Maine Maritime scored on the opening possession of the game when Bill Wetherbee (Veazie, Maine) plunged in from a yard out. The score capped a 12-play, 61-yard, drive that was kept alive when Mass. Maritime was whistled for roughing the passer on fourth-and-five. Wetherbee carried seven times for 25 yards on the drive.

 

The Bucs responded the ensuing series when John Trudel (Niantic, Conn.) hit paydirt on a six-yard run. The score completed an 8-play, 64-yard, drive highlighted when Mike Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) hooked up with Jonathan Wright (Newburryport, Mass.) for 37 yards.

 

The Mariners went ahead 14-7 on Wetherbee's 36-yard sprint before Mass. Maritime evened the game at 14 on Barry Roepell's 28-yard run with 12:49 left before the half. Maine Maritime took advantage of Eddy Ramos' muffed punt and made it 21-14 four plays later on Bradley Reed's one-yard run. The Bucs knotted the game on the ensuing kickoff when Bobby Rosano (North Reading, Mass.) raced 91-yards on the kickoff return.

 

The Bucs needed just 12 plays to cover 66 yards on their opening possession of the second half. Reopell capped the drive, which featured a pair of third down conversions, with a two-yard run and a 27-21 Mass. Maritime lead.

 

Maine Maritime squandered a chance to tie the game late in the third quarter. Five straight runs from Dylan Webster, and a 14-yard run by Joseph DiBiase, got the Mariners to the Mass. 9. Three plays later, on third-and-goal at the 1, Reed fumbled and Robert Gratzer recovered it for the Bucs. Mass. Maritime cashed in on the turnover with a 99-yard drive that ended on Trudel's 4-yard run. Trudel hooked up with Rosano to convert the two-point conversion give the Bucs a 35-21 lead.

 

Another turnover inside the 5 cost the Mariners another chance at more points.  A pair of Bradley Reed passes, to DiBiase for 18 and Shane Sullivan for 23, helped get the Mariners inside the red zone. Five plays later, Wetherbee lost the ball and Richard Ford recovered it for the Bucs.

 

Mass. Maritime added a late score on Austin Pierce's two-yard run and surrendered a safety when Stanton purposely ran out of the end zone with 1:51 left in the game.

 

Wetherbee led all rushers with 139 yards on 28 carries for Maine Maritime. DiBiase had 54 yards on nine carries and Reed added 52 yards on 21 attempts. Reed was 5 of 12 through the air for 71 yards with Sullivan hauling in two passes for 34 yards.

Brock Lawrence paced the Mariners' defense with 12 total stops and Alex Hermes had 10 tackles and an interception. Wade Severance also had a pick for Maine Maritime.

Stanton led the Bucs with 183 yards through the air while Reopell and Pierce churned out 102 and 77 yards, respectively, on the ground. E.J. Bennett caught eight passes for 90 yards on Jonathan Wright added 80 yards on five catches.

 

Reynard Ortiz and Matthew King combined for 25 tackles to spearhead the Bucs' defense. Zachary Ryan picked up two sacks, Richard Ford one and Eddy Ramos had an interception.

 

The Mariners return to action Saturday at noon at Bridgewater State.