WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior running back OT Thomas (Coral Springs, Fla./Hall HS) had a breakout game with more than 100 yards rushing for Westfield State, but the Owls fell to Western Connecticut by a 42-6 final at the Westside Athletic Center in Danbury, Conn., on Friday night.
Westfield State slips to 0-3 on the season, 0-1 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, while Western Connecticut is now 2-1, 1-0 MASCAC.
Thomas finished with 133 yards rushing on 20 carries, and caught one pass for 50 yards.
The Owls trailed 28-0 at the half behind three big-play touchdowns for the Colonials.
Westfield got on the board with a nice drive midway through the third quarter. Owls QB Peyton Capizzi (East Setauket, N.Y./Ward-Melville HS) hit Thomas out of the backfield for a 50-yard gain, then found Dylan Disabella (Granby, Conn.) on an 18-yard connection. Thomas had a four-yard gain down to the WestConn 1-yard line, before Capizzi plunged in for the TD. Danny Farrell's (Milford, Mass.) extra point try hit the right upright for the 28-6 margin.
On the ensuing drive, WestConn quarterback John Giller threaded the needle between two Owls' defenders to find Messiah Diggs at the goal line on a 26-yard touchdown pass to maintain a comfortable lead.
In the first half, an 8-yard Mack Driver TD run opened the scoring for the Colonials in the first quarter, then Roy Penn-Cosentino added a 69-yard TD scamper to push the lead to 14-0.
Giller found Julian Ferguson down the left sideline for a 78-yard catch and run touchdown connection in the second quarter, and later added a 41-yard TD toss to Michael Matich.
The Colonials defense smothered Westfield in the first half, allowing just 68 rushing yards on 22 carries, and limiting the passing game to just one completion. Westfield was 0-9 on third downs in the first half.
The Owls offense picked up the pace in the second half, finishing with 14 first downs to WestConn's 19 in the game, and Westfield was 3-8 in third down tries in the half.
Farrell finished with three catches for 32 yards. Capizzi ended up 7-21 for 133 yards passing.
Joseph Dumoulin (Holyoke, Mass.) led the Owls with six tackles. Travis Dozier Jr. (Adams, Mass./Hoosac) added five stops and picked off a pair of passes for Westfield.
Giller ended his day 14-27 for 234 yards and three touchdowns. Penn-Cosentino finished with 116 yards on 14 carries. Diggs finished with five catches for 56 yards.
The Colonials outgained the Owls 475-303, but the Owls had a 32:39-27:21 advantage in time of possession.
Westfield State will be on the road again next weekend, with a MASCAC game at Framingham State.