By: by Joe Guster, Sports Information Director
Box Score
THROGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 19, 2009) – Sophomore Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey)-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) rushed for a career-high 182 yards and three touchdowns for Maritime, including the eventual game-winner in the first overtime, then the Privateers defense stopped Kings Point's OT attempt to claim a 28-21 victory over their local-rivals Saturday afternoon at the Mariners' Captain James Harvey Tomb Field.
“I thought it was a great game, our guys got the job done when it counted,” said head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes. “I am real proud of our seniors and I am happy to win in front of a great number of alumni in attendance, including a former player that flew in from Dubai to see the game.”
Maritime's option offense totaled 423 yards (367 rushing and 56 receiving) in the victory, which improved the Privateers' record to 2-1 on the season, while handing Kings Point (320 yards on 142 rushing and 178 passing) its first loss of the season, as the Mariners fall to 2-1.
Sophomore Anthony Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-QB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) picked up 74 yards on the ground and was 4-for-11 in the air for 56 yards, while junior Ceasar Sanchez (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy)-FB (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy) rushed for 52 yards and picked up Maritime's only other touchdown of the day with an eight-yard run in the third quarter. On the defensive side, sophomore Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury)-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) led all players with 12 total tackles (nine solo and six assisted), while picking up one sack and forcing a fumble.
Maritime's first drive of eight plays and 45 yards, ended with an interception by USMMA on the 9-yard line. The Maritime defense held the Mariners on the ensuing drive, but Kings Point recovered a Privateers fumble on the punt return at the Maritime 17-yard line. After three plays, Kings Point reached the end zone on a 2-yard pass and took an early 7-0 lead after the PAT.
On the next drive, facing third and eight at the Kings Point 13, Gagliano held on to the ball and brought it within a foot of the goal line. On the next play, Spanopoulos ran it in one yard for the score and Madison Leary (Tavares, Fla./Tavares)-K/WR (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) tied the game at 7-7 with the PAT. The score would remain the same into the half.
On the Privateers' first possession of the second half, Maritime went to Sanchez for seven straight plays and he brought it to the house, as he gained 52 yards on the drive. Leary's PAT gave Maritime a 14-7 lead, its first advantage of the afternoon.
The Mariners answered right back to tie it up at 14-14 after their 13-play, 69-yard drive, ended with a pass TD to USMMA's Karl Heimbrock. The third quarter ended with that score.
Spanopoulos added his second touchdown on the next Maritime drive, which ended up being a 10-play, 56-yard success, giving the Privateers a 21-14 lead. With 1:10 left in the game, Kings Point tied the score after an 8-play, 52-yard drive ended with a 17 yard pass TD to make the score 21-21.
Maritime failed to convert on their last possession of the fourth quarter and the Mariners began a drive at its own 46-yard line with 27 seconds remaining. USMMA drove the ball to the Privateers 18-yard line and set up for a field goal to win the game with nine-tenths of a second left. The kick was no good and the game went into overtime, where the Privateers scored on its first possession and held the Mariners scoreless for the win.
