THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 18, 2010) – The Maritime football team successfully held off a late, potentially game-tying drive by stopping Kings Point four times inside the 10-yard line at the end of regulation to capture a 41-34 win over its arch-rivals from across the Long Island Sound on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Reinhart Field. The win improves the Privateers' record to a perfect 3-0, the program's best start ever. The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy falls to 1-2 overall in defeat.
In the second quarter, the Mariners struck first on a 29-yard run by Karl Heimbrock, but the point-after attempt was blocked by Roman and Maritime retained the lead, 14-13. Davis ran in an eight-yard run late in the second half to end the scoring in the half and send the Privateers to the locker room with a 20-13 lead.
Maritime struck first on the opening drive of the second half, when, on fourth-and-two at the Kings Point 18-yard line, the Privateers went for it and Dickey connected with Heedles his first TD of the game on a pass that the sophomore snagged down over the defender's head. That gave Maritime a 27-13 lead. USMMA answered back later that quarter on another running touchdown by Heimbrock to cut the lead to 27-20. Then Maritime got the ball late in the third and into the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, but a fumble was recovered by Kings Points' Barry Preusch at the Maritime 43-yard line. On the next play from scrimmage, the Mariners tied the game on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Derrick Ventre to Coviello to tie the game at 27-27.
McGough would put the Privateers ahead again just under two minutes later, when he ended a four-play, 55-yard drive with a five-yard run to the house. Then Heedles scored his second touchdown of the day, the eventual game winner. The Mariners were down two touchdowns with under five minutes to play, but Coviello returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for the score. It was not enough, however, and Kings Point was unable to overcome the deficit as the Privateer defense held them scoreless on the final drive.