Framingham State's first football NCAA tournament game ended in heartbreaking fashion.
The Rams rallied from 13 points down late in the third quarter, but a late missed extra point proved crucial in a 20-19 loss to Cortland State in the opening round of the NCAA Division III football tournament.
After a Red Dragons field goal pushed the lead to 20-13 with 5:24 left, the Rams went 79 yards in five plays, Melikke Van Alstyne capping the drive with a three-yard touchdown to bring FSU within 20-19. However, sophomore kicker Phil Clain put the extra point off the upright.
After forcing FSU to use its timeouts, Cortland State converted a fourth-and-inches on quarterback Chris Rose?s two-yard sneak, allowing the Red Dragons to run out the clock.
The Rams were making their first NCAA appearance after winning the New England Football Conference championship game a week ago, and close the most successful season in FSU football history a program-best 10-2.
The Red Dragons are 9-1 and advance to face Wesley next weekend in the second round of the tournament.
Van Alstyne, a junior, rushed for 227 yards on 31 carries with two touchdowns and established a new school single-season rushing mark. Van Alstyne has 1,790 rushing yards this season, breaking the mark of 1,579 he set in 2011.
Clain?s 29-yard field goal gave the Rams a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter. Rose threw a 53-yard score to sophomore Kordel McInnis on the ensuing possession for a 7-3 Cortland State lead.
An interception by FSU sophomore Ony Ramos set up Clain?s second field goal of the half.
Mike DeBole hit a 37-yard field goal just before the half for a 10-6 Red Dragons lead.
Milford?s Alex Avery collected a pair of long passes from Rams freshman quarterback Matt Silva to start the third quarter, but the drive ended when Silva was picked off by Andre Green at Cortland State?s 5-yard line.
The Red Dragons went ahead 17-10 on Rose?s screen pass to McInnis for a score.
After an FSU stop, senior John O?Connell?s 42-yard punt return set up the Rams at the Red Dragons? 4-yard line. Van Alstyne scored on the first play. FSU went for two and Van Alstyne converted, but it was negated by a holding penalty. Clain kicked the extra point to make it a 17-13 game with 14:02 left.
Junior Pat McGrath led FSU with 13 tackles (10 solo). Kevin Donahue had seven tackles and a sack.
Cortland State?s offense was led by junior Justin Autera?s 121 rushing yards on 31 carries.
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