THROGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 2, 2009) – The 2009 Maritime football season will begin on Thursday, when the team travels up Interstate-95 to Buzzards Bay, Mass. for the third annual Chowder Bowl against its rivals, the Buccaneers of Massachusetts Maritime. The Privateers have won the previous two meetings between the schools and will be looking to bring home the cup for the third-consecutive season.

 

2009 Outlook

 

As the Maritime College football team enters its fourth season in the NCAA in 2009, head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes will look to his first class of true seniors to lead a roster of 95 players. 10 seniors – Mike Walsh (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas)-OL (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y./Walter Panas), Bryan Butler (Malverne, NY/Valley Stream South)-OL (Malverne, N.Y./Valley Stream South), Matt Cirella (Lindenhurst, NY/St. Anthony's)-OL (Lindenhurst, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Robert Johnson, Jr.-OL (Merrit Island, Fla./Merrit Island), Ethan Balcer (Carmel, NY/Kennedy Catholic)-QB (Carmel, N.Y./Kennedy Catholic), Michael Oehl (Nesconset, NY/Smithtown West)-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West), Ryan Leary (Tavares, FL/Tavares (FL))-DB (Tavares, Fla./Tavares), Mike Savaglio (West Islip, NY/East Islip)-DB (West Islip, N.Y./East Islip), Andrew Nimmo (Lake Grove, NY/St. Anthony's)-DE (Lake Grove, N.Y./St. Anthony's) and Ryan Farrell (Hauppauge, NY/St. Anthony's)-DL (Hauppauge, N.Y./St. Anthony's) – will pave the way for the underclassmen, which includes a freshman class of 47 that will join the Privateer sideline.

 

             The 2009 squad will be representing eight states: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Georgia, Florida and Texas. Of the 47 newcomers, eight talented players were recruited out of Florida by second-year assistant coach Rich Mercado. Maritime will look to improve upon the breakout season the squad enjoyed in 2008, in which the Privateers won a program-best four games. Action gets underway on the road on Sept. 3 at the third annual Chowder Bowl against the Mass. Maritime Buccaneers in Buzzards Bay, Mass.

 

Offense

 

The Maritime rushing game improved from 26th in the nation two seasons ago to eighth in 2008 and this year's team will once again look to run the vaunted spread triple option attack behind a talented senior-laden offensive line: Walsh, Butler, Cirella and Johnson, Jr. The lone underclassman starter is Frank Adamo (Somers, N.Y./Somers)-OL (Katonah, N.Y./Somers) and the offensive line will be backed up by solid sophomores Eric Cassone (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook)-OL (Rye Brook, N.Y./Blind Brook), Nick Versaci (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman)-OL (Bronx, N.Y./Cardinal Spellman), and David Daneu (Malabar, Fla./Palm Bay (Fla.))-OL (Malabar, Fla./Palm Bay) and junior Matthew Coogan (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac)-OL (Yonkers, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac). Freshmen twin brothers Larry and Andrew Cohen (Islip Terrace, N.Y./East Islip/Central Connecticut State)-OL (West Islip, N.Y./East Islip/CCSU) have been impressive in training camp as well as Andrew Coffiey (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy (Del.))-OL (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy), Angelo Aleo (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian)-OL (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xaverian) and Ben Frazier (Temple Hills, MD/DeMatha)-OL (Temple Hills, Md./Port Richmond).

 

Sophomore Anthony Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-QB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) won the starting quarterback job late last season and is set to lead the offensive unit. He is being pushed for time by fellow classmate Joe Salthouse (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy)-QB (Chester, N.Y./Chester Academy) and freshmen Joey Dickey-QB (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) and Fernando Carmona (Bronx, NY/South Bronx)-QB (Bronx, N.Y./South Bronx) who have both had solid preseason camps. 

 

Anthony's twin brother John Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-RB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) is an explosive player who won Special Teams MVP honors last season and will step in as a starter in the slot back position. Sophomore Greg McGough-RB (Edgewater, Md./Blessed Trinity) has made great strides in the off-season and will step in at the other slot position. Sophomore James Falkenstern (Northvale, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan (N.J.))-RB (Northvale, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan) will also see time at the slot position after a solid freshman season with one touchdown.  A trio of speedy freshmen from Florida in Langston Woodie (Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore (Fla.))-RB (Bradenton, Fla./Bayshore), Fritz Jean (Palm Coast, Fla./Palm Coast (Fla.))-RB (Palm Coast, Fla./Palm Coast) and Travis Scott (Pace, FL/Pace (FL)) (Pace, Fla./Pace) give great depth along with fellow freshman Shawn Thomas (Chester, N.Y./Chester Acedemy)-RB (Chester, N.Y./Chester Acedemy) and sophomore Nick Zeppieri-RB (Queens, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial). Sophomore James Spanopolous-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey), who turned in an outstanding freshman campaign averaging over 100 yards per game, is being pushed for time by Cesar Sanchez-FB (Bronx, N.Y./John F. Kennedy), a junior-transfer from Iona of the Football Bowl Subdivision. Sophomore John Whittaker (Kingston, NY/Kingston)-FB (Kingston, N.Y./Kingston) and freshman Nick Barbuto (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford)-RB (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) will provide depth at fullback.

 

Sophomores Madison Leary (Tavares, Fla./Tavares)-WR (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) and Matt Zanella (West Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist)-WR (West Islip, N.Y./St. John the Baptist) return to lead the wide receiving corps that improved its touchdown total from four in 2007 to seven last season. Last year's lone graduating senior, Billy Hickey (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert), will be replaced by impressive freshman Anthony Patti (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun)-WR (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun), who may win a starting spot, and Lamar Thompson (Massapequa, N.Y./Amityville)-WR (Massapequa, N.Y./Amityville), Eric Heedles-WR (Staten Island, N.Y./New Drop), Will Bohn (Pelham, NY/Hyde)-WR (Mount Vernon, N.Y./Hyde) and Brandon Favro (Egg Harbor Township, NJ/Egg Harbor Township (NJ))-WR (Egg Harbor Township, N.J./Egg Harbor Township) will provide depth. 

 

Defense

 

The Privateer defense has maintained a downward trend in points per game and an increase in forced turnovers over the past two seasons and will need to continue this production in 2009 under the direction of coordinator Vince DiGaetano. The defense will run a multiple 4-3 front this season and emphasis has been placed on solid tackling in the preseason.

 

The defensive backfield will be led by 2008 team-MVP Ryan Leary (Tavares, FL/Tavares (FL)) at the safety spot. Junior Steve Roman (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea)-DB (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) will anchor the other safety spot and the duo will be backed up by sophomore Frank D'Aprile (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-DB (Smithtown, N.Y./St. Anthony's). A host of freshmen in Chris Deluca (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp)-DB (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp), Xavier Gee-DB (Mesquite, Texas/Robert M. Shoemaker), Bacarrie Washington (Winter Springs, FL/Winter Springs (FL))-DB (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs), Joe Guerra (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac)-DB (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac), and junior Remi Bamisile-DB (Staten Island, N.Y./Port Richmond) will provide depth in the backfield.

 

The cornerback spot will feature new faces in Sean Wiggers (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan (N.J.))-DB (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan), who has moved over from the offense and won a starting position, and incoming-freshmen Kyle Tran (Winter Springs, FL/Winter Springs (FL))-DB (Winter Springs, Fla./Winter Springs) or Darren Kanhai (Land O' Lakes, FL/Sunlake (FL))-DB (Land O' Lakes, Fla./Sunlake) will start in the other cornerback spot. They will be backed up by senior Savaglio and freshmen Xavier Torres (Orlando, Fla./Colonial (Fla.))-DB (Orlando, Fla./Colonial), Jeremy Garcia (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern)-DB (Suffern, N.Y./Suffern), Dominick Barbera (Brooklyn, NY/Bishop Ford)-DB (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bishop Ford) and John Germain-DB (Huntington, N.Y./St. Anthony's) will provide depth at the corners.

 

The linebackers will be lead by senior team-captain Oehl who started all nine games last season. Sophomores Joe Smart (Glenside, PA/Bishop McDevitt (PA))-LB (Glenside, Pa./Bishop McDevitt), Brian Taylor (Oakdale, N.Y./Connectiquot)-LB (Oakdale, N.Y./Connectiquot), and Ernie Caponegro (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan (N.J.))-LB (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) are battling with a host of incoming freshmen for the other two positions. Alex Todd-LB (Merrick, N.Y./Calhoun) has had an exceptional camp along with classmates Steve Dalton (Middleton, NY/Minisink Valley)-LB (Middleton, N.Y./Minisink Valley), Kevin Tamasitis (Bensalem, PA/LaSalle College (PA))-LB (Bensalem, Pa./LaSalle College), Andrew Fryer-DL (Houston, Texas/New Mexico Military Institute), Louis Pou-LB (Levittown, N.Y./Division Avenue), Eric Peccia (Farmingdale, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-LB (Farmingdale, N.Y./St. Anthony's), Paul Rutkowski (Pittsburgh, PA/Central Catholic (PA))-LB (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic), Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury)-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) and John Carberry-LB (New York, N.Y./New Utrecht).  Oehl will be backed up by freshmen Pat Lasher (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford)-LB (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) followed by Darryl Manning (Coram, N.Y./Longwood)-LB (Coram, N.Y./Longwood), Joe Soifer (Seminole, FL/Seminole (FL))-LB (Seminole, Fla./Seminole), Clint McLaughlin (South Hempstead, NY/South Side)-LB (South Hempstead, N.Y./South Side) and Will Ramsey-LB (Rye, N.Y./Rye).

 

The defensive line is the most experienced group on defense with seniors Nimmo and Farrell leading the way. Sophomores Robert Gorgy-DL (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) and Vinny Dima (Centereach, NY/Centereach)-DE (Centereach, N.Y./Centereach) seemed to have locked down the other two positions with sophomores CJ Del Basso (League City, TX/Clear Creek (TX))-LB (League City, Texas/Clear Creek), Jason Burry (Attica, N.Y./Attica)-DE (Attica, N.Y./Attica), Henry Evans (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Stillwater)-DE (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Stillwater) and Michael Neimes (Jacksonville, Fla./Stanton College Prep (Fla.))-DE (Jacksonville, Fla./Stanton College Prep) adding depth.  A solid group of freshmen will also see time led by Thomas Boney (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian (Fla.))-DE (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian) at end and Ricky McClain (Wantagh, N.Y./Saint Anthony's)-DL (Wantagh, N.Y./St. Anthony's) on the inside.  Other freshmen in camp are Chrisrichard Jean-Baptist-DE (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury), Patrick Hunt (Copiague, NY/Holy Trinity)-DE (Copiague, N.Y./Holy Trinity), Joe Brown (Huntington Station, N.Y./Huntington)-DL (Huntington Station, N.Y./Huntington), Nelson Holland (Copiague, NY/Kellenberg Memorial)-DL (Copiague, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial), Collin Croulet (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill)-DE (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Spackenkill) and Heriberto Figueroa-DL (Brooklyn, N.Y./Martin Luther).

 

Special Teams

 

Field position was a major factor in last year's win-total improvement and in 2009 the special teams units will look to keep this improvement rolling.  Sophomore kicking specialist David Kittinger (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers (Fla.))-K/P (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers) averaged 40.7 yards per punt last season, which would have ranked him 13th nationally if he had attempted enough punts to qualify. He will also handle the kick-off duties and will be backed up by the Leary brothers and freshman Barbera.  The long and short snapping position will be critical to fill and freshmen Redmond Burke-LS (Warwick, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) is battling sophomore Versaci for the starting nod.  Other freshmen in the mix are Coffiey and Manning.

 

Schedule

 

September will be a challenging month as Maritime will start the season with three of four games on the road. It all starts with the Chowder Bowl at Mass. Maritime on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Privateers will also travel across the Long Island Sound for another rivalry match against fellow maritime school Kings Point in week three. The lone home game of September will be against Wagner of the Football Bowl Subdivision on Thursday, Sept. 10, where the Privateers will look to pull off an upset in front of its home crowd. The final week of September features the first of seven Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) matchups with Husson, who is the overwhelming favorite to win the conference in its inaugural season.  Other games on the home slate are Ana Maria (Oct. 3), the 2009 Homecoming Game against Castleton State (Oct. 10), Mount Ida (Oct. 24) and the regular season-finale on a Friday, Nov. 6 against Gallaudet.  The Privateers will also travel to Becker (Oct. 17) and Norwich (Oct. 31).  The top two ECFC teams at the end of the regular season will face off on Nov. 14 for the ECFC Championship as Maritime will be looking for its first post-season berth in program history.

Follow Maritime Athletics On Facebook And Twitter!

 

            Alumni, fans and friends now have new ways to keep up with the latest Maritime sports news – Twitter and Facebook! Privateer supporters can log onto the Internet and receive the latest updates on every Maritime sports team, either online or via their mobile phone with Twitter. Visit www.twitter.com/MtimePrivateers or http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/Maritime-College-Athletics/133369521695?ref=ts to start following today!

 

 

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