THROGGS NECK, NY – The Maritime College football team had a dominant defensive performance against Anderson on Saturday, forcing four turnovers and holding the Ravens to just 144 yards of total offense en route to a 48-0 victory, its first shutout since the 2016 season.  After leading the Privateers (2-0) with nine tackles while also tallying two takeaways in the contest, senior linebacker Jack Kellner (Seaford, NY) has been honored as the New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Defensive Athlete of the Week.

Two plays after a Maritime interception late in the second quarter, Kellner jumped in front of a Luke Manning pass and returned it 15 yards to the Privateers' 49, leading to a touchdown drive that increased Maritime's lead to 27-0.  Late in the third quarter, he caused another Anderson turnover that the Privateers would convert into points.  Kellner forced and recovered a fumble at the Ravens' 11, and the Maritime offense found the end zone three plays later to cap the scoring in the 48-0 triumph.    He added nine tackles, two of which went for losses of a combined 10 yards.

This is the first career NEWMAC weekly award for Kellner, who was Second Team All-NEWMAC choice in 2024.  He becomes the first Privateer to earn weekly recognition since Dylan Denicker (Queens, NY) was named NEWMAC Defensive Athlete of the Week on Nov. 4, 2024.

Maritime plays its next two games on the road, starting with the non-conference finale against Endicott (1-1) at 12 p.m. on Saturday.  The Gulls reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season.