THROGGS NECK, NY – With the score tied late in the fourth quarter, Andrew Wierzbicki's (Florida, NY) interception and 31-yard return set the Maritime College football team up for a game-winning drive on Saturday afternoon.  Joseph Gagliardi (Ronkonkoma, NY) then kicked a 21-yard field goal as time expired to give the Privateers (3-5, 3-2 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference) their second straight victory, a 24-21 Senior Day triumph over Keystone (0-10, 0-6 ECFC) at Reinhart Field.

That interception was one of two takeaways that led to Maritime points, as Sean Hart (Brooklyn, NY) forced a fumble and returned it for a TD that put the Privateers in front 14-7 just before halftime.  The Giants also scored twice off turnovers, as back-to-back Maritime fumbles in the third quarter resulted in Keystone touchdowns.

Keystone opened the scoring on a 70-yard TD rush by Mujaheed Muhammad midway through the first quarter.  The Privateers responded with a 12-play drive that took nearly six minutes off the clock, but Gagliardi's 43-yard field goal attempt was blocked.  After forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing Keystone drive, Maritime tied the score on Christian Schiavone's (White Plains, NY) 10-yard scurry early in the second quarter.

It remained 7-7 until Hart's touchdown with 1:25 remaining until halftime.  Keystone then took the lead with a pair of third-quarter scores—a 14-yard rush by Muhammad and a 27-yard pass from Noah Hulslander to Zac Cost.  On the ensuing Maritime drive, Schiavone carried eight times for 50 yards, including a clutch 19-yard run on 4th-and-1.  He capped the 12-play, 68-yard march with a game-tying 1-yard TD rush.  It was Schiavone's second rushing touchdown of the day and fourth TD overall in Maritime's last two games.

After stopping the Giants on a 4th-and-4 at the Maritime 33, the Privateers got the ball back with 5:25 remaining in the contest.  Maritime crossed midfield before being forced to punt, pinning Keystone deep in its own territory.  On 3rd-and-10, Wierzbicki jumped in front of the receiver, intercepted Hulslander's pass, and returned it 31 yards to the Keystone 14.  The Privateers ran the clock down to two seconds before bringing on Gagliardi, who nailed the game-winning chip shot and send Maritime's 25 seniors out with a victory in their final home contest.

Schiavone finished with 141 yards rushing on 32 carries.  Overall, the Privateers gained 173 yards on the ground.  David Keogh (Mahopac, NY) was 9-for-24 for 121 yards passing, while Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) went 3-for-7 for 18 yards after entering in the fourth quarter.  Cole Trosclair (Metairie, LA) led Maritime with five receptions.  The Privateers held the ball for nearly 36 minutes total and went 2-for-4 on fourth down.

Frank Vano (Babylon, NY) made a game-high 10 tackles for the Privateers.  Hart had six solo tackles and a sack to go along with his 50-yard fumble return, and Wierzbicki also recorded eight tackles.

For the Giants, who held a 337-312 edge in total offense, Muhammad carried 24 times for 173 yards and two scores.  Hulslander finished 5-for-16 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown, while Cost had a pair of catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.  Carlos Perez and Jamir Spencer-Smith were credited with nine tackles apiece, and Spencer-Smith registered eight solo stops.

The Privateers will conclude the season next Saturday, when they visit Anna Maria (6-2, 4-1 ECFC) at 1 p.m.