Framingham State Wins As Freshman QB Throws 5 Touchdowns

Freshman quarterback Matt Silva of Dracut tied a school record with five touchdown passes and rushed for another as the Framingham State University football team defeated Nichols College 54-13 in non-conference action tonight at Bowditch Field. 

With the win, the Framingham State Rams even their record at 1-1, according to a press release from Framingham State University athletics.

Silva, who was making his first collegiate start, completed 14 of 14 pass attempts for 234 yards with no interceptions in just one half of action. With his five touchdown passes to three different receivers Silva now shares the single game touchdown pass record with three former Rams. 

Silva rushed for 58 yards on five carries and scored the Rams first touchdown of the game on a 13-yard scramble with 7:16 remaining in the first quarter. 

Silva was also 6-of-7 kicking extra points in the game.

The Rams set a new school record for points in a game on sophomore Melikke Van Alstyne’s four yard touchdown run in the third quarter.  The Rams previous record for points in a game was 49 which was set during the 1973. Van Alstyne, of salem, rushed for a game-high 122 yards on 18 carries with two scores, while senior wide receiver James McCarthy of Newton was Silva’s main target with eight catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns.  Junior Alex Avery of Milford made three receptions for 85 yards with two scores, while freshman Jared Gauthier of Dracut also had three catches for 41 yards including a one handed touchdown reception in the first quarter.

The Bison took the opening kickoff and drove covered 49 yards in 13 plays setting up the game’s first score, a Bill Crory 38-yard field goal with 9:40 left in the first. 

It was all Rams after that as they scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions to open a commanding lead at the half.

The Rams defense came up with three interceptions in the first half setting the offense up with a short field that ultimately led to three of those scores.  Sophomore Kyle Shonio intercepted Jacob Shoup and returned it 19 yards setting up the first of Silva’s touchdown tosses to McCarthy.  Freshman Ony Ramos intercepted Bison backup quarterback Dan Snyder and returned the ball to the Nichols 24 yard line.  After a 19-yard rush by Silva, he connected with McCarthy for the second time in the game and for the second time in less than a minute putting the Rams up 20-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first. Senior Mark Nunes had the Rams other interception which set up a 69-yard touchdown strike from Silva to Avery that put the Rams in front 41-13 in the second quarter.

The Rams amassed 469 yards of total offense in the game to 260 yards for the Bison. 

Framingham State held a 374 to 144 advantage in total offense in the first half alone.

Framingham State return to action on Saturday, Sept. 17th at Salve Regina with kickoff slated for noon.