PAXTON, MA – The Maritime College football team concluded its 2021 season on Saturday afternoon at Anna Maria. The Privateers (3-6, 3-3 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) saw their two-game winning streak come to an end, as the AMCATS (7-1, 5-1 ECFC) earned a 31-7 victory at Carposo Field. With the victory, Anna Maria clinched the ECFC championship and an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.
Anna Maria received the opening kickoff and drove 63 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown on the first drive of the game. The Privateers responded with a 12-play march that took up more than seven minutes before they were forced to punt. The AMCATS then went on a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a 25-yard field goal by Ryan Kent.
On the ensuing Maritime possession, the Privateers traveled 55 yards in 15 plays for a touchdown that cut its deficit to 10-7. The drive lasted 8:21 and was capped by
Christian Schiavone's (White Plains, NY) one-yard scamper into the end zone. It was his fifth touchdown in Maritime's last three games.
Maritime began the second half with a 10-and-a-half minute drive that looked like it would at least tie the game. However,
Joseph Gagliardi's (Ronkonkoma, NY) field goal attempt was blocked and returned 83 yards for an Anna Maria touchdown. The AMCATS added a pair of Vincent Marrone TD runs in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring in their 31-7 victory and secure their first-ever ECFC title.
Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) made his first career start at quarterback and finished 13-for-17 for 87 yards. Schiavone carried 20 times for 52 yards and a touchdown, and
Kevin Murphy (Seaford, NY) led all Maritime receivers with four catches and 28 yards.
Sergio Borda (Toms River, NJ) made a team-high six tackles, while
Frank Vano (Babylon, NY) and
Andrew Wierzbicki (Florida, NY) contributed five tackles apiece.
For the AMCATS, Marrone rushed 18 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Cohen went 13-for-22 passing for 157 yards, 68 of which went to Justin McMillian on his five receptions. Armstrong Antoine paced Anna Maria with 11 tackles, and Danny George and Kasir Henry each added eight tackles.
This was the final contest for Maritime's 25 seniors, who helped the Privateers win the ECFC championship and qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 2019.
