Box Score
THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Nov. 6 2009) – The Maritime football team lost its season-finale to Gallaudet in the final minute of play Friday night at Reinhart Field. The Bison scored the game-winning touchdown with 53 second left on the clock and held off the ensuing Privateer drive for the victory. With the loss, Maritime ends the season with a 6-4 overall record and a 3-3 mark in the ECFC, while the Bison also move to 6-4 overall and finish third in the conference with a 3-2 mark.
Turnovers were costly for the Privateers, who coughed the ball up six times on fumbles and lost it to Gallaudet three of those six. The Bison held the advantage in time of possession by over seven minutes, due in large part to having the ball for 10:03 in the third quarter.
Maritime controlled the opening half, scoring a touchdown on its very first drive. Anthony Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-QB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) ran in a 1-yard TD to cap off the 17-play, 77-yard drive. A David Kittinger (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers (Fla.))-K/P (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers) PAT on a kick gave the Privateers the early 7-0 advantage.
Both teams would get the ball once more in the first quarter, but were forced to punt it. On the first play of Maritime's first possession of the second quarter, the Bison forced a fumble and recovered it at the Privateers' 36-yard line. Two plays later, Gallaudet got on the board after a 19 yard touchdown run. A failed extra point kick made the score, 7-6, Maritime.
The Privateers would score again before the half, after a fumble recovery of their own by sophomore Vinny Dima (Centereach, NY/Centereach)-DE (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) later in the quarter gave them possession at the Bison 43-yard line. Junior John Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-RB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) ran in a 4-yard touchdown with 32 seconds remaining in the opening half, but a failed extra point would put Maritime up 13-6 – a score that remained into the half.
The third quarter was the turning point in the game, as Gallaudet gained momentum by holding onto the ball for 10:03. A detrimental play for the Privateers occurred late in the third, when faced with a fourth and four at the 12-yard line and attempting a punt. The long snap went right over Kittinger's head and went out of bounds in the end zone for a Bison safety, which brought the score to 13-8, Maritime.
In the fourth quarter, the Privateers got the ball with 13:42 to play and gained one first down but were forced to punt. Gallaudet took over with 9:42 to play, down by 5 points. The drove the ball downfield 53 yards on 14 plays and scored the go-ahead TD on a 2-yard run. The Bison would add a two-point conversion to make it 16-13 with 53 second left. Maritime would not be able to convert on the following drive and just ran out of time.
Playing in his final collegiate game, senior co-captain Mike Oehl-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West) led all players with 18 tackles (17 solo and two assisted), including two for combined losses of five yards.
With the loss, the Privateers were denied a berth in the 2009 ECFC Championship Game, which they would have played in had they been victorious. Mount Ida will now play Norwich for the title on Saturday, Nov. 14 in Northfield, Vt.
