Van Alstyne Breaks 6,000 Yards Rushing in Framingham State Football Win

Senior running back Melikke Van Alstyne from Salem surpassed the 6,000 yard rushing mark for his outstanding career as the Framingham State University football team defeated Worcester State University 36-0 Saturday afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football action at Coughlan Field.  

The Rams, who were ranked sixth in this week’s NCAA Division III football east regional rankings, close the regular season 9-1 overall and finish a perfect 8-0 in the Conference.

The Rams, whose only loss came at the hands of Rowan University currently who is currently ranked fourth in the east, will await word on a possible post season berth when the field for the NCAA Tournament is revealed tomorrow evening.

Van Alstyne rushed for 138 yards on 35 carries with three scores and surpassed the 6,000 yard milestone in the fourth quarter.  Van Alstyne now has 6,017 career rushing yards and joins former Maine Maritime running backs Steve Tardif (6,093 yards) and Jim Bower (6,060 yards) as the only New England Division III backs to surpass the 6,000 yard rushing mark.

The Rams defense pitched their first shutout of the season and held the high powered Lancers offense that was averaging 28.8 points per game to just 72 yards of total offense.  The defense held the Lancers to just five yards rushing in the game and only 67 passing yards, while their offense racked up 453 total yards (182 rush/271 pass).  Senior Jeff Touron and junior Chris Sywetz (Bergenfield, NJ) led the defense with five tackles apiece.  Touron recorded three sacks in the game for a loss of 14 yards.

Sophomore quarterback Matt Silva completed 20-of-33 for 258 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while being sacked once.  

Sophomore Travis Hayes of Framingham made seven catches for 121 yard and caught a pair of scores, while junior Tremayne Crumbley  have five catches for 62 yards.

The Rams took the lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the first on a four yard TD by Van Alstyne.  After the extra point by sophomore Sean Wlasuk the Rams led 7-0 after one.

Framingham State extended the lead with a pair of touchdowns in the second. Van Alstyne capped an 11 play, 63 yard drive with a two yard scoring run and Hayes caught a 39 yarder from Silva with 2:24 on the clock before intermission.

Junior Ony Ramos  intercepted Pat Viencek on the Lancers first possession of the second half.  One play later Silva hit Hayes for a 28 yard touchdown extending the lead to 27-0.  Senior Will Menter  tacked on a 23 yard field goal late in the third and Van Alstyne found the end zone one last time from one yard out in the fourth quarter to reach the final margin.