FRAMINGHAM, Mass. – Sophomore quarterback Adam Wojenski (Stratford, Conn.) was selected the MVP as the Framingham State University football team captured their second straight New England Bowl with a 48-14 victory over Curry College this afternoon at Framingham's Bowditch Field.
With the victory, the Rams, co-champions of the MASCAC, conclude the season at 10-1, while the Colonels, from the CCC, see their season come to an end at 8-3.
Wojenski repeats as the MVP of the New England Bowl after earning the honor last season as a freshman when the Rams defeated Salve Regina. Wojenski led the Rams offense completing 19-of-28 pass attempts for 246 yards and five touchdowns and an interception, while also rushing for 54 yards on four carries.
Freshman Shaquille Joseph (Somerville, Mass.) paced the Rams receivers with seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown, while senior Khaneil Bruce (Cambridge, Mass.) hauled in three balls for 70 yards with a pair of scores. Junior running back Quron Wright (Worcester, Mass.) rushed for 60 yards on 16 carries while making four catches for 49 yards with two touchdowns.
The Rams forced five turnovers, four interceptions, and a fumble, in the game which they converted into three touchdowns. Senior Tom Burns (Attleboro, Mass.) paced the Rams with 10 tackles and an interception, while classmate Nathan Fleming (Windham, Conn.) added nine tackles, two for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Seniors Cody Wlasuk (Peabody, Mass.) and Kenny Bartolo (Malden, Mass.) and sophomore Carls Alphonse (Somerville, Mass.) all recorded interceptions in the game. Sophomore Joshua Onujiogu (Wareham, Mass.) added four tackles and two sacks.
The Colonels were led by senior quarterback Alex Corvese (Cranston, R.I.) who completed 21-of-42 passes for 224 yards with a touchdown and four picks. Senior Spencer Tyler (Yarmouthport, Mass.) recorded nine catches for 75 yards with a touchdown, while sophomore Nick Villanueva (Hanson, Mass.) caught four passes for 92 yards.
Wlasuk intercepted Corvese on the opening drive of the game setting up the Rams first score, a 24-yard touchdown pass from Wojenski to Joseph with 11:29 left in the first. Freshman Ryan Clifford (Brockton, Mass.) converted the extra point for the Rams and connected on six-of-seven PATs in the game.
Curry answered with a scoring drive of their own going 64 yards on nine plays tying the game on a nine-yard TD pass from Corvese to Tyler with 6:42 left in the first.
The Rams took the lead for good in the opening minute of the second quarter on a flea flicker as Wojenski found Wright for a 13-yard touchdown.
Bartolo intercepted Corvese on the ensuing Curry possession setting up the Rams next score, a 61-yard touchdown pass from Wojenski to Bruce with just over six minutes remaining in the half.
After a punt by Curry, Wojenski broke free for a 43 yard gain on a second and ten from their own 41-yard line, setting up the Rams next score as Wojenski and Wright connected on a 21-yard shuffle pass with 1:11 remaining in the half.
The Rams defense once again responded on the ensuing possession forcing a Curry turnover. Fleming sacked Corvese and forced a fumble that was recovered by Darian Beliziare (Framingham, Mass.). Belizaire returned the fumble 29 yards to the three-yard line. Two plays later, Wojenski and Bruce connected for a three-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone giving the Rams a 34-7 lead at the half.
Curry scored the only touchdown in the third quarter after an interception by Aidan Cawley (Abington, Mass.) and a penalty gave them the ball at midfield. The Colonels received a two-yard touchdown pass from Tyler to Corvese to cap a nine play, 50-yard drive.
The Rams added two more scored in the fourth quarter on a one-yard run by Napoleon Miller (Boston, Mass.) and a 16 yard run by Sebastien Robert (Cambridge, Mass.) to reach the final score.
The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC), the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) came together to present the Inaugural New England Bowl Series in 2016 and this year the New England Bowl series has expanded to two games featuring four teams.
(Game Recap Courtesy of Framingham State University Sports Information)
