Throggs Neck, NY – After sitting out the last four games, junior quarterback Zach Townsend (Corning, NY/Corning East) (Corning, NY/Corning East) made his return on Saturday to lead the charge for the Privateers with two rushing touchdowns, yet his efforts wouldn’t be enough as the Privateers come up short against the Mustangs of Mount Ida College in their 2006 season finale in Newton, MA.

 

Freshman running back tandem Benjamin Swedish (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) and Kshuwan Thompson (Bronx, NY/Christopher Columbus) (Bronx, NY/Christopher Columbus) combined for 106 yards on the ground and one touchdown, while senior Marc Kunchev (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) led the team in receiving for the second straight game with one catch for 52 yards. Sophomore quarterback Greg Campisi (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) (Lynrbook, NY/Lynbrook), who shared snaps with Townsend, threw for a team high 94-yards and carried the ball 11 times for 39 yards.

 

The Privateer defense was led by freshman defensive back Jack Edmund (Alturas, FL/Bartow) (Alturas, FL/Bartow) who finished the day with eight solo tackles and two assisted for a season high 9.0 total tackles. Edmund got help from fellow defensive back Troy Smith (Brooklyn, NY/Fort Hamilton) (Bronx, NY/Fort Hamilton) who picked up six solo tackles and freshman linebacker Emery Persinger (Cheswick, PA/Deer Lakes) (Cheswick, PA/Deer Lakes) who totaled 7.5 tackles.  

 

Sophomore quarterback Marc Skehan (Irvington, N.Y./Irvington) completed 12-of-17 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns to help lead the Mustangs to victory. Skehan’s leading receiver, freshman Kyle Watkins (New Haven, CT/James Hillhouse), made eight receptions for 229-yards and a score.

 

Trailing 21-7 in the second quarter, Kunchev’s 52-yard reception gave the Privateers great field position that led to a 5-yard score by Townsend, his first rushing touchdown since back on September 9 in the Privateers season opener.

 

Maritime continued their comeback with a 1-yard run by Townsend at 11:55 in the third quarter, capping off a two play, 17-yard drive after Persinger recovered a fumble on a Mustang punt return. After going scoreless in the third, Mount Ida would answer back in the fourth quarter with an 18 play, 81-yard drive that was ended on a 1-yard touchdown run by freshman running back Larry Engelbert (Selden, N.Y./Centerreach) to give the Mustangs the go ahead score, 27-21 following a blocked extra point attempt. Englebert finished the game with 91 yards and two touchdowns.

 

The Privateers finish out their inaugural 2006 season with a 1-6 record against NCAA competition and a 2-7 overall record. Next season, the Privateers will play a nine game season, facing familiar foes such as Mount Ida, Norwich and Becker; and new additions Mass Maritime and Huntingdon College.

 

- MARITIME -