LISTEN LIVE: Live Audio Coverage On The Privateer Radio Network Beginning At 6 p.m.

 

THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Nov. 5, 2009) – The Maritime football team, which has already secured its best season in program history, will be playing for a chance to compete in its first ever postseason game when the Privateers host Gallaudet University Friday night under the lights at Reinhart Field. Kickoff against the Bison is scheduled for 7 p.m., as Maritime will look to earn a second-place conference finish and a berth in the 2009 ECFC Championship Game with a victory.

 

Listen To Friday's Game Live On The Internet!

 

            If you can't make it to Throggs Neck Friday night, but would still like to catch all the exciting action on the gridiron, do not fret. Maritime Athletics has got you covered! Listen to the game for free on live internet-streaming audio brought to you by the newly-created Privateer Radio Network.

 

Our very professionally-dressed commentators Matt Gregory and Mike Vitello will provide a lengthy, in-depth pregame show beginning at 6 p.m., before the game gets underway. Also, after the game, head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes will stop up in the press box to answer some questions about the game and talk about the program. It cannot be missed!

 

You can begin listening live at 6 p.m. Friday night by clicking this link. Links will also be available on the front page of MaritimeAthletics.com, under the calendar on the right side, as well as on the football schedule page.

 

Championship Berth On The Line For Maritime

            With a victory, the Maritime football team is guaranteed a second-place finish in the first-year Eastern Collegiate Football Conference with a 4-2 record. The Privateers would be tied with Mount Ida at 4-2, but own the tiebreaker due to its 42-0 shutout win over the Mustangs in Week Eight. Therefore, Maritime would earn the right to play first-place Norwich in the ECFC Championships Game in Northfield, Vt. on Saturday, Nov. 14.

 

Pregame Senior Day Ceremony To Honor 10 Graduating Seniors

            The game will be exciting, but also a little heartfelt, as it will be the final home contest for 10 graduating seniors on the Maritime football team. Senior-captains Robert Johnson, Jr.-OL (Merrit Island, Fla./Merrit Island) and Michael Oehl-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West), along with their classmates Ethan Balcer-QB (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic), Ryan Leary-DB (Tavares, Fla./Tavares), Andrew Nimmo-DE (Lake Grove, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Mike Walsh-OL (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas), Matt Cirella-OL (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Bryan Butler-OL (Malverne, N.Y./Valley Stream South), Mike Savaglio-DB (West Islip, N.Y./East Islip) and Ryan Farrell-DL (Hauppauge, N.Y./St. Anthony's) will be honored for their hard work and dedication to the football program over their four years in the Navy and Maroon.

 

            The class of 2009 seniors is unique, as it is coach Kendrick-Holmes' first class of players that have played all four season of football with Maritime since the program earned NCAA status back in 2006.

 

2009 Bronx FDNY Chili Cook Off

If the heat from the intensity of the action on the field doesn't warm you up on the crisp fall evening on Friday, then perhaps a number of free samples of some warm chili will! For the second-straight year, the Maritime Football team will be hosting its annual Bronx Firehouse Chili Cook-Off. Representatives from several local firehouses will be stationed behind the bleachers, each with their own chili, which you, the fans, will vote on for the “BEST FDNY FIREHOUSE CHILI.” The winner will be announced at halftime.

 

Maritime's Semper Fidelis Society To Collect Toys For “Toys For Tots”

            Attendees to tomorrow's game are encouraged to please join SUNY Maritime's Semper Fidelis Society in supporting the United States Marine Corps Reserve's Toys for Tots drive. Uniformed Midshipmen will be collecting any new unwrapped toys and monetary donations next to the stands at Reinhart Field.

 

WARNING! – A Black Out Will Occur Friday Night

            Fans attending the game on Friday are also encouraged to wear black to form a “black out” in the stands! Student life will be giving out black shirts to a number of students that attend and all other fans can help along by wearing anything black.

 

Privateers' Rankings Among National-Best

            The Privateers are among the best teams in the nation in many statistical categories, including being the top team with just 0.11 sacks allowed per game. Maritime's rushing offense checks in at third among all Division-III schools with an average of 334.67 yards per game and its 36.33 points per game is good for 27th.

 

            Individually, sophomore Jamie Spanopoulos-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) ranks sixth in the nation with 12.67 points per game and his 101.33 rushing yards per game puts him at 40th.

 

Maritime Breakdown

            The Privateers are led by Spanopoulos, who has gained 912 yards on the ground with a program-best18 rushing touchdowns. The 5-9, 228-pounder also has caught on pass for 35 yards and a score. He was named the ECFC Offensive Player of the Week twice so far this season, after Week Three and Week Seven wins.

 

            Sophomore Anthony Gagliano-QB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) leads the team and ranks third in the ECFC with a total of 1300 yards of total offense total offensive on 589 passing yards on 29-for-66 completions – with three touchdowns and four interceptions – and 711 rushing yards with four scores. His twin-brother John Gagliano-RB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) has a Privateer-high 185 receiving yard with one TD, while also gaining 298 yards on the ground with six rushing scores.

 

            The Maritime defense is led by three-time ECFC Defensive Player of the Week sophomore Keith Barnes-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury). He has a team-high 69.5 tackles (59 solo and 21 assisted) for an average of 8.56 per game, a mark that ranks third in the conference. Eight of his tackles have been for combined losses of 31 yards and he has two sacks on the season. Barnes also has three forced fumbles, two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

 

Also sparking the Privateer defense is Mike Oehl and freshman Pat Lasher-LB (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford), who have 38.5 and 31.0 tackles, respectively. Freshman Ricky McClainDL (Wantagh, N.Y./St. Anthony's) leads the team with 2.5 sacks, while sophomore Sean Wiggers-DB (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan) has a team-best four interceptions.

 

On special teams, sophomores Madison Leary-K/WR (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) and David Kittinger-K/P (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers) have been splitting time. Leary has averaged 57.0 yards on 29 kickoffs, while Kittinger averaged 52.8 yards on 28 kickoffs. On 21 punts thus far this season, Kittinger has amassed 751 yards for an average of 35.8 yards per kick and has a season-long of 67 yards. He has had five punts land within the opponents' 20-yard lines and two touchbacks. Leary has kicked three of Maritime's four successful field goals this season, but it was Kittinger's 34-yarder that is the year's longest.

 

Scouting The Gallaudet Bison

            Fifth-year head coach Ed Hottle brings his Gallaudet squad into Friday's matchup with a 5-4 overall record, including a 3-2 mark in ECFC play. The Bison are led by senior quarterback Jimmy Gardner, who has amassed a team-high 716 rushing yards, with nine scores on the ground, to go along with 177 passing yards on 13-of-49 completions with one TD.

 

Also propelling the offense is sophomore running back Phillip Hayes, who has scored a team-best 10 touchdowns this year on 716 yards rushing. Sophomore Michael Gimeli leads the wideout corps with 42 yards, but senior Ryan Lentz has caught the only pass touchdown of the season and has 36 receiving yards on two passes.

 

            The Gallaudet defense is led by freshman Tom Pangia, who has 62 tackles (43 solo and 19 assisted) and two interceptions. Sophomore Jon Van Wey leads the team with 7.5 sacks, while sophomore Jared Vollmar and junior Richard Bailey have two forced fumbles apiece. Vollmar also has two interceptions on the season.

 

            Kicker Justin Wilson has averaged 32.3 yards on 26 punts, including four inside the opponents' 20 and a long of 55 yards. On 39 kickoffs, the senior has averaged 54.7 yards with six touchbacks.

 

Inside The Series

            Friday's game will be the fourth meeting between the two schools, with Gallaudet leading the series 2-1. The first game was played on Sept. 16, 2006, which the Bison won 18-13, before winning against at home in Washington, D.C. 28-13, on Nov. 3, 2007. Last season in Throggs Neck, the Privateers won convincingly, 27-0.

 

A Look Ahead

            If victorious, the Privateers will head to Northfield, Vt. to take on the Cadets of Norwich University in the 2009 ECFC Championship Game on Saturday, Nov. 14. A time for that game will be determined once the teams are decided.