THROGGS NECK, NY – On Friday night, the Maritime College football team began the Jamel Ramsay Era by hosting rival Mass Maritime in the Chowder Bowl.  Holding an eight-point lead with 1:49 remaining, the Privateers (1-0) forced four consecutive incomplete passes to seal a 22-14 win over the Buccaneers (0-1) at Reinhart Field.  The victory, Ramsay's first as Maritime's head coach, was the Privateers' third straight in the series.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Maritime defense set up the Privateers' first score early in the second quarter.  A penalty backed the Buccaneers up to their own 12, where Dennis Matich (Floral Park, NY) forced and recovered a fumble to give the offense a short field.  Steven Stassi (East Islip, NY) ran for two yards on first down before connecting with Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) for a touchdown.

Mass Maritime tied the score on Lucas Casey-Moore's 24-yard pick-six before the Privateers responded with a 12-play, 65-yard drive the consumed more than seven minutes.  Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) capped the march with a 19-yard TD reception that made it 13-7 with 1:12 left in the first half.  Ramsay then decided to go for two, and Pat Quinn (Farmingdale, NY) ran down the middle for the conversion and a 15-7 halftime lead.

The Privateers increased their advantage to 22-7 when Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) broke free for an 80-yard catch-and-run with 3:25 left in the third quarter.  On the ensuing drive, Mass Maritime marched to the Maritime 29 before Kevin Wu (Staten Island, NY) forced and recovered a fumble, the Buccaneers' second lost fumble of the game.  The Privateers were unable to score, however, and Mass Maritime responded with a 19-yard touchdown pass on a 4^th-and-3 to pull within 22-14 midway through the fourth quarter.

Overall, the Privateers held a 307-149 edge in total offense.  Maritime had possession and a chance to seal the win late, but Casaburi only gained three yards on a 4^th-and-5, giving the ball back to the Buccaneers with 1:49 remaining.  Forced into a passing situation after primarily running the ball the entire game, Mass Maritime threw four straight incompletions, which allowed the Privateers to take a knee twice and lock up the win in Ramsay's debut.

Stassi finished 20-for-33 passing for 228 yards.  He threw for three touchdowns and was intercepted twice.  Caliendo had six catches for 114 yards and a score to go along with two extra points, while Casaburi led Maritime with seven receptions, including one touchdown.  Devin Cline (Miller Place, NY) was the team's top rusher with 69 yards on 15 carries.

Defensively, Wu paced the Privateers with 10 tackles to go along with a pass breakup and his big fumble recovery.  Gino Fundaro (Levittown, NY) had seven tackles, including a sack, while Ryan Costales (Brewster, NY) was also credited with a sack.

For the Buccaneers, Evan Pierce went just 2-for-8 passing for 66 yards and a touchdown.  James Cassidy led Mass Maritime with 12 carries, while Daniel Molloy gained a team-high 32 rushing yards.  Declan Van Nest had one catch for 47 yards, which was the Buccaneers' only other reception besides Aidan Howard's 19-yard touchdown.

John Shields had a 15-yard sack among his six tackles, four of which were individual.  Keiran Glover and Marcus Mauceri added six tackles apiece, and Lucas Casey-Moore notched five tackles (four solo) and two pass breakups to go along with a sack and his 24-yard score on the interception return.

Up next for the Privateers is their first road game of the season.  Maritime visits Union (0-1) next Saturday at 4 p.m.