Box Score THROGS NECK, NY - In front of an estimated crowd of more than 3700 fans and alumni for Homecoming, the Privateers defeated the Norwich Cadets 34-20 to improve to 2-2 on the season. The Cadets fell to 2-2.
For the second straight week, the Privateers won the toss, elected to receive, and marched the ball down the field to score on their opening possession. A 41 yard return by James Falkenstern (Northvale, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan (N.J.)) (Northvale, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) set the Privateers up in prime field position on the Norwich 40 yard line. It took Maritime 9 plays to punch the ball into the endzone, thanks to a 2 yard rush by James Spanopolous (Franklin Square,NY/H. Frank Carey).
Following the score, the Cadets started with the ball from their own 28. Once they reached the Maritime side of the field, the drive seemed to have stalled. Faced with a 4th down and 2, the Cadets converted with a 5 yard rush by Kyle Marzeoti, and their drive continued. Three plays later, quarterback Guerschom Jean-Gilles connected with Nate Stroffoleno for a 41-yard touchdown score. Ready to tie the game, the Cadets missed the extra point and were down 7-6 for the rest of the quarter.
Both teams traded punts before the end of the quarter, and as time expired, David Kittinger (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers (Fla.)) (Fort Meyers, FL/South Fort Meyers) pinned the Cadets inside their 5 yard line with a 55 yard punt that took a sideways bounce rather than going into the endzone. The Privateer defense stepped up and dropped Norwich for a loss on their first play from scrimmage. The next play, Ryan Leary (Tavares, FL/Tavares (FL)) (Tavares, FL/Tavares) forced a fumble that teammate Justin Marziliano (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) (Staten Island, NY/Tottenville) fell on to give the Privateers possession at the Norwich 9.
With a short field, it looked as if the Privateers were going to tack on another touchdown, but the Cadet defense stood strong and wouldn't allow it. The Privateers' attempt at a 23 yard field goal went wide to the right, and the score remained 7-6 in favor of Maritime.
After the Privateers forced another Norwich punt on the ensuing drive, Maritime began driving the ball down the field once again. Starting near midfield, Maritime drove the ball all the way to the Norwich 14, before losing the ball by way of a fumble on a broken pitch play. However, the Privateer defense had enough time to rest on the sidelines, and came out and intercepted a pass at their own 38 with 5:30 to go in the half.
The Privateers started their next drive with a 21 yard rush from Robert Nichols (Ossining (NY)/Ossining) (Ossining, NY/Ossining) to move them into Cadet territory. Faced with a fourth down, Nichols came through again, gaining 6 to move the chains. With just 16 seconds remaining in the half, Smooke found James Kozlawkowski (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) (Lynbrook, NY/Lynbrook) wide open in the endzone to extend the lead to 14-6 at the half (after a successful extra point by Kittinger).
The second half began with the Cadets driving the ball deep into the Maritime side of the field. Norwich converted three first downs on the drive, but the Privateer defense would stand strong. On the Maritime 13, the Cadets were faced with a fourth and 11 and decided to take a chance at a first down. The decision proved costly, as Robert Gorgy (Hillsborough, NJ/Immaculata) sacked the quarterback for a loss of 9, giving the ball back to the Privateers who held the 14-6 lead.
With the ball spotted on the 20, the Privateers began another drive and it started off very promising. Spanopolous carried the ball for13 yards to give the Privateers some breathing room. After two consecutive 7 yard rushes, the Privateers went to the air. Smooke hit Sean Wiggers (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan (N.J.)) (Norwood, NJ/Northern Valley Old Tappan) for 30 yards, but Wiggers was unable to hold on, was stripped of the ball, and Jim Kiritsy recovered for the Cadets. After the defensive stop, Norwich marched 69 yards on 8 plays to score and bring them within 2 points (14-12). Looking for the tie, the Cadets put the ball on the ground, but were stood up on the goal line and the conversion failed, leaving the score 14-12 in favor of Maritime.
Three plays later, on Maritime's ensuing drive, Smooke attempted to pitch the ball before being tackled, but the ball fell to the ground and bounced right into Kiritsy's hands. With nobody in front of him, he returned the ball 31 yards for the go ahead score. The Privateers trailed for the first time all game, 20-14.
Still a whole quarter to play, the Privateers never gave up, forcing a punt on Norwich's next drive, and driving 82 yards on their next possession to score the tieing touchdown., on a 2 yard Smooke keeper. A false start on the Privateers pushed the extra point attempt back 5 yards, which proved to be costly as the kick was missed. The score was tied 20-20 with only 6:43 to play.
The ensuing defensive possession was huge for the Privateers, and proved to be the game changing drive. Only three plays in, Cadet QB Jean-Gilles was intercepted by Ryan Leary (Tavares, FL/Tavares (FL)) who jumped the wide receiver's route. Not only did he intercept the ball, but he returned it 55 yards for the score, giving Maritime the lead at 27-20 (following the extra point) which proved to be the game winning score. The defense then forced a 4th down incomplete pass, and the offense took over once again.
Unable to just take a knee and run the clock out (too much time remaining) the Privateers kept the ball on the ground. The rush attack worked so well, they drove 54 yards in 2:52 and scored once more. Ryan Mackey (Westbury, NY/Clarke) (Westbury, NY/Clark) sealed the deal when he intercepted the very next pass from Jean-Gilles, the third Privateer interception of the game.
Leading the way on the ground was James Spanopolous with 106 yards on 22 carries. Robert Nichols (Ossining (NY)/Ossining) added 90 yards (with a long of 26), while Michael Smooke (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake (FL)) had 40 yards and a rushing TD. Smooke completed 6-8 passes for 73 yards and the touchdown as well. Defensively, Pat Mangum (Passadena, MD/Archbishop Spaulding) had 2 pass breakups and an interception, while Ryan Leary (Tavares, FL/Tavares (FL)) led the team with 9 total tackles as well as his 55 yard touchdown return from the interception and his forced fumble in the second quarter.
This was the final game of the 2 game home stand, and the Privateers will hit the road against Catholic University on October 4th at noon, before returning home for a 3 game stretch.
