Final Score: Fitchburg State 6 Ð Westfield State 0
WESTFIELD Ð Senior tailback Brian Milleisen (Miller Place, NY) dove over the goal line from the 1-yard out to lift Fitchburg State to a 6-0 triple overtime victory over Westfield State in a hard-fought New England Football Conference game Sept. 24.
The exhausting victory gives the Falcons a 3-0 overall record and a 1-0 mark in the NEFC Bogan Division. Westfield is 2-1 and 0-1. This was the third triple overtime game in NEFC history and Westfield has played in all three. The Owls edged U-Mass Dartmouth, 3-0, in a 1989 home game, and lost at U-Mass Dartmouth, 21-14, in 1992.
The game pitted two of the NEFCÕs top defensive teams and winners of the past four Bogan Division titles. Westfield won division crowns from 2001-2003 while Fitchburg took the title last season.
The FalconsÕ winning score was set up on a play action pass from senior quarterback Corey Hetherman (Webster) to sophomore tight end Bob Hirko (Uxbridge). On second down from 25, Hirko hauled in the pass and rambled to the Westfield 5 for a first down.
Milleisen ran four yards on first down, then jumped over host of Owls from the 1 to end the thrilling defensive struggle in front of a Family Weekend crowd 2,206.
Milleisen rushed for a tough 109 yards on 35 carries; the 5-10, 220-pound transfer from Division II Millersville now has 2,010 career rushing yards in his three years at Fitchburg.
Both teams missed field goals in regulation and overtime. Westfield place kicker Rory McKeon (Northboro) was wide right from 40 yards in the first overtime and just wide right from 31 yards in the third OT.
Fitchburg senior kicker Treavor Smith (Putnam, CT) was just short on a 45-yard attempt in the second overtime and also missed two field goals (23, 39 yards) in regulation.
Westfield had huge scoring opportunities that were foiled by Fitchburg interceptions. Westfield tried to end the game on the first play following SmithÕs 45-yard OT attempt, but Falcon defensive back Dee Whitehead (Brooklyn, NY) intercepted an underthrown pass near the goal line intended for Westfield tight end Pat Andrus.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Westfield had a second and goal from the Fitchburg 11 when Falcon defender Jon Hirko (Uxbridge) made a standout defensive play when he stepped in front of Westfield receiver Tim Tontonoz (Chicopee) for an interception in the end zone.
FitchburgÕs only turnover in the game ended the first overtime when a Milleisen fumble was recovered by Westfield defensive back Ryan Riley (Worcseter, MA) at the 4-yard line.
Fitchburg finished the game with 247 yards in total offense while Westfield had 199 total yards. The FalconsÕ relentless defense recorded seven sacks.
WestfieldÕs top offensive player was senior fullback Mark Puchalski (South Deerfield), who rushed for 84 yards on 18 carries and had two receptions for 57 yards. Puchalski also punted the ball nine times for a 40-yard average, including a school record 71-yarder in the second quarter.
Senior linebacker Frank Famularo (North Easton, MA) led the Falcons with 14 tackles, including four for losses and a sack. Senior linebacker Christian Mello (Middletown, RI) had eight tackles, including two sacks.
Senior linebacker Jim Fennelly (Wilmington) led the Owls with a career-high 17 tackles. Senior linebacker Ryan Togneri (Turners Falls) had 12 tackles and senior linebacker Rick Colburn (East Bridgewater) posted 10 stops. Senior end Justin Sargent (Nashua, NH), who sat out the first two games with an injury, had eight tackles, including two sacks.