DANBURY, Conn. - The WestConn football team, which has won five games in a row after a 58-10 victory at Worcester State on Monday, will close its 2023 regular season season on the road against the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) rival Fitchburg State University Falcons on Saturday, November 4 at noon.  The Wolves are 6-2 and seeking their first MASCAC title, of which they will capture at least a share with a win on Saturday.  The Wolves are currently tied with the UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs for first place in the league at 6-1 against conference teams, while Bridgewater State is a half-game behind at 5-1.  WestConn can win the league outright this weekend with a win over the Falcons combined with a Bridgewater State loss at Framingham State on Saturday.  If Bridgewater State also wins or the Wolves do not win this weekend, the conference title will be determined next week as both the Bears and the Corsairs finish their seasons on November 11.  Coached by Joe Loth (11th Season), WestConn, is tied for No. 8 in this week's New England Football Division III Coaches Poll: 1. Endicott (7-1), 2. Springfield (7-1), 3. Middlebury (5-1), 4. Mass.-Dartmouth (8-1), 5. Trinity (Conn.) (5-1), 6. Salve Regina (6-2), 7. New England (6-2), T8. WestConn (6-2), T8. Tufts (5-2), 10. Wesleyan (5-2).  

WestConn opened the 2023 season with a 52-35 setback against Merchant Marine, which is currently ranked No. 4 in the region, and split its next two games with a 42-0 shutout of Westfield State and a 35-28 loss at Bridgewater State.  The Wolves handed UMass-Dartmouth its only loss thus far, 52-21, on September 30 and proceeded to rattle off four consecutive wins after.  WestConn has scored over 50 points in four of its last five games and won each of its last five games by 22 points or more.  The Wolves top the MASCAC in scoring offense (42.3 ppg, 20th in nation), total offense (471.9 ypg, 19th in nation), passing offense (292.3 ypg), pass efficiency (174.19 rating), and third down conversions (51.6%, 14th in nation).  WestConn also ranks eighth nationally with just five turnovers.  Junior QB Keion Jones (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) leads the MASCAC with 236.7 passing yards per game, and has thrown 13 touchdowns while running for four more.  Graduate student Chad Blaszky (Selden, N.Y.) is second in the conference with 119.6 rushing yards per game and leads the league with 14 touchdowns.  Senior WR Julian Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.) tops the MASCAC and freshman WR Dae'Shawn Allen (White Plains, N.Y.) is third in the league with 88.5 and 68.3 yards per game, and the pair have combined with senior WR Zach Soriano (Middle Island, N.Y.) for 87 catches and 20 receiving among all of them.  

On defense, WestConn has given up less than four yards per carry on the ground and held its opponents to just over 300 yards in total offense per game.  Senior LB Nosa Uzamere (Hempstead, N.Y) is tied for sixth in the MASCAC with 7.4 tackles per game (43 solo tackles) and fifth in tackles for loss with eight.  Sophomore DB Mike DeFelice (New Windsor, N.Y.) is tied for second in the conference with three interceptions and graduate student Raquell Davis (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) is third in sacks with three anchoring the middle of the WestConn defensive line.  Senior S DeShaun Hardy-Walker (Newark, N.J.) adds 45 tackles, while senior LC Corey Tehe (Staten Island, N.Y.) has 33 hits.  Senior Anthony Weidtman (Nesconset, N.Y.) is a reliable weapon on special teams who has made 47 of 48 PAT's while averaging over 55 yards per kickoff and over 40 yards per punt.  Allen and fellow rookie Serge Lagardere (Stamford, Conn.) are among the national leaders in kickoff returns and punt returns, respectively.