Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. --Franklin & Marshall exploded for 28 points in the fourth quarter to break a 16-16 tie and defeated Ursinus 44-16 in Centennial Conference (CC) football action Saturday afternoon. The Diplomats improved to 5-4, 4-4 CC, while the Bears fell to 4-5, 3-5 CC.

First Quarter (UC - 9 | F&M - 3)

Ursinus took an early lead returning an interception 50 yards for a 6-0 score. The Diplomats answered on their next series by taking advantage of a 68-yard kick return by Kevin Lammers when Murray McCarthy connected on a 23-yard field goal to make it 6-3. The Bears had a chance to go up three more, but Matt Hamby blocked a 36-yard field goal attempt. Two series later, Ursinus managed to connect on field goal and take a 9-3 into the second quarter.

Second Quarter (UC - 9 | F&M - 16)

It was all F&M in the second as the Diplomats tacked on 13 points. F&M did not get the scoring going until midway through the second as Keshon Farmer ended a 6-play, 63-yard with an 11-yard score at 3:45. The Diplomats tacked on six more on their next series when Garrett Perschy found Drew Benfatti for a 43-yard touchdown to give F&M a 16-9 lead at the break.

Third Quarter (UC - 16 | F&M - 16)

The scoring slowed in the third quarter with just the Bears finding pay dirt. Ursinus tied the game midway through the quarter to make it 16-16 heading into the final frame.

Fourth Quarter (UC - 16 | F&M - 44)

Dominic Bertone's strip-sack early in fourth gave the Diplomats the ball on Ursinus 21. Perschy found Mack Focht for a 17-yard completion and Farmer dove in from a yard out to put the Diplomats up 23-16. The Diplomats went ahead 30-16 when Kell Hall returned an interception 20-yards for a score at 10:50. 

Another turnover by the Bears set up F&M on the Ursinus eight. Perschy found  Brendan Dearing for a two-yard touchdown and Murray McCarthy's point after made it 37-16. The defense created another scoring opportunity with an interception by Manny Quiles with a little under six minutes left in the quarter. Four plays later, Farmer broke off a 58-yard touchdown run for a 44-16 F&M lead.

Final Numbers

Garrett Perschy completed 11-of-28 passes for 170 and two scores with Tim Walter hauling in three of those passes for 51 yards. Drew Benfatti had one 43-yard touchdown grab and Brendan Dearing had one score with four total catches for 34 yards. 

Keshon Farmer rushed 18 times for 123 yards and three scores and Joe Hartley-Vittoria racked up 67 yards on 19 carries.

Kevin Gault had seven tackles (4 solo), including 3.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles and a pass breakup. Kevonte Beard also had seven stops (5s) and Calvin Krippner ended with six (5s). Dominic Bertone had two sacks, Matt Hamby one and Jake Perloski was in on a sack as well. Kell Hall, K.J. Boston and Manny Quiles all ended with an interception. 

Up Next

The Diplomats close out the regular season on Saturday when F&M hosts Gettysburg at 1:00 p.m.