THROGGS NECK, NY - The Maritime College football team ended their four-game skid with a big 21-3 victory over Castleton on homecoming. The Privateers defense was stellar throughout the afternoon as they turned away multiple drives from the Spartans inside the 20-yard line.

Castleton started off the game hot as they took the opening kickoff and drove down the field. However, as the Spartans reached the 20-yard line, Maritime's defense came up with two big pass breakups from Dru Stephens (New Orleans, LA/Holy Cross) and Justin Snuffer (Maple Shade, N.J./Maple Shade) to force the turnover on downs. The Privateers turned around on offense and put together a drive of their own, highlighted by a 19-yard run from senior quarterback Robert Wheeler (Staten Island, N.Y./Susan E. Wagner). Unfortunately, Castleton's defense made a big stop of their own inside the 30-yard line and forced a turnover on downs.

As the opening quarter came to a close, Maritime's defense came up with back-to-back tackles for losses to force a third and long, and ultimately a punt. The Privateers were backed up against their own endzone, but a 12-yard run from Hezekiah Williamson (Albany, NY/Albany) gave the offense some breathing room. The offense wasn't able to drive the length of the field though and the score remained knotted at 0-0 in the second quarter. The Spartans came out with a few big plays of their own, but once again as they reached the 20-yard line, the defense buckled down and forced another turnover on downs.

Two drives later, the Privateers started with the ball on the 34-yard line and four minutes remaining in the half. Maritime turned to Williamson to lead the drive down the field as he totaled 62 yards of rushing and a touchdown. The drive began with an electric 21-yard carry by Williamson as he hurdled a Spartan defender at midfield. Williamson went on to get the carry on every play except for one, including his one-yard touchdown run with just over 30 seconds left to play in the half.

Maritime continued their offensive momentum in the second half as they started with the ball and immediately drove into the red zone. However, after a holding penalty and a loss of four yards on the next play, the Privateers were staring down third and goal from the 22-yard line. With stellar protection from his offensive line, Wheeler hung in the pocket and found Matthew Cebulski (Kings Park, N.Y./Kings Park) streaking across the field around the 8-yard line. Cebulski caught the pass on the run and dashed towards the pilon where he dove over a defender and reached the ball across the goal line to make it a 14-0 lead for the Privateers.

Castleton responded with a solid drive of their own, but the Maritime defense made another stand in the red zone and forced a field goal to retain the two-score advantage. Entering the fourth quarter, the Spartans took their first drive of the quarter into the red zone, but on third-and-17 from the 20-yard line, Joseph Behr (Sayreville, N.J./St. Joseph) made a great play on a ball thrown into the end zone and intercepted the pass to flip possession. 

Maritime was unable to take advantage of the interception and were forced to punt from their own 37-yard line. A strong punt and coverage from the Privateers forced a muffed punt from the Spartans though, and Justin Snuffer (Maple Shade, N.J./Maple Shade) quickly jumped on the ball to give the Privateers possession inside the 20-yard line after a penalty on Castleton. On the first play of the drive, Wheeler turned to Cebulski once again who scored an 11-yard touchdown with the help of some offensive lineman to push him across the goal line. The 21-3 lead was too much to overcome for the Spartans against the stout Maritime defense and the Privateers went on to secure the 18-point win.

Wheeler finished 14-19 for 111 yards and two touchdowns. Williamson led the ground game with 22 carries for 118 yards and a score, while Cebulski led the receivers with four catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns. 

Defensively, Liam Bailey (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) led the way with 11 tackles, whlie Frank Vano (Babylon, N.Y./Babylon) also turned in a double digit performance with 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss. Jabari Corsfield (Ozone Park, N.Y./Jamaica) tallied the lone sack for Maritime, while Dru Stephens (New Orleans, LA/Holy Cross) led the secondary with three pass break ups. 

The Privateers improve to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in ECFC play with the homecoming win. They will return to action next Saturday at 2 p.m. when they travel to Anna Maria. Check out the post-game press conference below!