BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. - Sophomore wide receiver Julian Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.) hauled in seven catches for 103 yards and a pair of touchdowns to propel the Western Connecticut State University football squad to a 24-3 victory at Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon at Clear Harbors Stadium.

With the win, the Wolves improved to 5-3 overall and 4-2 in MASCAC play, while the Buccaneers dropped to 3-4 and 3-2. 

Down a pair of quarterbacks due to injury, WestConn sophomore Dennis Riordan (New City, N.Y.) stepped up, throwing 19-of-31 passes for 235 yards to go along with the two scores to Ferguson. Senior running back Chad Blaszky (Selden, N.Y.) continued his stellar play, rushing for 128 yards on 28 attempts.

The hosts began the game with a bit of trickery as they recovered an on-side kick near midfield. They then marched downfield and scored what appeared to be a one-yard touchdown. However, the play was called back due to an illegible man downfield and they settled for an 18-yard field goal to draw first blood and lead 3-0.

But it was all WestConn after that. Riordan connected with Ferguson from 21 yards out as the visitors seized a 7-3 advantage with 1:20 left in the opening quarter.

The dynamic duo would pair up again in the second stanza when Ferguson dodged a pair of defenders and rolled right to find Ferguson wide-open in the back corner of the end zone from 17 yards out, stretching the advantage to 14-3 with the ensuing point after attempt.

The Wolves would lead 21-3 at halftime after Blaszky flicked a pass over the goal line to senior wideout Michael Matich (Floral Park, N.Y.).

After a scoreless third quarter, WestConn junior kicker Anthony Weidtman (Nesconset, N.Y) drilled a 40-yard field goal less than two minutes into the fourth to round the count out at 24-3.

For the game, the Wolves racked up 382 yards of offense while holding the Buccaneers to just 139. Defensively, senior linebacker Matt Forti (New York, N.Y) led WestConn with nine tackles while classmate Ambrose Richards (Wall Township, N.J) added six to go along with an eight-yard sack.

WestConn returns to action back at the WAC when they host Worcester State University on Saturday at 2 p.m. They wrap up the regular season slate when they battle visiting Fitchburg State on November 5.