FB: Panthers stun Worcester State in OT
PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior Jacob Morris (Kennebunk, Maine) hauled in a 52-yard Hail Mary with one second remaining in regulation, and graduate student Gregory Walker (Boxford, Mass.) walked into the end zone for the game-winning two-point conversion in overtime as Plymouth State University outlasted Worcester State University, 47-46, in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) opener at Panther Field on Saturday.
The Lancers appeared ready to escape with a win as PSU faced fourth-and-15 from its own 48-yard line with just 13 seconds left and no timeouts. Graduate quarterback Braden Lynn (Littleton, Mass.) scrambled and launched the ball into the end zone, where Morris outleapt four defenders for the score. The extra point sent the game into overtime tied at 39-39.
After Worcester State scored on its possession in OT, Lynn capped a clutch drive by scrambling in from 12 yards out to make it 46-45. Head coach Paul Castonia rolled the dice, opting to go for the win, and Lynn pitched to Walker, who scored untouched to seal the thrilling win.
At halftime, Plymouth State recognized its NCAA Championship participants and conference champions from the 2024-25 academic year – skier Max Haussmann, the women's lacrosse team (the first-ever Little East Conference team to earn an at-large NCAA bid), and the women's ice hockey team (winners of the inaugural MASCAC Tournament title).
Plymouth State improves to 2-0 (1-0 MASCAC), while the Lancers drop their season opener (0-1, 0-1 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 47, Worcester State 46
- Plymouth State (2-0, 1-0 MASCAC)
- Worcester State (0-1, 0-1 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- Worcester State turned a running-into-the-kicker penalty into a 17-play opening drive and a 7-0 lead.
- Walker's 30-yard touchdown run tied the game, but the Lancers regained the lead, 14-7, early in the second.
- Walker's 18-yard TD catch on fourth-and-six brought PSU within one, 14-13, thought the PAT was blocked.
- The Lancers stretched the margin to 22-13, but Lynn hit senior Mitchell Cripps (Dracut, Mass.) for a nine-yard TD just before halftime to cut it to 22-20. Freshman Joe Fontano (Southington, Conn.) kick started the drive with a 44-yard kickoff return.
- PSU opened the third with a one-yard TD run by senior Shawn Harrington (South Weymouth, Mass.) to take its first lead, 26-22.
- Sparked by a 10-yard sack by senior Ryan Fleming (Boxborough, Mass.), Plymouth State forced a three-and-out, but a muffed punt set up a Worcester State TD as the Lancers went back on top, 29-26.
- Walker answered with a three-yard TD run, but the PAT missed, leaving PSU ahead 32-29 heading to the fourth.
- Worcester State tied the game on a field goal, then scored again with under five minutes left to lead 39-32.
- PSU was stopped on fourth down but the defense came up huge to force a punt with just over a minute left, setting up Lynn's game-tying Hail Mary to Morris and the PAT to force OT.
- The Lancers cashed in on their possession to make it 46-39.
- Walker picked up 11 yards on PSU's offensive first play of overtime, and on third-and-eight from the Worcester State 12-yard line, Lynn scrambled through traffic and found an edge to the left corner of the end zone to make it a one-point game. Opting to go for two, Lynn faked a handoff, then shoveled a pass to Walker, who waltzed into the end zone untouched for the dramatic win.
By the Numbers:
- Walker piled up 145 rushing yards (6.0/carry) and two TDs, plus two catches for 19 yards and a score.
- Lynn went 14-of-24 for 198 yards and three TDs, adding 36 rushing yards and a touchdown.
- Sophomore Devin Connally (Boynton Beach, Fla.) had five catches for 60 yards, while Morris finished with three grabs for 78 yards and a score.
- Fontano totaled 155 kickoff return yards.
- PSU converted 4-of-5 fourth downs.
- Sophomore Robbie Engel (Topsfield, Mass.) made a game-high 14 tackles (seven solo), while junior Aidan Fritz (Colchester, Conn.) added nine stops.
- Fleming had PSU's lone sack.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 11-4, and is now 9-1 at home against the Lancers.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Bridgewater State next Saturday (Sept. 20) for a noon clash with the Bears.
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