(Image via @umassdatheltics / Instagram)
Volunteer Writer: Nick Stabila
Email: nstabila@umassd.edu
UMass Dartmouth won its first Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) title on Saturday, November 12th after a 46-21 victory at Plymouth State (8-2, 6-2 MASCAC).
The Corsairs were led by junior QB Dante-Aviles Santos, who had another spectacular game. Aviles-Santos completed 26 passes for 316 yards and three touchdowns. This performance was good enough to secure MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season for Aviles-Santos.
The Corsairs scored on their first drive of the game. Sophomore RB #9 Jalyn Aponte started the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown rush. Aponte ended the day with 65 yards.
The Corsairs picked up another touchdown on the team’s second drive. Junior RB #13 Richarno Hylton ran a ten-yard touchdown to give the Corsairs a 12-0 lead in the first quarter. Hylton led the Corsairs in rushing with 71 yards.
Plymouth State responded with a touchdown in the second quarter, making it 12-7. The Corsairs quickly made it a 19-7 game minutes later. Senior RB #4 Luis Gonzalez scored after a run from three yards out. Gonzalez had 53 yards rushing with two touchdowns for the Corsairs.
Plymouth State scored right before halftime to make it a 19-14 game.
UMass Dartmouth overwhelmed Plymouth State with three touchdowns in the third quarter. Aviles-Santos threw all three of his touchdowns in the quarter. Sophomore WR #5 Angel Sanchez caught two touchdown passes, with the first one coming from four yards out to make it 26-14. Sophomore WR #81 Mike Vincent caught an 18-yard touchdown pass from Aviles-Santos to make it 32-14. Sanchez caught his second touchdown of the day from 12 yards out as the third quarter came to an end, making it a 39-14 advantage for the Corsairs.
Sanchez led the Corsairs in receiving with 121 yards on eight receptions.
Vincent ended the game with 35 yards and three catches.
Gonzalez scored his second touchdown of the day from three yards out in the fourth quarter. Plymouth State scored one more time to make it 46-21, but it was too little too late at that point.
Fifth-year senior WR #19 Keenan Little caught six passes for 87 yards for the Corsairs,
Sophomore WR #17 Easten Coleman added three catches for 41 yards.
The Corsairs’ defense had another strong performance as well. Fifth-year senior LB #5 Javien Delgado led the team with six tackles and two tackles for a loss.
Senior DL #48 Josh Lacerte had five tackles with one and a half tackles for a loss.
Junior DB #1 Logan Chappell intercepted a pass for the Corsairs.
Junior LB #44 Jackson Wellman recorded a sack.
The Corsairs finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 8-0 in MASCAC play.
The Corsairs will now travel to Ithaca College for a 12:00 PM game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. It will be the toughest challenge of the year for UMass Dartmouth as Ithaca is having an undefeated season at 10-0. This is the first time the Corsairs have made the tournament in 20 seasons.
UMass Dartmouth will look to keep its fantastic season going and will need to play its best against a formidable opponent in Ithaca. This game will take place on November 19th at 12:00 PM.