FRANKLIN, MASS. - The Maritime College football team dropped its first Eastern Collegiate Football Conference game of the 2019 season on Saturday afternoon at Dean College, 28-10. The second half was all Bulldogs, and it started with a four-play, 49 yard touchdown drive on their first possession out of the locker room. Although the Privateers held a 10-7 lead in the first half, they were never able to regain control of the lead, as they were held scoreless in the third and fourth quarters. For the season, Maritime is now 1-4 (0-1), while Dean improved to 1-4 (1-0).
After a scoreless first quarter for both teams, the Privateers gained some offensive momentum behind a dominant 12 minute, 20 play, 81-yard drive that was capped off by a 25 yard field goal from Joseph Gagliardi (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Sachem North), to make the score, 3-0. However, Dean was able to answer back with a quick drive of their own that resulted in a rushing touchdown from the 1-yard line, to give the hosts a 7-3 advantage.
Still trailing by three points, with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter, a 26-yard carry by Hezekiah Williamson (Albany, NY/Albany) on third and 16 fueled a 56-yard touchdown drive for Maritime to regain the lead with just 12 seconds left in the first half.
The Bulldogs opened the second half in a hurry, scoring a rushing touchdown in 90 seconds on their fourth play of the drive. Maritime looked primed to respond on their next possession but failed to convert on 4th and seven at the Dean 28 yard line.
Dean converted on the turnover on downs by marching down the field in seven plays, and throwing a touchdown 18 yards, to push their lead to 21-10 with 6:13 to go in the third quarter. The Bulldogs continued their second half push with another passing touchdown early in the fourth quarter, 28-7.
The Privateers looked to spark a comeback on the following drive but came up short as Robert Wheeler's (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner) pass fell incomplete on fourth and four at the Dean 30. However, Dean's quarterback, Terrell Watts, was intercepted by senior linebacker Liam Bailey (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) at the Dean 47 on the ensuing possession to keep the comeback hopes alive.
On Maritime's final possession of the game, Willamson ripped off a 15 yard run for a Privateer first down but later in the drive, Wheeler was sacked on fourth down at the Dean 42.
Wheeler led the Privateers on offense as he carried the ball 26 times for 73 yards and a touchdown while passing for 86 yards. Williamson was dominant on the ground as he finished with 135 yards on 23 attempts, while Andrew Geni (Bronx, N.Y./Archbishop Stepinac) tallied 30 yards receiving.
Defensively, Jabari Corsfield (Ozone Park, N.Y./Jamaica) racked up 11 solo tackles, while Liam Bailey (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) totaled eight tackles to go along with his interception. Jack Lupardo (River Vale, N.J./Pascack Valley) added five tackles, including one for a loss.
Maritime will look to get back in the win column next Saturday, October 19 at 1:00 p.m. as they host Castleton for Homecoming Weekend on Reinhart Field.
