SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Maritime College football team traveled to Springfield on Saturday afternoon for its final game of the 2023 season. Taking on a Springfield squad that had already clinched the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) title, the Privateers (5-5, 3-4 NEWMAC) dropped a 51-6 decision to the Pride (9-1, 7-0 NEWMAC) at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field.
Springfield received the opening kickoff and drove 62 yards in five plays for a touchdown. The Pride also scored on their next two possessions and held a 20-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. After Springfield increased its advantage to 30-0 with 3:18 left until halftime, the Privateers took over at their own 16 put together a 13-play drive. However,
Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) was stopped on the Springfield 1 on the final play of the half, and the Pride took a 30-0 lead into the locker room.
Maritime moved the ball again on the first drive of the third quarter, but
Steven Stassi's (East Islip, NY) pass was intercepted at the Springfield 24. The Pride then marched down for a touchdown to make it 37-0. The next Maritime drive also ended with an interception, and Springfield converted the short field into points, extending its cushion to 44-0.
On their ensuing possession, the Privateers found the end zone. A 29-yard completion from Stassi to
Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) brought the ball to the Springfield 27, and
Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) followed with a 20-yard run, setting up a 1
st-and-goal from the Springfield 7. Stassi then lifted a pass to Caliendo that got Maritime on the board. The Privateers' two-point attempt failed, making it 44-6 Springfield. The Pride added a touchdown in the fourth quarter to close out a 51-6 victory.
Stassi finished 19-for-36 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown. Casaburi had five catches for 59 yards, while Caliendo also made five receptions for 57 yards and a score.
Dylan Denicker (Queens, NY) led the Maritime defense with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.
As a team, Springfield gained 341 yards on the ground, with Arsen Shtefan notching 133 rushing yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. Blane Hart had two of the Pride's six rushing touchdowns. Springfield quarterback Jacob Silvester attempted just three passes, completing two of them to Noah Wagnblas, one of which went 13 yards for a score. Aiden Lewin recorded a team-high seven tackles for the Pride, and Will McKay intercepted two Maritime passes.
This was the Privateers' first season as a member of the NEWMAC. Maritime ended up tied for fourth in the final conference standings.
