FITCHBURG, Mass. – September 2, 2022 - In a season opening contest that featured several ties, Fitchburg State came out on top with a late touchdown to escape with a 33-28 home win over Dean College on Friday night under the lights. 

Dean (0-1) travels to Nichols next Friday night, while Fitchburg State (1-0) plays at Castleton next Saturday. 

The Bulldogs took their first lead of the contest, 28-27, late in the fourth quarter when quarterback Nathan Cisco (Franklin, Tenn.) connected with Mozes Mooney (San Diego, Calif.) for a 16-yard touchdown. The extra point from freshman kicker Nikolai Luksch (Middlebury, Vt.) was good for the one-point lead. 

On the ensuing Falcons possession, the Dean defense forced a hail-mary throw on 4th and long that was intercepted by Keem Weekes (Lawrenceville, Ga.) pinning the Bulldogs deep in their own zone. Fitchburg State's defense then held up to force a Dean punt. A high snap led to a fumble towards the end zone where freshman Jan Valls (Worcester, Mass.) recovered for the go ahead touchdown. The two-point conversion failed to put the home team on top 33-28 with less than three minutes to play. 

Dean then got good field position after a 15-yard penalty prior to the kickoff. The Bulldogs drove all the way down to the 2-yard line with less than 30 seconds to play. Unfortunately for Dean, a double-reverse resulted in a fumble that was recovered by the Falcons to seal the game. 

The Falcons opened the scoring as time expired in the first quarter and capped an 11-play drive with a touchdown from Elijah McKnight (Woburn, Mass.). The junior scampered 16 yards on a 3rd down play to forge the Falcons to a 6-0 lead. With the extra point, senior Linnea D'Acchille (Valley Falls, NY) pushed the score to 7-0.

The Bulldogs answered in the second quarter. With 4:55 to play in the frame, freshman Will Stafford (Whitman, Mass.) rushed for a 4-yard touchdown. The Falcons answered on the next possession when quarterback Logan Wilson (Woburn, Mass.) connected with McKnight down the right sideline for a 73-yard touchdown. A second extra point of the night from D'Acchille extended the lead to 14-7

Dean evened the score, 14-14 on the first possession of the second half. Stafford rushed for his second touchdown of the night with a 3-yard run. Luksch connected on another extra point to cap off an eight play, 45-yard, four minute drive. 

The teams traded scores to end the third quarter. Senior Frank Simms IV (Revere, Mass.) gave the Falcons a 21-14 lead with 2:41 remaining with a one-yard rush. The visitors quickly answered as Cisco found wide receiver Quintus Reid (New Haven, Conn.) for a 23-yard touchdown.

Logan Wilson completed 14-of-19 for 155 yards and a touchdown for the home team. McKnight finished with 97 yards receiving, 25 yards rushing and 24 passing yards, and two touchdowns.

In his Dean debut, Nathan Cisco was 12-for-14 for 208 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Stafford and Ki'sean Bullard (Miami Gardens, Fla.) led the Bulldogs with 59 yards rushing, while Reid and Jordan Mason (Stockbridge, Ga.) had 70 yards receiving.

Freshman Camren Topkin (Ledyard, Conn.) led the Falcons on defense with 10 solo tackles and an interception, and senior Luke Noyes (West Bridgewater, Mass.) added 8 tackles and a sack.

The Dean defense was led by Des Dias' (Rochester, Mass.) 10 total tackles. Dre Kidd (Manassas, Va.) was next with eight tackles. Joe Penton (Bealeton, Va.) was credited with three tackles, all for losses including a sack.