WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior running back Shaquille Adjei ran for 67 yards and a touchdown, and Kevin Faughnan caught a 34-yard touchdown pass to lead Westfield State's efforts, as the Owls lost a high-scoring affair to Western Connecticut, 62-28, in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football at the Westside Athletic Complex in Danbury, Conn. on Saturday.
The Owls fell behind 13-0 in the first 6:45 of the game and were forced to play catch-up all day.
Westfield trimmed the lead to 13-7 with 3:39 left in the first quarter when quarterback Andrew Peltier connected with Evan Garvey for a seven-yard touchdown pass.
Western Connecticut extended the lead to 20-7 with a 5-yard TD run from Devin Smith, but the Owls responded with a seven-play, 87-yard scoring drive that was capped by a 6-yard TD run from Adjei, and Corey Pooler added the extra point to cut the margin back to 20-14 with 10:32 left in the first half.
The Colonials extended the lead late in the first half scoring three more times to push the lead to 41-14 at the half.
Faughnan's TD catch and a 1-yard run from Leesandro Colon accounted for the Owls' second-half scores.
Colon added 35 yards rushing on six carries. Cam Gallagher caught seven passes for 79 yards for the Owls, and Evan Garvey added seven grabs for 76 yards.
Peltier finished 17-29 passing for 210 yards with two TDs and two interceptions.
Joseph Dumoulin, George Cole, and Alijah Ellis each finished with nine tackes for Westfield.
West Conn was led by QB David James, who completed 16 of 21 passes for 225 yards and two TDs. Anthony Via carried eight times for 47 yards and three touchdowns.
The Colonials outgained the Owls 588-376 yards on the day.
Westfield slips to 0-7 on the season, 0-5 in the MASCAC. West Conn, which was receiving votes in the latest national coaches' poll, is now 6-0 for the season and 4-0 in the league.
Westfield will be back in action next Saturday with a 2:00 p.m. kickoff at Fitchburg State.