THROGGS NECK, NY – On a day when alumni were welcomed back to campus for the annual Homecoming festivities, the Maritime College football team did something it hadn't done 10 years.  The Privateers (4-3, 2-2 New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference) posted their second shutout of the season, 42-0 over Norwich (1-5, 0-3 NEWMAC) at Reinhart Field on Saturday.  This marks the first time since 2015 that Maritime has shut out two opponents in the same year.

The Privateers received the opening kickoff and put together an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive on the game's first possession.  Joshua Rogers (Valley Stream, NY) capped the march with a 3-yard TD run.  After forcing a punt, Maritime moved 66 yards in seven plays for another touchdown.  Mark Russo (Sea Cliff, NY) plowed into the end zone from five yards out to make it 14-0 with 2:31 left in the first quarter.  That lead then extended to 20-0 on Rogers' second rushing TD of the day early in the second quarter.

After the Cadets got to the Maritime 18 on the ensuing possession, Dylan Denicker (Queens, NY) intercepted Landon Beecher's pass in the back of the end zone, stalling the Norwich drive.  On their next possession, the Cadets were stopped on 4^th-and-4, giving the Privateers a short field.  Maritime took advantage, as Will Pickett (Rockville Centre, NY) capped a six-play, 58-yard drive with a 15-yard scoring strike to Josh Limage (Valley Stream, NY).  Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) added the two-point conversion, increasing the Privateers' advantage to 28-0 at the break.

Maritime was pinned deep to start its first drive of the third quarter, taking over at its own 1.  Rogers broke free for a 15-yard rush on the first play to get the Privateers clear of their own end zone, then added runs of nine and eight yards to move Maritime to the 25.  The Privateers eventually moved all the way down the field and capped the 99-yard drive with Pickett's second TD pass to Limage, an eight-yard strike.

A big defensive play set up the final Maritime touchdown in the fourth quarter.  Sulayman Sita-Bonkano (New York, NY) forced a fumble on a sack, and it was picked up by Danny Latimer (Montgomery, NY) at the Privateers' 47.  The nine-play, 53-yard drive also ended with a fumble recovery, as Kenny Jozwicki (Connetquot, NY) fell on a loose ball in the end zone for a score.  Maritime forced a three-and-out on the Cadets' next possession before running out the clock on the 42-0 victory.

In addition to being the first time in 10 years that the Privateers have notched two shutouts in the same season, this marks the first time Maritime has scored 40 or more points twice in the same season since 2018.  This is the first time in program history that the Privateers have put up 40 points while shutting out their opponent twice in the same season.

As a team, Maritime put up 494 yards of total offense.  Pickett finished 19-for-26 in the air for 252 yards and two touchdowns.  Rogers carried 19 times for 103 yards and two scores, while Casaburi led the Privateers with eight catches and 119 receiving yards.  Limage had five receptions, including his two TDs.  Jack Kellner (Seaford, NY) led the defense with 10 tackles.

For Norwich, Beecher went 11-for-16 passing with one interception.  Aidan Sullivan, meanwhile, was 6-for-11.  Mike Cascarano gained 56 rushing yards on 13 carries, and Anderson Guerrero made a team-best six catches.  Ben Weems led the Cadets with 43 receiving yards.  Defensively, Ben Primich had a game-high 15 tackles.

Up next for the Privateers is a 12 p.m. showdown at WPI (2-4, 1-2 NEWMAC) next Saturday.  Maritime has beaten the Engineers by a touchdown in each of the last two seasons.