THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2012) – The Maritime football team held William Paterson scoreless in the second half, but fell short of the Pioneers, 21-14, on Saturday in front of the Homecoming crowd at Reinhart Field. The Privateers fall to 1-3 after their final non-conference game of the season, dropping their third-straight game for the first time since the 2007 season, while WPU improves to 2-2.
"There were three big plays in the first half that cost us," said head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes. "We made improvements in the second half and we look to build on those for the conference games coming up."
Juniors Tyler Trodden (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) and Gary Bigham (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles) each found the end zone on rushes for Maritime. Trodden's came in the second quarter on a 21-yard run that tied the game up at 7-7. William Patterson's first touchdown was late in the first quarter, when senior Dawys German ran straight into a pile on the Pioneer side of the field, but bounced around and broke free for a 76-yard run to the end zone.
The Pioneers took a 14-7 lead late in the second quarter, when sophomore Isaac Jlaka ran in a one-yard TD. On the ensuing drive, Maritime turned the ball over with 29 seconds to go in the half on an interception by WPU senior German Decena, who would return the ball 70 yards for a score. The extra point by sophomore Robert Sinegra was good to put the visitors up, 21-7. That was the score into halftime.
Neither team would score in the third quarter, but the Privateers pulled within one touchdown early in the fourth at 9:44, when Bigham ran in a three-yard TD to cap off a seven-play, 57-yard drive. Freshman Diogo Dietrich's (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/DePaul Catholic, N.J.) extra point made the score 21-14, in favor of WPU.
The Privateers would have two more chances to tie the game in the final quarter, but, on their only true drive, were forced to punt after three plays and were unable to get on the William Paterson side of the field. Maritime also take over with just 10 seconds to go in the game, but the final whistle blew after the first play as time ran out.
Trodden ended the day with a team-high 75 rushing yards, while Bigham tallied 57 yards on the ground. Trodden was also 6-for-12 on completions for 61 yards, with senior Joe Guerra (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) hauling in two catches for 32 yards.
On defense, sophomore Nick Coffiey (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy) led all players with 10 tackles, including one (a sack) for a loss of four yards. Senior Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) and sophomore Zach Spector (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./St. Anthony's Prep.) both ranked second on the team with seven tackles apiece.
For the Pioneers, German finished the day with 162 yards on the ground, while junior quarterback Ryan Gresik was 8-for-15 on completions for 92 yards. Defensively, senior Javon Hodges recorded a team-high seven tackles.
Maritime is back in action next Saturday, Oct. 6, when the Privateers welcome in ECFC-opponent Becker College. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Reinhart Field. The Maritime football program will be celebrating Military Appreciation Day that day with numerous activities, including a pre-game ceremony in which a war veteran will be presented with keys to a home, FDNY Water Boats, Military Vehicles and other hardware for fans to see and handle.