Seahawks fall to Rams in NEFC Championship

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - The Salve Regina University football team held a 3-0 lead early, before eventually dropping a 28-16 decision versus Framingham State in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Championship game at Bowditch Field on Saturday afternoon.

Turnovers proved to be the difference in the game, as the Seahawks gave the ball away five times, including three fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

Senior Trey Scales (Boston, Mass.) paved the way for the Seahawks offense, leading all players with six catches for 67 yards and the game's only touchdown reception. Dan Buonocore (Mahwah, N.J.) had a team-high 78 rushing yards on 19 carries and grabbed five receptions for 26 yards, while sophomore Matthew Traynor (Secaucus, N.J.) compiled three catches for 59 yards in the loss.

The Seahawks got off to an early lead thanks to a 45-yard field goal by Christian Clark (Williamsport, Pa.) in the first quarter.  However, Framingham responded with a seven yard touchdown run by freshman quarterback Matt Silva (Dracut, Mass.). 

Each team found the end-zone in the second quarter.  Junior running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.) had a 28-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-3 in favor of the Rams with 8:17 remaining.  Salve Regina responded after sophomore Steven Wilken (Ringwood, N.J.) found senior Trey Scales in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown reception making the score 14-10 heading into the half. 

In the second-half, the Framingham State defense came alive forcing five turnovers.  Sophomore Ony Ramos (Lawrence, Mass.) and junior Kevin Donahue (Norfolk, Mass.) each had an interception and junior Alex Torti (Hopkinton, Mass.) recovered two fumbles, none bigger than the 20-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to put the game away at 28-10.

Whenever the Salve Regina defense made a stop, the Framingham State defense came up with a turnover to swing the momentum back their way.

The anchor of the Framingham defense, senior captain James Murihead (Middleboro, Mass.) who received the Bull Mottola Championship Game Most Valuable Player Award as he led the Rams defense with eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble that led to Torti's touchdown return.

Salve Regina scored with 1:25 left, as Wilken ran it in from four-yards out.  However, Framingham recovered the onside kick attempt and ran out the clock.   

After the game, Salve Regina head coach Bob Chesney showed the utmost respect as his team stood together applauding the Rams celebrating their first NEFC Championship. 

Coach Chesney kept telling his team, "This will be us, that's why we're watching this."

The Seahawks move to 9-2 overall, sitting just one victory shy of the program's all-time record for wins in a season.