THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Oct. 2, 2009) – The Maritime football team (2-2, 0-1 ECFC) will play host to Anna Maria College (0-4) on Saturday at Reinhart Field. Kickoff between the Privateers and the AMCATS is scheduled for 4 p.m.

 

Listen Live On The Internet At MaritimeAthletics.com

The football game against Anna Maria will be heard around the world on Saturday via the internet on the newly created Privateer Radio Network! Just click here to begin listening twenty minutes before game time, as play-by-play man Matt Gregory and color analyst Mike Vitello will call all the action and play back interviews with coaches and athletes. Live audio is FREE for the 2009-10 season!

 

Privateers Rank High Among NCAA D-III Football Programs

            Maritime football has ranked high in the NCAA statistics throughout the first four weeks of action. Currently, the Privateers are 14th in the nation in time of possession, 19th in rushing offense (245.50 ypg) and 23rd in 3rd down conversions and red zone defense.

 

            On special teams, the Maritime kickoff team is ranked 28th in the nation. Sophomore Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey)-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) is tied for 11th in the nation with 13.50 points per game and his 115.75 yards per game is good for 28th. Sophomore Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury)-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) currently ranks 27th among all D-III defensive players in solo-tackles.

 

Spanopoulos Needs Two TDs For Modern Maritime Record

            Privateers fullback Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) has scored nine rushing touchdowns thus far this season, producing a scoring average of 13.50 points per game, which currently ranks first on the team and in the ECFC. The 5-9, 228-pounder had ten rushing touchdowns all of last season, a mark that currently sits atop the modern Maritime football scoring record books. Former Privateers quarterback Michael Smooke (Land O'Lakes, FL/East Lake (FL)) was the only other player to record 10 rushing touchdowns in one season back in 2007. Smooke also threw for three touchdowns in 2007, bringing his total TDs to 13 for the year, a mark that Spanopoulos can also surpass in 2009.

 

Privateers Breakdown

            Spanopoulos has amassed 463 rushing yards in 2009 on 104 attempts for an average of 4.5 per carry to lead Maritime on the ground. Sophomore Anthony Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-QB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) has rushed for 278 yards, with one touchdown, and thrown for 238 yards on 12-for-34 passing, also with one touchdown. Anthony's twin brother John Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-RB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) leads all receivers with 138 yards on four catches, one for the lone pass TD of the season.

 

            On the defensive side of the ball, Barnes has a team-high 32 tackles (27 solo and 10 assisted) and two sacks, while senior-captain Mike Oehl-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West) – 18 tackles (15 solo and six assisted) – and freshman Ricky McClain (Wantagh, N.Y./Saint Anthony's)-DL (Wantagh, N.Y./St. Anthony's) – 16.5 tackles (13 solo and seven assisted) – currently rank second and third on the Privateers, respectively.

 

            On special teams, sophomore David Kittinger (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers (Fla.))-P/K (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers) has totaled 449 yards on 13 punts for an average of 34.5 yards per punt. He has landed three balls within the 20-yard line and had one touchback. Sophomore Madison Leary (Tavares, Fla./Tavares)-K/WR (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) is 1-for-2 on FG attempts, making a 25-yarder at home against Wagner on Sept. 10. Leary has also converted seven PAT kicks.

 

Maritime's Player Of The Week Honors

            Over the first three weeks of the season, Maritime had at least one player earn weekly honors from the ECFC, starting back in Week One, when sophomore Kieth Barnes was named Defensive Player of the Week after the first-year linebacker led the Privateer defense with 7.5 tackles (seven solo and one assisted) in Maritime's 31-14 victory over Mass. Maritime in the third annual Chowder Bowl.

 

            In Week Two, sophomore Madison Leary (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) was named the ECFC Special Teams Player of the Week after The 6-3, 194-pounder took over the field goal job for the Wagner game and kicked the first FG of the year for the Privateers, a 25-yarder that put the Privateers on the board in the third quarter. On three kickoffs, the sophomore averaged 57 yards, including one touchback. The two returns were both caught within the 20-yard line and only returned an average of 14 yards due to exceptional directional kicking.

 

            In Week Three, three Privateers were given weekly honors, as Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) was named ECFC and ECAC Offensive Player of the Week, Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) was named ECFC and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week and Rob Gorgy (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata (N.J.))-DL (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) was named Special Teams Player of the Week. Spanopoulos had a career-best performance in Maritime's 28-21 overtime win over Kings Point, rushing for a game-high 182 yards on 32 carries for an average of 5.7 yards per carry while scoring three touchdowns, including the eventual game-winner in overtime. Barnes led all players in the game with 12 tackles (nine solo and six assisted), including one sack for a loss of four yards. He also recorded a forced fumble in the fourth quarter. Gorgy single-handedly saved Maritime from a loss by blocking what would've been a game-winning 35-yard Kings Point field goal as time expired in regulation. The sophomore deflected the kick, which sailed wide-left and forced overtime, where Maritime claimed the victory.

 

Scouting The Anna Maria AMCATS

            Anna Maria  and head coach Marc Klaiman come into the matchup with a 0-4 record, suffering losses on the road to Castleton (42-28 on Sept. 5) and Husson (63-12 on Sept. 19) and at home to Fitchberg State (48-12 on Sept. 12) and Malone (65-10 on Sept. 26).

 

            Freshman running back Nate Adames leads the AMCATS offense with 282 rushing yards for averages of 3.9 per carry and 70.5 per game, he also has one touchdown. Freshman quarterback Santino Simone is 22-for-70 in completions with two interceptions, compiling a total of 251 passing yards with a 31.4 passing efficiency. Freshman wideout Dom Concepcion leads all receivers with 249 yards and two touchdowns.

 

            On defense, the AMCATS are led sophomore linebacker Rich Brandt, who has a team-high 42 tackles (23 solo and 19 assisted), while freshman LB Kevin Fitzpatrick isn't far behind with 39 tackles (20 solo and 19 assisted). Sophomore punter JC Crowly has averaged 31.1 yards on 28 kicks, and freshman kicker Jamal Mitchell is 1-for-1 on FG attempts, making a 29-yarder.

 

A Look Ahead

            The Privateers will take on Castleton State in Week Six on Saturday, Oct. 10, at home. Kickoff against the Spartans is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at Reinhart Field. The game will be part of Maritime's Homecoming Weekend festivities, where the whole college community will celebrate with the many alumni, family, friends and followers in attendance. For more information on Homecoming Weekend, please contact Jane Barnett at 718-409-7277.