THROGGS NECK, NY – Just about everything went right in
Anthony Trotta's first home game as Head Coach of the Maritime College football team. Offensively, the Privateers scored seven touchdowns and put up their most points in seven years. Defensively, Maritime caused four turnovers and recorded its first shutout since 2016. It all added up to a 48-0 victory for the Privateers (2-0) over Anderson (1-1) at Reinhart Field.
Maritime got on the board when
Will Pickett (Rockville Centre, NY) found the end zone from 22 yards out with 3:14 left in the first quarter.
Karym Cruz (Staten Island, NY) then forced the first of three Ravens fumbles on the next play from scrimmage. The Privateers didn't score on the ensuing drive, but ended three of their next four drives with a touchdown.
Mark Russo (Sea Cliff, NY) pounded one in from five yards out with 11:24 left in the second quarter, then Pickett capped a 12-play, 72-yard march with a one-yard TD run. Anderson was called for a penalty on the extra point, so Maritime decided to go for two. The attempt was no good, however, keeping the score at 20-0. After the Ravens missed a field goal, Pickett threw an interception. The Privateers got the ball right back, though, as
Jack Kellner (Seaford, NY) jumped in front of a Luke Manning pass and returned it 15 yards to the Maritime 49. Seven plays later, Pickett connected with
Matt Ollen (Floral Park, NY) from seven yards out to make it 27-0.
Anderson fumbled the second-half kickoff, again setting up the Privateers with a short field. Rogers broke free for a 12-yard scurry that increased Maritime's advantage to 34-0. After Pickett's third rushing touchdown of the day, Kellner forced and recovered another fumble, giving possession back to the Privateers on the Ravens 11. Rogers extended the margin to 48-0 with a two-yard burst, his second TD run of the game (and Maritime's sixth).
Mike Walsh (Farmingdale, NY) kept the shutout in tact when he blocked Anderson's 27-yard field goal attempt with 9:56 left in the fourth quarter. The Ravens then turned the ball over on downs with 2:47 remaining, allowing the Privateers to run out the clock. The shutout was Maritime's first since a 22-0 victory at Anna Maria on Oct. 8, 2016. The Privateers hadn't posted a home shutout since beating Gallaudet 34-0 on Nov. 14, 2015. Maritime's seven touchdowns and 48 points, meanwhile, were the most since Oct. 20, 2018, when the Privateers put up 68 at Castleton.
Pickett finished 16-for-26 passing for 176 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also carried 12 times for 76 yards and three scores. Rogers, meanwhile, had 16 rushing attempts for 102 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, Maritime recorded 275 rushing yards and 451 yards of total offense.
Kellner paced the Privateers defensively. He caused two turnovers (one interception, one forced fumble), recovered a fumble, and recorded a team-high nine tackles, two of which went for a loss. In addition to the four turnovers (which led to 21 points), the Maritime defense was credited with three sacks and held Anderson to just 144 yards of total offense.
For the Ravens, Manning was 16-for-23 for 100 yards in the air. Isaiah Rhodes made a team-best five catches for 37 yards, while Albert Rabb gained 24 yards on 12 carries. As a team, Anderson had only 20 rushing yards. Jake Simpson had a game-high 11 tackles, and Jaylen Hayes added 10 tackles. Alex Myers, meanwhile, tallied seven tackles to go along with an interception and a pass breakup.
Each of the Privateers' next two games are on the road. Maritime concludes non-conference play by visiting Endicott (1-1) next Saturday at 1 p.m. The Gulls reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.
