FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Castleton University football team registered its second consecutive shutout on Saturday, blanking Fitchburg State on the road en route to a 35-0 victory in non-conference action.
The shutout is the fourth in Castleton program history, and came behind one of the best all-around defensive performances in the team's 13-year run. Fitchburg State's 86 yards of total offense are the fewest ever allowed in a game by a Spartan defense, as was the 1.7 yards-per-play average. The offensive outburst was nearly as impressive as the defense's stinginess, as
Jacob McCarthy's four touchdown passes were the most by a Spartan quarterback in a single game since 2015. The offensive line held strong all day, allowing no sacks of the Spartans' multiple quarterbacks—the first time Castleton has accomplished the feat since playing the same Falcon team in 2019.
McCarthy finished the day 17-of-28 passing for 242 yards and four scores, two of which went to
Saijon McIntosh. The two touchdowns were McIntosh's only catches on the day, going for 13 yards and nine yards, respectively.
Anthony Martinez had three catches for 85 yards and a touchdown, while
Jared Brockway added three catches for 54 yards.
Evan Keegan reeled in two passes, one of which was an eight-yard score. On the ground,
Lucas Morse collected 39 yards and a touchdown while
Devin Wollner picked up 32 yards and
Simon Davis Jr. gained 29.
Seth Gewanter led the defense with a nine-tackle afternoon, racking up five solo stops and four assisted tackles, including an assisted tackle for a loss.
Chris Rice added three more tackles for a loss including the lone sack of the day as part of his three-tackle afternoon. Rice also forced a fumble and broke up a pass.
Jacob Griggs and
Jayson Gilsinger added four stops apiece on the afternoon, and
Cole Preavy-Carrier had three—including a shutout-preserving tackle on a 62-yard completion by Fitchburg State.
Kyle Buckley and
Dustin Rock also forced fumbles, while
Mark Howland and
Jordan Wright recovered fumbles on defense.
The Spartans jumped out to a fast start, scoring on their first possession of the day to take a 7-0 lead. Castleton used a six-play, 59-yard drive and just 2:57 off the clock to pull ahead out of the gates. On the first play from scrimmage, Davis Jr. carried for 18 yards before fumbling the ball directly to teammate
Chance Fee, who carried all the way down the sideline and into the end zone for what appeared to be a touchdown. The officials called the play back to the 25-yard line, however, as Fee stepped out of bounds in an effort to avoid a defender. In total, the play gained 41 yards—18 from Davis Jr. and 23 from Fee. After two carries by Morse picked up a first down, McCarthy fired incomplete and Wollner lost a yard rushing to bring up third-and-long from the 13-yard line. It was then that McCarthy found McIntosh in the front corner of the end zone for a diving touchdown, putting the Spartans ahead by seven points after the
Noah Crossman extra point.
Castleton doubled its lead to 14-0 two possessions later, using 10 plays and more than five minutes of clock to march 63 yards down the field and into the end zone. Facing another third-and-long, McCarthy connected with Brockway for a 33-yard completion down to the Falcons' 15-yard line. The drive was capped by a five-yard rush up the middle by Morse, giving Castleton its second touchdown of the day.
Two drives later, Castleton once again found paydirt after taking over inside Fitchburg State territory. The drive got off to a rough start, with Castleton facing fourth-and-20 after penalties had backed the offense up, but McCarthy connected with Martinez for 22 yards and a first down to keep the drive alive. On second-and-goal from the eight-yard line, McCarthy threw a pass high for Keegan, who came down with the jump ball for a score and a 21-0 lead after Crossman's third extra point of the day sailed through the uprights.
The Falcons threatened to score on the ensuing drive, as Joseph Haskins found Jordan Dickerson for a 62-yard catch and run on the first play from scrimmage. Preavy-Carrier chased him down from behind, stopping the would-be touchdown just inside the 10-yard line. The Spartan defense held firm from there, stuffing two runs in a row before an incomplete pass. Fitchburg State trotted out the field-goal unit, but a bad snap led to a 12-yard loss and a turnover on downs.
Castleton didn't score again until its second drive of the third quarter.
Lucas Morse carried twice for seven yards to give Castleton a third-and-three from the Falcons' 38. McCarthy found Martinez running down the left sideline for a 38-yard touchdown pass. Crossman again buried the point after, making it 28-0 midway through the third quarter.
Castleton's final touchdown came on its next drive, as the Spartans took over near midfield after a three-and-out from Fitchburg. The Spartans moved the ball forward on each of the drive's six plays, including connections from McCarthy to
Alexander Blaiklock for seven yards and
Wyatt Jackson for 13 yards to start the drive. Wollner then carried twice for a combined eight yards before McCarthy connected once more with McIntosh on a fade route for the score. Crossman nailed his fifth and final extra point of the day for a 35-0 Spartan lead.
Fitchburg State only threatened to score on one more occasion, taking over in Castleton territory after an impressive 31-yard punt return Amanjah Jackson. After picking up a first down at the Spartans' 23-yard line, Haskins fired a pair of incomplete passes before Rice forced a fumble that was recovered by Castleton, putting a stop to the scoring opportunity and helping to seal the second straight shutout to begin the season.
Castleton returns to Dave Wolk Stadium on Saturday, September 18, for Homecoming and Family Weekend. The Spartans will face Norwich University for the Maple Sap Bucket Trophy, awarded to the winner of the annual rivalry game.
