a 35-14 victory over visiting Framingham State University at the Westside Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.
WestConn breaks a string of eight straight losses to Framingham State, dating back to when the Wolves moved from the New Jersey Athletic Conference into the MASCAC as an affiliated member in 2013.
Blaszky has been a workhorse of late and has guided the Wolves, now 4-3 overall and 3-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, to back-to-back victories over perennial leaders in the conference, Plymouth State University and now the Rams. He scored on runs of one and 26 yards. His second TD gave the hosts a 21-7 advantage with 2:34 remaining in the third quarter and virtually put any chance of a FSU comeback to rest.
The Wolves passing game was slowed on Saturday due to injuries to sophomore starter
John Giller. He completed 8-of-10 attempts for 102 yards before exiting the game in the first half. Giller got the game's scoring started when he connected with
Eli Koukoulis from nine yards out with just 4:29 elapsed in the contest.
Nicholas Gambino then
Dennis Riordan came off the bench and completed just one of five passes combined, but were instrumental in getting Blaszky the ball in the best possible position. Riordan's one completion resulted in a 23-yard scoring strike to
Michael Matich in the early going of the final stanza.
Despite the lopsided final score, the game was much closer by the numbers. WestConn finished with a 279-262 edge in total offense, but three interceptions by Rams signal caller Terry Smith aided the hosts triumph.
Smith completed 6-of-20 passes for 51 yards and was picked off twice by
Luke Pappalardo with one being returned to pay dirt from 51 yards away.
Defensively, seniors
Matt Forti and
Peter Bencivengo finished with a team-high nine tackles.
Myles Wilson followed closely behind with eight take downs.
Michael Brooks led all players with 13 tackles, including 11 primary wrap ups, for the Rams, which drop to 3-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference.
WestConn travels to Massachusetts Maritime next Saturday, October 22 for a 12 noon tilt.
