NEWPORT, RI – On Saturday afternoon, the Maritime College football team opened New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play by visiting Salve Regina.  Trailing by eight, the Privateers had the ball and a chance to tie late in the fourth quarter.  Chris Stowell intercepted Will Pickett (Rockville Centre, NY) in the final minute, though, to seal a 28-20 win for the Seahawks (4-0, 1-0 NEWMAC) over Maritime (2-2, 0-1 NEWMAC) at Toppa Field.

 A blocked punt gave Salve Regina a short field on its opening possession, and the Seahawks capped the drive with Thomas Fallon's 14-yard TD pass to Justan Luzzi.  The Privateers responded with a 12-play, 74-yard march, with Pickett finding paydirt on a three-yard scramble.  The extra point was blocked, however. 

Salve Regina then increased its lead to 14-6 with a 10-play, 74-yard touchdown drive, Joshua Rogers (Valley Stream, NY) broke free for a 51-yard TD run that brought Maritime within two.  Head Coach Anthony Trotta opted to go for two, but a penalty on the attempt pushed the Privateers back to their own 8.  The second two-point conversion try was no good, and Maritime went into halftime trailing 14-12.

The Seahawks extended the margin to 21-12 on Fallon's 41-yard touchdown pass to Spencer Chapman on the opening drive of the second half, then went up 28-12 when Fallon connected with Chapman from 10 yards out early in the fourth quarter.  On its next drive Salve Regina moved into field goal range.  The attempt was blocked, however, keeping it a two-score game.

Taking over on their own 27 after the blocked field goal, the Privateers quickly moved down the field.  Pickett found Matt Ollen (Floral Park, NY) on a 27-yard touchdown pass, and Josh Limage (Valley Stream, NY) added the two-point conversion to bring Maritime within 28-20 with 2:33 remaining.  After the Seahawks punted to pin them deep on 4^th-and-2, the Privateers started the ensuing drive on their own 2 with 1:52 left.  On 4^th-and-6 from the 6, Pickett's pass was intercepted, giving Salve Regina the 28-20 victory.

Pickett finished 16-for-22 passing for 137 yards and a touchdown.  He also threw two interceptions.  Rogers carried 23 times for a career-high 144 yards and a score, while Nate Casaburi (Sayville, NY) made seven catches for 73 yards.  Nick Spista (White Plains, NY) paced the Maritime defense with 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.

For the Seahawks, who received votes in this week's Top 25 poll, Fallon went 17-for-30 in the air for 182 yards and four TDs.  Luzzi, meanwhile, had 155 yards on 21 rushing attempts.  He added one receiving touchdown.  Two of Chapman's three receptions were for scores.  James Minotti led Salve Regina with eight tackles, and he also returned an interception 15 yards.  The Seahawks sacked Pickett five times, with Marco Soto tallying 1.5 sacks.

After playing back-to-back road games, the Privateers return to Reinhart Field next Saturday for a 1 p.m. tilt with Coast Guard (3-1, 1-0 NEWMAC).  The Maritime College Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will be recognized at halftime prior to the induction ceremony in the evening.