FITCHBURG, Mass. - Chad Blaszky (Selden, N.Y.) ran for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the visiting Western Connecticut State University Wolves to a 54-0 win over the Fitchburg State University Falcons in Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football action this afternoon on Elliot Field.  WestConn wins for the sixth time in a row and finishes the 2023 regular season with a 7-2 overall record and a 7-1 mark in the MASCAC.  The Falcons fall to 0-9 overall and 0-7 in the league.  The Wolves, tied for eighth in the New England Division III Coaches Poll, clinch a share of their first MASCAC Championship title and sit a half game ahead of Bridgewater State (6-1) and UMass-Dartmouth (6-1) who both close out their seasons next Saturday.

The Wolves scored early and often, beginning with a sack, forced fumble, and fumble return for a 34-yard touchdown by senior DE Kile Jackson (Danbury, Conn.) 3:17 into the game.  Moments later, WestConn senior S DeShaun Hardy-Walker (Newark, N.J.) intercepted Falcon QB Dylan Cosner in Fitchburg State territory and Blaszky capitalized with his first touchdown from three yards away to make the score, 14-0, midway through the opening quarter.  WestConn scored twice more before the first break, once on a five-yard Blaszky scamper and with no time on the clock thanks to an 18-yard pass to by junior QB Keion Jones (Mount Vernon, N.Y.) to senior WR Julian Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.).

WestConn's defense continued to turn the Falcons over, as junior CB Milleeq Green (Bridgeport, Conn.) scored on a 54-yard interception return to paydirt in the second quarter.  Jones threw a three-yard touchdown pass to his offensive tackle Desmond Sampson (Brooklyn, N.Y.) in the third quarter, while rookie QB Dylan Jackson Monroe, Conn.) added a 17-yard scoring strike to classmate Markus Faucett (Bronx, N.Y.) and junior RB Kamryn Holmes (Branford, Conn.) scored on a seven-yard run in the fourth for the Wolves.

Jones finished 13-for-20 through the air for 166 yards, while three Falcon QB's combined to complte eight passes in 24 tries for just 65 yards and four picks.  Senior RB Kevin Franceschini (Bronx, N.Y.) added 66 rushing yards for the Wolves and Oriowokite Fatoke had a team-high 45 yards on the ground for Fitchburg State.  Ferguson led all receivers with seven catches for 105 yards.  Raquell Davis (Mastci Beach, N.Y.) paced the WestConn defense with six tackles, while senior LB Troy Pomykala (New Egypt, N.J.) added five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.