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THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Oct. 8, 2010) – The Maritime football team, which is off to its best start in program history with a 5-0 record and is undefeated in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) action thus far with a 2-0 mark, will travel up to Vermont to take on conference-opponent Castleton State College (2-2, 2-0 ECFC) tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 9. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Castleton's Spartan Field.

Listen To The Action Live On The Privateer Radio Network

Maritime football followers can listen to the game live on the Privateer Radio Network by following this link. Play-by-play man Matt Gregory will begin coverage approximately 20 minutes before game time. Video coverage will also be available from Castleton State and can be accessed by clicking here.

One Team Will Leave The Field With First Conference Defeat

            Both the Privateers and the Spartans are the only remaining ECFC teams without a conference loss going into the third week of league action. Maritime earned victories over Husson (47-21 at home) and Anna Maria (43-20 on the road). Castleton State defeated Gallaudet (31-28 on the road) and Mount Ida (38-34 at home).

The winner of Saturday's game will take over sole possession of first place in the ECFC.

Lasher Earns Second ECFC Defensive Player Of The Week Nod This Season

            On Monday, Maritime sophomore Pat Lasher (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) was named the ECFC Week Five Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Privateers 43-20 road victory over Anna Maria. It was the second time this season that Lasher earned the accolade, as he earned it in Week Three as well.

            Lasher recorded Maritime's first defensive touchdown of the season in the win when he picked off an AMCAT pass on the opening drive of the third quarter and returned the interception 40 yards for the score. The 6-2, 200-pounder also ranked second on the squad and in the game with eight total tackles (three solo and five assisted), while breaking up one pass.

            That makes six times that a Privateer player has earned an ECFC Weekly Honor, which is a conference-high. Freshman Thomas Davis (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury)-RB/KR (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) was Week One and Week Two Special Teams Player of the Week and also Week Two Rookie of the Week, while sophomore Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury)-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) was Week One Defensive Player of the Week.

Inside The Series With Castleton State

            This week's contest will just be the second time the two schools have met on the gridiron. The only previous meeting was during last year's inaugural campaign of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. The Privateers came out on top, 58-20, at home on Reinhart Field during Week Six in 2009.

            Then-junior John Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's)-RB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) scored two rushing touchdowns on 53 yards running, while then-sophomore Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey)-FB (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) amassed a total of 116 yards (81 rushing and 35 receiving) and scored once on the ground and once on a pass.

On defense, the Privateers were led by Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury), who registered a game-high 11 total tackles (nine solo and two assisted), including 2.5 for a loss of 33 yards and an interception. Steve Roman (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea)-DB (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Joseph's by the Sea) also had a third quarter interception of his own as well as a fumble recovery and a breakup of a pass.

Maritime Privateer Breakdown

            The Privateer offense has benefited from a number of players stepping up to contribute during the 2010 campaign. A total of nine players have scored touchdowns for the Privateers so far this season, led by sophomore quarterback Joe Dickey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North (N.J.)) (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North), who has score five touchdowns on 304 rushing yards and has tossed four passing TD's on 299 yards after 19-of-49 completions.

            Spanopoulos leads the team with 398 rushing yards on 60 carries (6.6 yards per carry) and has found the end zone on three occasions. Senior John Gagliano (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony's) ranks third on the squad with 264 rushing yards and has scored two TDs, while senior Greg McGough (Edgewater, Md./Blessed Trinity (Ga.)) (Edgewater, Md./Blessed Trinity) sophomore Fritz Jean (Palm Coast, Fla./Palm Coast (Fla.)) (Palm Coast, Fla. / Palm Coast) rank fourth (251 yards) and fifth (198 yards), respectively with three rushing touchdowns apiece.

            The wide receiving corps is led by sophomore Erik Heedles (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) who has a team-best 146 yards on nine catches and scored three of Maritime's five receiving touchdowns.

            On defense, the Privateers are led by Barnes, who has compiled 52 total tackles so far this year (35 solo and 17 assisted), including 5.5 for combined losses of 19 yards. Lasher ranks second on the squad with 45 tackles (29 solo and 16 assisted), including 3.5 for combined losses of five yards. Lasher also has two interceptions, including last week's which was returned for a touchdown, and has broken up one pass while defending three. Roman leads the team in caused turnovers, intercepting three passes and forcing one fumble.

Scouting The Spartans

            Castleton State is led by second-year head coach Rich Alercio, who in 2009 led the Spartans to a 3-6 record, including a 1-5 mark in ECFC action which placed them in sixth place in the conference. Thus far in 2010, Castleton lost its first two games at home to Plymouth State (16-14) and Utica (59-22), before rebounding to defeat conference-foes Gallaudet and Mount Ida.

The Spartans' offense is led by sophomore quarterback Shane Brozowski, who has a team-best 130 yards rushing with four touchdowns and has thrown for 1299 yards on 105-of-162 completions with four passing TDs and three interceptions. His main receiving target is sophomore wide receiver Evan Cassidy, who has amassed 290 yards and has scored two of Castleton's four receiving touchdowns. Sophomore running back Tyler Carpenter ranks second on the squad with 129 rushing yards and has found the end zone three times this season.

On defense, junior linebacker Dustin Young has compiled a team-best 37 tackles (24 solo and 13 assisted), while sophomore defensive back Cody TanCreti ranks a close-second with 35 tackles (24 solo and 11 assisted).