THROGGS NECK, NY – On Saturday, the Maritime College football team played its first homecoming game since 2019. With an enthusiastic crowd of alumni, family and fans (as well as the entire class of first-year students) in attendance, the Privateers (1-5, 1-2 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) fell to Gallaudet (5-0, 3-0 ECFC) by a 23-9 score at Reinhart Field.
Gallaudet drove 96 yards for a touchdown on its first possession, then had a 74-yard TD drive on its second to take a 13-0 lead. Maritime followed with a 17-play march, but was stopped on a 4th-and-goal from the Gallaudet 7. The Privateers did get on the board before the first half ended, however, as
David Keogh (Mahopac, NY) connected with
Caden Bennett (Newark Valley, NY) for a 9-yard strike to cap a 10-play, 76-yard drive with 51 seconds left in the first half. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, making it 13-6.
Joseph Waterman kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to increase Gallaudet's cushion to 16-6 at the break. The Bison then received the second half kickoff, but Maritime forced a three-and-out. Although that drive stalled on the Gallaudet 21, the Privateers got the ball right back on
Nicholas Tulipano's (Bronx, NY) fumble recovery.
Joseph Gagliardi (Ronkonkoma, NY) kicked a 21-yard chip shot to trim Maritime's deficit to 16-9 heading into the fourth quarter.
The Bison scored another touchdown midway through the final period to extend the margin to 23-9. Maritime drove down to the Gallaudet 40, but Keogh's fourth-down pass was intercepted, and Gallaudet ran out the clock on the victory.
Keogh finished 12-for-31 passing for 153 yards and a touchdown. He also threw two interceptions.
Christian Schiavone (White Plains, NY) carried 16 times for 77 yards, while
Nick Campo (Staten Island, NY) and
Eric Borchert (Marlboro, NY) had three catches apiece.
Sergio Borda (Toms River, NJ) paced the Privateers defensively with 13 tackles, including eight solo stops, and
Sean Hart (Brooklyn, NY) contributed 10 tackles.
Timel Benton had 19 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown for Gallaudet, which outgained Maritime 322-105 on the ground. Benton also passed for 83 yards, going 7-for-11 thru the air. Brandon Washington made a team-high three receptions for the Bison. Stefan Anderson, meanwhile, recorded 11 tackles.
Maritime will have its bye next week before returning to action on Oct. 30, when the Privateers travel to Dean (2-5, 1-2 ECFC) for a 12 p.m. showdown.
