Kelley Cup returns to Framingham
By Andrew Louis
Staff Writer
The Framingham State Rams hosted undefeated Mass. Maritime with one goal: bring the Kelley Cup back home.
The Rams entered as underdogs, having lost two straight road games, and their momentum was thought to be at a low. Captain Tyrell Fuller, a junior, said, “We lost two games up to this point and can’t lose another. We must be physical and get turnovers.”
The Rams were 2-2 in conference, facing the 4-0 conference leader, and those standings had already ruled them out of the race and picked the Buccaneers to win. The Rams had only themselves. They knew everyone doubted them, and they took the field with the mentality to “feed the faith, starve the doubt.”
Framingham State won the opening toss and deferred, and Mass. Maritime wasted no time making it count. The Buccaneers marched 71 yards in seven plays, with runs of 11 and 27 yards, and a 24-yard completion to lead 7-0 with 12:40 left in the first quarter.
Instead of starting sophomore quarterback Michael Marcucella, the Rams went with sophomore Anthony Gerrior.
Gerrior started strong with a quick pass to junior Adrian Sarrette for 11 yards, and a Buccaneers’ facemask call added 16 more.
Gerrior tried again, throwing an incompletion. The Rams went 0-3 in the passing game, forcing freshman kicker Brandon Snyder to punt.
The Rams wasted no time getting their offense right back on the field. They held Mass. Maritime to three plays and 5 yards.
Gerrior couldn’t find a rhythm. A run lost 2 yards, a pass fell incomplete, and on 3rd and 12, the Buccaneers’ defense got to him with a sack of 13 yards, forcing them to punt.
FSU’s offense still had faith in Gerrior, but the Buccaneers were able to plow through and sack him for a loss of 13 yards, as well as a safety, pushing the score to 9-0.
The Rams’ defense was forced to get back on the field with very little rest. Mass. Maritime took advantage of this and were able to bring the ball down to Framingham’s 23-yard line. This allowed them to settle for a field goal, bringing the score to 12-0 Mass. Maritime with 53 seconds left in the first quarter.
The second quarter began the same way. The Rams’ offense still couldn’t produce. Third and 6, the Rams fumbled the ball, giving it right back to the Buccaneers. It didn’t take long for Marcucella to get back into the game.
He started his second drive strong with 7:55 on the clock in the 2nd quarter. Pass after pass, he fed the ball to senior Ezana Zemene, and the offense looked impossible to stop. Just when the Buccaneers thought they had caught up, Marcucella hit senior Ayden Ramirez for 31 yards. Ransford Adri finished the 11-play drive with a short rush for the touchdown, and junior Ty Kelley’s extra point made it 12-7.
The Rams started the second half strong, gaining 35 yards in 12 plays, allowing Ty Kelley to kick a field goal, and bringing the score to 12-10 in favor of Mass. Maritime.
The Rams’ defense was working on all levels to stop the Buccaneers. The Rams held the Buccaneers' defense to 19 all-purpose yards, forcing a shutout.
Marcucella continued to ball out. At second and 4 at Mass. Maritime’s 18-yard line, Marcucella completed a pass to senior Mathias Fowler for a touchdown with 12:43 left on the clock.
The Rams decided to go for 2 extra points. Ty Kelley rolled out and connected with Adri, bringing the score to 18-12 Rams.
Both sides continue to get after it. Mass. Maritime was able to get another safety on Framingham's 6-yard line, putting them up 2 points but still at a deficit, with a score of 18-14.
Framingham tried to drain the clock, but allowed Mass. Maritime to recover the ball with 1:45 left.
The Buccaneers were marching down the field with few errors until first and goal. Rams’ senior Amari Williams was able to jump the ball with no time left on the clock, sealing the 18-14 win for the Rams and bringing the Kelley Cup back to Framingham.
When asked about the motivation that led to this win, Fuller said, “Our motivation was getting that Kelley Cup back to where it belonged,” and so they did.
Fuller ended the game with 10 solo tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery, making him the MASCAC Defensive Player of the Week.
The Rams will host Plymouth State in a Week 7 thriller, looking to build on their momentum.
