Box Score THROGS NECK, NY – The Privateer football team went on the road for only the second time this season, and suffered a similar fate to the first. Catholic University scored 46 points against Maritime, scoring on their first 6 possessions, and limited the Privateers to only 13 points on the afternoon. Maritime's record fell to 2-3 overall.
Catholic did not waste any time on offense, as they completed a 60 yard pass on their first play from scrimmage and scored the game's first touchdown. Only 15 seconds in, and down by 7, the Privateers began with the ball on their own 29. A 10 yard completion from Michael Smooke (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake (FL)) (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake) to Greg Campisi (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) kept the drive alive on a 3rd and 6 play. Three plays later, on a 3rd and 2, Smooke fumbled the ball and Catholic recovered, seemingly ending the Privateer drive. However, an offside penalty on Catholic gave the ball back to the Privateers along with a first down in Catholic territory. Only two plays later, Smooke found Sean Wiggers (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan (N.J.)) (Norwood, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) open for a 42 yard gain, setting up a first and goal from the Catholic 3 yard line. However, Maritime was flagged for offensive pass interference, sending the ball all the way back to the Catholic 40 yard line. The penalty proved costly as the Privateers wouldn't gain another yard and were forced to punt the ball away.
Catholic went to the air again on their next possession, completing a 43 yard pass to set them up for a 6 yard rushing touchdown to give them the 14-0 lead. Maritime's ensuing possession began with a 22 yard carry from James Spanopolous (Franklin Square, NY/H. rank Carey) to bring Maritime back into Catholic territory. After a Smooke 10 yard gain, the Privateers were called for holding putting the ball back 10 yards to the Catholic 28. That didn't seem to bother the quarterback, as Michael Smooke (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake (FL)) took the ball on the very next snap and took it in for the score, cutting the lead in half at 14-7.
Catholic went right back to the air attack, as the first play from scrimmage grabbed 9 yards. After a first down, Catholic went to the air again, completing a 51 yard pass play to go up 21-7. The drive lasted only 1:11 and covered 69 yards. As time expired in the first, the Privateers were driving down the field looking to answer. Two plays into the new quarter, the Privateers were faced with a fourth down fro the Catholic 29. The Privateers called the right play, and Smooke gained 16 yards, but lost the ball via fumble inside the Catholic 20 and the Privateers' 11 ply, 65 yard drive came to an end.
Once again, Catholic wasted no time scoring, as the quarterback connected on a 48 yard touchdown completion to bring the score to 27-7. The Catholic defense blocked Maritime's punt on the next drive, and took 8 plays to go 56 yards to set them up for a field goal. After connecting on the field goal, Catholic led 30-7.
An injury to Michael Smooke (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake (FL)) kept him off the field for the rest of the game, and freshman backup Joe Salthouse (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy) (Chester, NY/Chester Academy) took over at quarterback for the rest of the game. His first play from scrimmage was not one to remember, as he threw an interception that was returned to the 10 yard line, setting up Catholic for a 10 yard touchdown strike. The scoreboard showed 37-7 in favor of Catholic. The next possession or the Privateers ended in a lost fumble on the Catholic 11, and the Privateer defense was sent back on the field. They held strong though, forcing Catholic to go for a fourth down attempt and stopped them just as time expired in the half.
The Privateers came out of the locker room ready to play, and Greg McGough (Edgewater, Md./Blessed Trinity (Ga.)) (Edgewater, MD/Blessed Trinity) returned the kick off 42 yards to set Maritime up on the Catholic side of the field. James Spanopolous punched the ball in from 7 yards out to bring the score to 37-13. Catholic blocked the extra point and returned it for a defensive PAT, moving the score to 39-13.
The Privateer defense forced three straight punts by Catholic, but the Maritime offense struggled as well. With less than 5 minutes to play, the Privateer defense forced their 4th straight punt, but McGough couldn't properly handle it, and Catholic recovered at the Maritime 21. Catholic scored on the very net play, their only score in the second half (besides the defensive PAT) thanks to two touchdown saving pass breakups by freshman defensive back Andrew Miller (Marietta, GA/Kell (GA)) (Marietta, GA/Kell).. The Privateers ran out of time, and the game ended with Catholic winning 46-13.
James Spanopolous led the team with 131 yards on the ground, including a touchdown. Michael Smooke (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake (FL)) added 101 of his own and a score, before leaving the game late in the second quarter to injury. Greg Campisi (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) was the only Privateer to catch a ball on the afternoon, gaining 10 yards on one reception.
The Privateers will return home for a three game stretch starting Friday night. Gallaudet University will be the first opponent, coming in Friday night for the “Bronx Firehouse Chili Cook-off” game at 7:00PM.
