DANBURY, CONN. - After falling behind, 9-0 in the early going of the second quarter, the Western Connecticut State University football team's comeback bid fell short as visiting Plymouth State University prevailed, 16-13 on Homecoming at the Westside Athletic Complex on Saturday afternoon.

WestConn, now 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, was held at bay by the Panthers' defense, as it amassed just 102 yards rushing on 32 attempts.  Junior running back Chad Blazsky (Seldon, N.Y.) led WestConn with 17 carries and 63 yards.  Sophomore Mack Driver (Mastic Beach, N.Y.), this past week's MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week was hobbled and did not gain a yard on four carries.

The Panthers, which captured their first win of the season and are now 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the conference, got on the scoreboard at the 6:15 mark of the opening quarter when Willie Lombard (Bridgewater, Mass.) marched in from five yards out.  Dan Carey's (Plymouth, N.H.) boot missed to the left for a 6-0 advantage.

With 3:37 elapsed in the second period, Carey redeemed himself with a 24-yard field goal to put the visitors ahead, 9-0.

Freshman signal caller John Giller (Massapequa Park, N.Y.) completed 13 of 21 passes for 147 yards and a pair of touchdowns.  He started the comeback after hooking up with Jahzaari Mullings (Bridgeport, Conn.) from 18 yards out midway through the second quarter.

Five seconds into the final stanza, Giller found Justin Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.) wide open in the endzone for a two-yard score.  After Anthony Weidtman's (Nesconset, N.Y.) point-after attempt his the left post, the hosts had its first lead of the afternoon, 13-9.

Trailing, 16-13, Giller marched WestConn down the field but was intercepted in the endzone, by Quinn Girdard (Glens Falls, N.Y.) with 1:16 remaining to end the threat of any last minute heroics.

Senior running back Manny Sanchez (Hartford, Conn.) had a special homecoming of his own as he led the Panthers' ball-control ground attack with 136 yards on 26 carries.

Defensively, junior Raquell Davis (Mastic Beach, N.Y.) led all players with 12 tackles, including seven solo take downs.  Matt Forti (Bronx, N.Y.) and Nosa Uzamere (Hempstead, N.Y.) followed with nine tackles each for WestConn.

Girard led PSU with nine tackles and the interception that virtually ended the contest.  Conor Hiner (Brattleboro, Vt.) registered seven tackles for the winners.

WestConn hits the road next Saturday, October 16 for a 12 noon meeting with Framingham State University.

The Panthers host Fitchburg State University in the Granite State, also at 12 bells next Saturday.