UNION, NJ – After posting a dramatic 42-41 win over Worcester State in its season opener last week, the Maritime College football team hit the road for the first time in 2026 on Saturday. In their first ever matchup against Kean, the Privateers (1-1) dropped a 51-17 decision to the Cougars (1-1) at Alumni Stadium.
Maritime forced a punt on Kean's opening possession, but immediately gave it right back with a fumble on its first offensive play. The Cougars took advantage of the short field to drive three plays for the game's first touchdown. Kean used a blocked punt to set up another short field, and the Cougars cashed in with a 15-yard TD run by Ty Kline. The next Kean possession ended in a 10-yard touchdown rush by Kevin Mayfield, putting the Cougars ahead 21-0 after one quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, the Privateers got on the board when
Jaden Rotella (Mt. Sinai, NY) connected with
Enrique Hernandez (Northport, NY) on a 39-yard scoring strike. However, Kean found paydirt twice in the period to extend its lead to 35-7 at halftime. The Cougars then recovered a fumble on the second half kickoff and converted it into another touchdown that increased their advantage to 42-7.
Owen Cunningham (Mineola, NY) drained a 38-yard field goal—Maritime's first field goal of any distance since Oct. 5, 2024—on the first play of the fourth quarter before a blocked punt out of the end zone resulted in a Kean safety. After the Cougars added another touchdown on their next possession, the Privateers took over on its own 11 and proceeded to march 89 yards in 12 plays for a score.
Eddie Crishom (Jamaica, NY) capped the drive with a 10-yard TD run that finished off the scoring in Kean's 51-17 victory.
Hernandez was Maritme's leading receiver on the day. He finished with seven catches for 73 yards and a touchdown. Rotella went 15-for-29 passing for 112 yards and a score.
Liam Fernandez (Bradenton, FL), meanwhile, saw his first collegiate action and completed 4-of-6 passes for 12 yards.
Gianni Spinelli (Holtsville, NY) had a team-high 47 rushing yards on 13 carries, and
Baron Laxa (Vallejo, CA) compiled 76 return yards, including 23 on a kickoff return late in the first half. Defensively,
Dennis Matich (Floral Park, NY) and
Wyatt Vreeland (Warwick, NY) paced the Privateers with seven tackles apiece.
For the Cougars, Kline went 10-for-18 passing for 170 yards and two touchdowns. He also ran for a team-high 55 yards on seven carries and added a rushing TD. Rocco Pellegrini attempted four passes, completing them all for 77 yards and two scores. Jason Marasciulo caught three passes, two of which went for touchdowns, for 117 yards. As a team, Kean compiled 247 receiving yards. Reem Corey added 157 return yards.
Noah Mammeri recorded a game-high 13 tackles while also forcing a fumble that he recovered. The Cougars forced a pair of Maritime turnovers (which resulted in 14 points) to go along with two blocked punts and a safety. Kean's defense added 10 tackles for loss, costing the Privateers 38 yards of field position.
Next Saturday, Maritime concludes non-conference play with its second consecutive road game. The Privateers will travel to Curry (1-1) for a 1 p.m. matchup.
