Mounties Drop Season Ending Heartbreaker at Franklin Pierce

RINDGE, NH – Mansfield outgained Franklin Pierce in total offense but a fumble returned for a touchdown and a Mountaineer touchdown pass called by on a penalty gave Franklin Pierce a 14-3 win in a season-ending CSFL game for both school Saturday afternoon.

It was a heart-breaking loss in a tough physical contest that featured 12 first downs for each team.

Franklin Pierce took the opening kickoff and went 65-yards with Tyler Reddy scoring on a quarterback sneak on a 4th and goal from the one after the Mountaineer defense had stopped Franklin Pierce three times prior.

Mansfield was driving following the kickoff before a bad snap lead to a fumble recovered by Adam Hutchison who returned it 32-yards for a touchdown and 14-0 Franklin Pierce lead after the first two series of the game.

Franklin Pierce would not score again in the game and Mansfield mounted a 15-play, 60-yard drive late in the first half that was extended by two fourth down conversions including a 17 yard pass to Jakob Woods from Adam Hutchison on a 4th and 16.

The drive stalled at the FPU 7-yard line with freshman Drew Beckerink hitting a 24-yard field goal to close the gap to 14-3 at halftime.

Neither team could move the ball in the third quarter but Mansfield threatened early in the fourth quarter driving  to the Franklin Pierce's 19-yard line where Hutchison hit freshman Jakob Woods with a touchdown pass that was called back on a late-flag.

Franklin Pierce then put together an almost nine minute drive, using 13 plays to move the ball just 15 yards before a 27-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Mansfield's Kyle Post.

But the drive succeeded in using the clock forcing Mansfield to start deep in its own territory with under a minute to play.

In a tough defensive battle, Mansfield put up 141 yards in total offense to Franklin Pierce's 131 yards.

In his first collegiate start, Adam Hutchison completed 13-oof-29 passes for 100 yards including four passes to Woods for 43 yards. Senior Joe Bucek caught three pass for 37 yards and ended his career with a sprint football school record of 999 yards. Aren Harris and Sean Green each had two catches for 11 yards each.

Freshman Aren Harris ran for 42 yards, extended his school rushing season to 576 yards.

Senior John Capwell led the defense with a game-high 12 tackles including 2.5 for a loss while Kyle Post and Evan Ruggles each had eight stops. Dylan Flexer had six tackles including a sack for 13 yards.