THROGGS NECK, NY – Opening at home for the first time in four years, the Maritime College football team took full advantage of five Hartwick turnovers on Saturday at Reinhart Field.  Aidan Griffin (Queens, NY) had three interceptions in the second quarter, all of which were followed by a touchdown drive, as the Privateers (1-0) scored 27 points off takeaways in a 34-11 victory over the Hawks (0-1).  His three picks were a single-game program record.

Hartwick opened the scoring on Ransome Turner-Rush's 30-yard field goal at the 9:45 mark of the first quarter.  The Privateers then took the lead with 10:38 remaining in the second quarter when Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) scurried five yards into the end zone to cap a 10-play, 61-yard march.  On the Hawks' first snap after the kickoff, Griffin jumped in front of a Dennis Riordan pass and returned it 23 yards to the Hartwick 43.

Maritime capped its ensuing drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Stassi to Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY).  Two plays later, Griffin intercepted Riordan again, and he nearly found pay dirt, getting pushed out of bounds at the Hartwick 9.  A nine-yard run by Tate Neiderer (Hanover, PA) then made it 21-3.

The Hawks moved the ball to the Maritime 36 on their ensuing drive before seeing a third successive possession end with a Griffin interception, this time in the end zone.  Taking over at their own 20 with 4:16 left until halftime, the Privateers marched 80 yards for their fourth score of the quarter.  The big play on the drive was a 43-yard pass from Stassi to Neiderer on 3^rd-and-8, while Devin Cline (Miller Place, NY) capped it with a three-yard rush that extended Maritime's advantage to 28-3 at the break.

In the third quarter, the Privateers converted a fourth turnover into points.  Cameron Squicciarini's (Manorville, NY) punt hit a Hartwick player and was recovered by Dylan Denicker (Queens, NY) at the Maritime 31.  Stassi went deep to Casaburi on the next play, connecting for 31 yards and a score.

After Hartwick got to the Maritime 11 early in the fourth quarter, Karym Cruz (Staten Island, NY) stopped the drive with the Privateers' fourth interception (and fifth takeaway) of the game.  The Hawks did find the end zone on their final drive, as James Sobol connected with Dahvion Wimberly on a 72-yard strike with 3:36 to go.  Hartwick converted the two-point conversion to cap the scoring in Maritime's 34-11 win, the Privateers' first in their season opener since a 24-21 triumph over Maine Maritime in 2019.

As a team, the Privateers compiled 358 yards of total offense.  Stassi went 15-for-27 passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns.  He also had one score on the ground.  Casaburi finished with 131 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions, while Cline and Neiderer split the carries almost evenly.  Cline paced Maritime with 66 rushing yards.

Griffin collected 60 return yards on his three interceptions.  Kevin Wu (Staten Island, NY), meanwhile, posted a team-high six tackles.  Ryan Costales (Brewster, NY) and Nick Tulipano (Bronx, NY) added five tackles apiece.

Sobol was 4-for-10 for 131 yards and a touchdown for the Hawks, while Riordan ended up 8-for-22 for 98 yards.  Wimberly had four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown, and Carlvin McDonald carried 18 times for 60 yards.  Joshua Titus recorded a game-high nine tackles, including one that went for a 17-yard loss.

Up next, the Privateers visit Mass Maritime (0-0) at 7 p.m. on Friday for the 15^th annual Chowder Bowl.  Last season, Maritime earned a dramatic 17-14 win over the Buccaneers on a late touchdown pass from Stassi to Ian Derda (Guilford, CT).