THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Oct. 27, 2012) – A flurry of second half turnovers proved costly as the Maritime football team lost to conference opponent Husson University, 17-14, in overtime on Saturday at Reinhart Field. For the second-straight week, the Privateers lost on a game-ending field goal, as they now fall to 3-5 overall on the season, including a 2-3 mark in ECFC action, while the Eagles improve to 2-6 (1-4 ECFC).
Maritime scored two touchdowns in the first half to build a 14-0 lead. The first came on the opening drive of the game, when senior Thomas Davis (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) found an opening on the left side and ran in a 39-yard TD. The second score came nearly four minutes into the second quarter, when junior Gary Bigham (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles) brought in his team-leading 12th touchdown of the season from two-yards out. Freshman kicker Diogo Dietrich (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil/DePaul Catholic) made both of the PATs for the Privateers. The score remained 14-0 into the halftime break.
Towards the end of the third quarter, Husson took over the ball at the Maritime six-yard line after a fumble and scored on the next play to cut the lead in half. Senior Kash Keezer connected with junior Devin Sherman on a six-yard TD pass and the PAT by freshman Reece Attard was good to make the score 14-7, in favor of the Privateers.
In the beginning of the fourth quarter, another Maritime fumble nearly tied the game when the Eagles ran it to the end zone, but the score was negated by a blocking penalty and Husson took over at the Maritime 22-yard line. They were unable to score on that drive, however. The Privateers also had a touchdown negated when a low snap to punter Duke Alvora (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) turned into a passing play to junior Andrew LaLonde (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island), who brought the ball down the field to the end zone, but a hold on Maritime brought the ball back to the 30 yard line.
That drive would end on an interception, but Maritime intercepted the ball right back on the next drive as junior Andrew Vazquez (Yonkers, N.Y./Sacred Heart) picked off a pass by Keezer at the Maritime 38-yard line with just 1:46 to go in the fourth. However, another Privateer fumble was picked up by the Eagles and returned 40 yards for a touchdown to tie the game with just 1:25 left on the clock. Neither team scored on either of the final drives of the fourth quarter. The Privateers went into their first overtime game since the 2009 season at Kings Point.
In the overtime period, the Privateers had possession first and got down to the four-yard line, but another fumble gave Husson the ball with a chance to win. After three plays, the Eagles called on Attard for a 43-yard field goal that sailed through the uprights to give Husson the victory.
Junior quarterback Tyler Trodden (Putnam Valley, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic) was 8-for-24 on completions for 114 passing yards. On defense, Maritime senior Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) led all players with 18 tackles, including two for combined losses of 10 yards with one sack. Sophomore Hugh O'Brien (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) was second on the squad with eight tackles and freshmen Kameron Knight (Clayton, N.C./West Johnson) and Andrew Auriemma (Melville, N.Y./St. Anthony's) both recorded six tackles, apiece. Auriemma was a part of two sacks for combined losses of seven yards.
For Husson, senior Dellon Douglas led the team with nine tackles, while three others each had six tackles, apiece. Kash Keezer ended the game 12-for-30 for 124 yards and one touchdown.
Maritime is back in action next Saturday, Nov. 3, when the Privateers will travel up to Northfield, Vt., to take on ECFC foe Norwich University. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Cadets' Sabine Field.