FITCHBURG, Mass. – The Vermont State University Castleton football program faced off against Fitchburg State Saturday afternoon on the road. The Falcons (2-5, 1-5 MASCAC) defeated the Spartans (3-4, 2-4 MASCAC) 26-6.

Fitchburg's defense led the Falcons to victory with four forced turnovers (3 interceptions, one fumble recovery), three sacks, and a touchdown. Elijah Zaire had a career game with two interceptions and a pick-six. Matthew Aguirre took over on the offensive side of the ball with 17 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons' victory. Castleton's Tyson Hall and Kelsey Munro each took snaps at QB, with Hall getting in the end zone with a rushing touchdown. 

Each team struggled out the gate with the first five drives resulting in limited plays that led to punts. Fitchburg opened the scoring when Zaire picked off Munro and ran it back for 75 yards to give the Falcons the first points of the game. A failed PAT put the score at 6-0 at the end of the first quarter. 

After the interception, the Falcons found a spark that allowed them to convert on a 12-play 59-yard drive, Oriowokite Fatoke punching in a 1-yard touchdown to extend Fitchburg's lead to twelve.

Castleton started to string along plays after a 35-yard rush from Hall saw the Spartans on Fitchburg's side for the first time. Hall completed an 11-yard pass to Wyatt Jackson to keep the drive going and inch closer to the end zone. With the clock approaching the end of the first half, Castleton launched a pass into the end zone in hopes of stealing six points before the half, but Fitchburg would come up with the interception to keep the Spartans shut out entering halftime.

Both teams struggled to generate anything offensively in the third quarter. The Falcons tried to keep the pressure on the Spartans but would fail after Ian DeTulleo came up with his third interception of the season to give Castleton the momentum with 7:27 left in the third.

With both teams going back and forth, Fitchburg would finally break the second-half silence with a touchdown to start the fourth quarter and extend their lead 18-0. The Falcons didn't stop there as they rushed for a 28-yard touchdown on their next drive to put the score at 26-0.

Castleton answered with their best offensive drive of the game. A 10-play 63-yard drive saw the Spartans enter the end zone with a 1-yard punch-in touchdown by Hall to put the Spartans on the board 26-6. 

Fitchburg received the ball with five minutes left in the game and was able to generate enough first downs to keep Castleton from getting the ball back and end the game at 26-6.

VTSU Castleton returns to Dave Wolk Stadium Saturday, November 2 for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Worcester State.