THROGGS NECK, NY – Trailing by seven with just under six minutes to go, the Maritime College football team had the ball and a chance to tie on Saturday afternoon.  The drive stalled with an incomplete pass on 4^th-and-6 from the MIT 18, however, as the Engineers (2-5, 1-4 NEWMAC) held on for a 35-28 victory over the Privateers (4-3, 2-2 NEWMAC) at Reinhart Field.

The teams traded scores all afternoon.  After MIT's 14-play opening drive resulted in a 1-yard touchdown run by Brady Klein, Maritime got on the board when Dru Stephens (New Orleans, LA), who was honored prior to the game along with the rest of the 13-member senior class, returned an interception 34 yards to paydirt.

MIT went back in front on the first play of the second quarter, but the Engineers missed the extra point after Chase Harmon's 7-yard TD pass to Michael Dennison.  On the next play from scrimmage, Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) took a handoff, then outran everybody, racing 75 yards for the score.  He tacked on the extra point, giving the Privateers their first lead of the game, 14-13.  Klein made it 20-14 in favor of MIT, though, with his second 1-yard TD rush of the day.

Midway through the third quarter, Maritime regained the lead when Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) connected with Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) on a 45-yard catch and run.  MIT immediately countered with a nine-play, 75-yard march.  Theo Dawson found the end zone from a yard out to put the Engineers in front, 27-21.

After a three-and-out, the Privateers got the ball back and a short field when Vinny Fundaro (Levittown, NY) forced a fumble that was recovered by his brother, Gino Fundaro (Levittown, NY) at the MIT 48.  Maritime took advantage of the turnover, as Stassi found Cole Trosclair (Metaire, LA) for an 11-yard score that gave the Privateers a 28-27 lead early in the fourth quarter.  The Engineers again responded, however.  On the ensuing MIT drive, Harmon threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Andrew Hutchison, and Ethan Ardolino caught the two-point conversion that increased MIT's advantage to seven, 35-28, with 10:42 remaining.

Maritime gained one first down on its next drive before turning the ball over on downs, but the defense got a stop and forced a punt.  After a touchback, the Privateers started their next drive on their own 20 with 5:59 left, still down by a touchdown.  Maritime methodically moved down the field until Stassi hit Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) for a 29-yard gain on 2^nd-and-9.  That brought the ball to the MIT 22.  A 3-yard QB keeper, followed by an incompletion and a 1-yard catch by Derda set up a 4^th-and-6 from the MIT 18.  Stassi looked for Derda, but the pass fell incomplete and the Engineers came away with the win.  The Privateers went 0-for-6 on fourth down in the game.

Derda had 10 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown, while Caliendo tallied 126 all-purpose yards.  He had four catches for 47 yards to go along with 85 rushing yards (including his 75-yard TD) and 24 return yards.  Stassi finished 23-for-44 passing for 275 yards and a score.  Dylan Denicker (Queens, NY) paced the Maritime defense with 11 tackles, and Kevin Wu (Staten Island, NY) notched 10 tackles.  Justin Goodwin (Levittown, NY), meanwhile, recorded six solo stops.

For the Engineers, Klein carried the ball 37 times for 167 yards and two touchdowns.  He also had 12 receiving yards on two catches.  Harmon went 16-for-27 for 180 yards, two scores and the Stephens interception.  Caleb Davis paced MIT with nine tackles, while Ryan Hourican registered four of the Engineers' nine pass breakups.

Next Saturday, the Privateers wrap up their home schedule by taking on Coast Guard (4-3, 2-2 NEWMAC) for the first time in program history.  Kickoff is set for 2 p.m., and will be preceded by the annual homecoming festivities.