THROGGS NECK, NY – On a windy, rainy Saturday at Reinhart Field, the Maritime College football team began New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) play against Salve Regina. The Seahawks (4-0, 1-0 NEWMAC) came storming out of the gate, scoring touchdowns on each of their first four possessions in a 42-12 victory over the Privateers (2-2, 0-1 NEWMAC).
Even with the start time moved up two hours in an attempt to beat the incoming nor'easter, the first half was still played through miserable weather conditions. The Salve Regina offense was unaffected, however, as the Seahawks marched 61 yards for a touchdown on their first possession. After scoring on a blocked punt, Salve Regina added two more TDs to build a 28-0 lead after the first quarter. Seahawks quarterback Padraig Brown ran to paydirt twice in the second quarter to increase Salve Regina's advantage to 42-0 at the break. The Seahawks then received the second half kickoff and marched 73 yards in 12 plays for another score.
Maritime finally broke through in the waning seconds of the third quarter, when
Wyatt Vreeland (Warwick, NY) fell on a blocked punt in the end zone. The next Salve Regina possession resulted in a fumble that was recovered by
Roman Perisa (Oceanside, NY), giving the Privateers offense a short field to work with. Maritime responded with a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive.
Jaden Rotella (Mt. Sinai, NY) hit
Enrique Hernandez (Northport, NY) for a 24-yard touchdown strike that brought the Privateers within 49-12.
After winning NEWMAC Player of the Week honors for leading a comeback at Curry last week, Rotella was held to just 10-for-24 passing against the Seahawks. He also gained 32 rushing yards on 17 carries. Hernadez led Maritime with four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Nazier Kinsey (Syracuse, NY) paced the Privateers defense with nine tackles, while Vreeland and
Dennis Matich (Floral Park, NY) recorded eight tallies apiece.
Brown had a hand in four Salve Regina touchdowns. He ran five times for 79 yards and three scores while also throwing for a touchdown. Brown finished 7-for-10 thru the air for 122 yards. Spencer Chapman made a team-best four receptions for 81 yards and a score. The Seahawks defense combined for eight sacks and forced three fumbles. Owen Nanartowich made a game-high 10 tackles for Salve Regina.
Next week, Maritime is back on the road for a 1:30 p.m. matchup with Coast Guard (2-2, 0-1 NEWMAC).
