WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State's Tyler Cooley made 18 tackles and Dylan Disabella totaled more than 100 receiving yards, but it wasn't enough to offset a balanced UMass-Dartmouth offensive attack as the Corsairs topped Westfield, 34-7 in a MASCAC football game at Cressy Field in North Dartmouth, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.
Westfield's defense held tough for the first 30 minutes, never allowing the Corsairs more than five plays on any drive, including multiple 3-and-out series. The lone Corsairs score came on 32-yard scoring strike from QB Dante Avila-Santos to Winston DeLeon midway through the second quarter to stake Dartmouth to a 7-0 lead at the half.
UMD slowly built momentum in the third quarter, using a balanced attack to wear away at the Westfield defense. Luis Gonzalez scored on a 2-yard TD plunge to boost the lead to 14-0, capping a 12-play 78-yard drive with 9:33 left in the third. The Corsairs added six more when Richarno Hylton swept 45 yards down the right side to boost the lead to 20-0 late in the third. Gonzalez added another 2-yard run, capping an 8-play, 55-yard drive to boost the lead to 27-0 early in the fourth quarter.
Westfield finally got on the scoreboard when Dylan Disabella dove in at the left pylon to complete a 20-yard TD pass from Colby Pires, trimming the UMD lead to 27-7 with 9:33 left to play, but the Corsairs sealed the win when Gonzalez added his third TD of the day with a 13-yard run with 2:13 left in the game.
Disabella finished with seven catches and 104 receiving yards, both career-highs, for the Owls. He was one of few bright spots on the offensive end for Westfield, as the Corsairs held Westfield to -2 rushing yards on the day. Pires finished 13-31 for 156 yards with the TD and two interceptions.
UMD totaled 466 yards of offense as Avilies-Santos threw for 266 yards passing, and a balanced rushing attack saw Hylton total 77 yards and Gonzalez 66 with three scores. Angel Sanchez was Santos' favorite target with nine grabs for 156 yards.
MASCAC-leading UMD improved to 6-1 overall and 5-0 in the league, while Westfield is now 0-6 overall and 0-4 in the MASCAC.
Cooley led Westfield with 18 total tackles. Senior DL Peter Spinale added six stops and a pair of sacks.
Westfield State will be back in action at home on Saturday, Oct. 22, hosting Bridgewater State in the Owls' homecoming game.