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MANSFIELD – Adam Hutchison connected with D.J. McLean with seven seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 19-13 but time ran out on Mansfield as visiting Franklin Pierce came away with the CSFL win on Homecoming at Karl Van Norman Field.

Saturday marked the culmination of Mansfield’s 125th Anniversary of Football Celebration with dozens of Mountaineer football alumni representing all decades back to the 50s returning for the game.

On its opening drive, Franklin Pierce (2-2, 2-2 CSFL) needed just six plays capped by quarterback Mike Mancicni’s 26-yard touchdown run up the middle to take a quick 7-0 lead. On the ensuing possession, Bailee Johns intercepted a Hutchison pass and returned it 22 yards for another score. The extra point was snuffed out, but the Ravens held the early 13-0 lead.

In the second quarter, Hutchison used passes of 18 and 15 yards to Kurt Logan and Jakob Woods respectively before LeRon Strothers rushed 18 yards to put the first Mansfield (0-4, 0-4 CSFL) points on the board and cut the deficit to 13-7. The touchdown was the first of the season and second of his career for Strothers.

The Mountaineer defense stiffened, forcing a pair of three-and-outs and stuffing Franklin Pierce on a fourth-and-two attempt to go into halftime trailing by just six points.

Issaac Havens picked off Mancini on a passes that was tipped then juggled around on the Ravens’ first drive of the second half, but the Mansfield offense stalled. Paul Harrison boomed a 58-yard punt down to the Franklin Pierce 12-yard line to pin the Ravens in their own endzone. It was Harrison’s longest punt of his career and one-of-two 50-yard punts on the day that went inside the opponent 20. Neither offense could get much going in the third quarter as the score remained 13-7.

In the fourth quarter with Franklin Pierce threatening once again in Mountaineer territory, John Capwell came up with his first career interception at the Mansfield 39. Capwell had a monster day, racking up a game-high 14 tackles, including 13 solo, two tackles for loss and a pick.

The Ravens forced a three-and-out and used a 12-play, 48-yard drive capped by a Kobie Smith two-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 19-7 with just 1:58 left in the game. The two-point conversion was intercepted by Mountaineer defensive back Brandon Pace.

Hutchison marched the Mountaineers down the field, finding his receivers near the sidelines and ended the drive with 14-yard touchdown pass to McLean in coverage to bring Mansfield within six points again with just seven ticks on the clock. The two-point conversion failed.

Mansfield was unable to convert the onside kick and dropped its four CSFL game of the season.

Franklin Pierce outgained Mansfield 267-165 in total offense and held a 19-13 advantage in first downs. The Ravens did their damage on the ground, amassing 232 rushing yards.

Hutchison went 12-32 in passing for 122 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice and threw a pick. McLean totaled 56 receiving yards while Kurt Logan added 34.

The Raven’s Tyler Zech ran for 96 yards with Ahzir Turner totaling 62.

Mansfield travels to Navy on Friday.