THROGGS NECK, NY – On a day that was more fitting for early September than late October, the Maritime College football team faced Coast Guard for the first time in program history on Saturday afternoon.  The Privateers stormed out to a 24-7 halftime lead, only to see the Bears score 14 unanswered points in the third quarter.  Coast Guard (4-4, 2-3 NEWMAC) missed a field goal on the game's final play, though, and Maritime (5-3, 3-2 NEWMAC) came away with a 24-21 victory at Reinhart Field.

After an interception in the end zone by Dru Stephens (New Orleans, LA) gave Maritime the ball with 6:31 remaining and a three-point lead, the Privateers marched to the Coast Guard 27.  However, Devin Cline (Miller Place, NY) was stopped on 4^th-and-2, and the Bears took over with 2:27 to go.  A 4^th-and-long completion with 30 seconds left brought Coast Guard into Maritime territory, then a five-yard pass from Joey Armentrout to Chase Politte set the Bears up on the Privateers 19 with three seconds to play.  Brennan Holt came out for a 36-yard field goal attempt to send the game into overtime, but he missed wide right and Maritime held on for the win.

It was Homecoming at Reinhart Field, as the College held its annual festivities welcoming back alumni and introducing this year's Regiment of Cadets prior to the game.  The Skyline Conference champion Maritime women's cross country team was also honored at halftime.

Maritime gave everyone something else to celebrate early on, scoring on four of its six first-half drives.  The Privateers received the opening kickoff and moved 60 yards in 10 plays, with Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) finding Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) in the end zone for a 7-yard TD pass to put Maritime in front 7-0.  After Coast Guard responded with a 15-yard touchdown run from Harrison Hensley, Cline broke free for a 45-yard scoring burst that made it 14-7.

In the second quarter, the Privateers used another big play to increase their lead.  Stassi connected with Pat Quinn (Farmingdale, NY), who raced 38 yards for the touchdown, capping a six-play, 63-yard drive.  On its next drive, Maritime had a touchdown taken off the board due to a penalty before settling for a 37-yard Caliendo field goal that extended the Privateers' advantage to 24-7 at the break.

Coast Guard cut Maritime's lead to 24-14 midway through the third quarter, when Armentrout found Hensley for a 9-yard TD strike.  The Bears then used a trick play to get within three.  On 1^st-and-10 from the Maritime 15, wide receiver Ezra Tetreault threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Hensley, making it a 24-21 game entering the final period.

The Bears moved deep into Maritime territory on both of their fourth quarter possessions.  However, the first ended in the Stephens interception, his second in as many weeks, and the second ended in the missed field goal.

Armentrout finished 26-of-43 passing for 234 yards and a touchdown.  Hensley, meanwhile, tallied 186 all-purpose yards for the Bears.  He rushed 21 times for 121 yards and a score while also making nine receptions for 65 yards and two touchdowns.  Broock Desta and James Patz added five catches apiece for Coast Guard.  Ryan Vigo paced the Bears' defense with 11 tackles.

For the Privateers, Stassi was 24-of-38 for 175 yards and two touchdowns.  He also threw an interception.  Caliendo recorded a team-high nine catches for 51 yards and a touchdown to go along with 34 rushing yards.  Cline, meanwhile, tallied more than 200 yards of total offense.  He gained a career-best 177 yards on the ground on 23 carries, and he added 24 receiving yards on three catches.  Cline had two runs of over 40 yards in the game.

Kevin Wu (Staten Island, NY) made 11 tackles to lead the Maritime defense, while Josh Walker (Lake Grove, NY) contributed nine tackles.  Sean Murphy (Bayville, NY) notched 1.5 of the Privateers' season-high four sacks.

Both of Maritime's final two contests are on the road.  The Privateers visit Salve Regina (6-2, 4-1 NEWMAC), the other new member of the NEWMAC, next Saturday at 2 p.m.