NORTHFIELD, VT – An 87-yard return for a touchdown on the opening kickoff set the tone, and the Maritime College football team scored on all four of its first half drives enroute to a 30-7 halftime lead at Norwich on Saturday afternoon.  The Privateers (3-2, 1-1 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference) ended up with their most points in nearly six years in the 37-14 victory over the Cadets (0-5, 0-2 NEWMAC) at Sabine Field.

Norwich won the toss and deferred.  Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) received the kickoff at his own 13-yard-line, broke free and raced down the sideline for the score.  It was the longest kickoff return in school history and Maritime's first kickoff return touchdown since 2011.

Jack Kellner's (Seaford, NY) interception on the Cadets' opening possession set up the Maritime offense at the Norwich 39.  Eleven plays later, Devin Cline (Miller Place, NY) plowed into the end zone from three yards out.  Gianni D'Agnese (Melville, NY) added the extra point to make it 14-0 Privateers midway through the first quarter.

After Jehric Hackney's 12-yard TD run put Norwich on the board, an onside kick attempt gave Maritime another short field.  The Privateers took over on the Norwich 46 and needed just four plays to add to their lead.  Mario Agyen (Bronx, NY) capped the drive with a 2-yard TD run on the opening play of the second quarter.  D'Agnese then kicked a 37-yard field goal on the next Maritime possession to increase the advantage to 24-7.  Cline scored his second touchdown of the game on a 1-yard scamper with seven seconds left until halftime, extending the Privateers' cushion to 30-7.

In the fourth quarter, Gino Fundaro (Levittown, NY) recovered a fumble and returned it 15 yards to the Norwich 20.  The Privateers took advantage of another short field, with Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) finding Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) for a 5-yard TD strike that gave Maritime a 30-point lead.  The Cadets added a late touchdown pass from Landon Beecher to Will Thornton.  Maritime's 37 points were its most since Oct. 20, 2018, when the Privateers beat Castleton 68-41.

Offensively, Cline led the way for Maritime with 70 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries.  Stassi, meanwhile, finished 20-for-33 for 173 yards and a score.  Casaburi had six catches, including a TD reception, and Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) gained a team-high 55 receiving yards.  D'Agnese contributed seven points on four PAT's and a field goal.

Zander Timothy (Woodland Park, NJ) was credited with nine solo tackles to pace the Privateer defense.  Kellner made five tackles and recorded his first career interception, while Gino Fundaro had a sack and a fumble recovery to go along with four tackles.

For the Cadets, Aidan Sullivan went 20-for-34 passing for 153 yards.  He threw one interception.  Beecher, meanwhile, was 4-for-5 for 43 yards and a touchdown.  Thornton made seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown, while Mike Cascarano gained 32 yards on the ground.  The Maritime defense held Norwich to just 64 rushing yards.

Shayne Leddy recorded eight tackles, including four solo stops, to lead the Norwich defense.  In addition, Maddox Reed posted three sacks.

The Privateers will now enjoy a week off before hosting WPI (3-2, 1-1 NEWMAC) on Oct. 19.  It will be the annual Homecoming celebration at Reinhart Field, with all of the traditional pregame festivities taking place prior to the 2 p.m. kickoff.