Webcast
Saturday's Game: Massachusetts Maritime (1-0) at Maine Maritime (0-1), 1 p.m.
Series History: Saturday marks the fourth decade that Massachusetts Maritime and Maine Maritime have battled for the Admiral's Cup. The Bucs hold a 23-17 lead in the trophy game. Mass. Maritime has won the last two contests after the Mariners won the previous seven straight games. The series started in 1946, with the first cup being played for in 1973.
The Last Meeting: Massachusetts Maritime scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, to break a 21-all tie at halftime, en route to a 42-23 win over Maine Maritime Academy.
Maine Maritime scored on the opening possession of the game when Bill Wetherbee 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 on the ensuing series when John Trudel hit paydirt on a six-yard run. The score completed an 8-play, 64-yard, drive highlighted when Mike Stanton hooked up with Jonathan Wright 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 raced 91-yards on the kickoff return.
Mass. Maritime's Last Game: Junior John Trudel's 12-yard run with 3:16 remaining proved to be the difference as Massachusetts Maritime overcame a late third quarter 10-point deficit to post a 24-20 victory over SUNY-Maritime in the Sixth Annual Chowder Bowl played Thursday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium.
The host Buccaneers trailed 20-10 after the visiting Privateers used a field goal and a five-yard touchdown run by junior Greg Caneparo with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter to snap a 10-10 halftime tie, but junior Bobby Rosano returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a score that pulled Massachusetts Maritime back to within three at 20-17.
Maine Maritime Last Week: Maine Maritime exploded for a 42-26 halftime lead but Anna Maria - with a little help - mounted a second-half comeback to beat the Mariners 55-49 in a non-conference football game Saturday. Maine Maritime rushed for 575 yards, which included all of MMA's seven scores, while the AMCATS passed for 210 yards and ran for 322. Anna Maria improved to 1-1, while the Mariners fell to 0-1.
Michael Fahey ran for 255 yards and scored four times for Maine Maritime and Billy Wetherbee added 168 yards on the ground and two scores. Robert Small led the AM rushing attack with 240 yards and four touchdowns and quarterback Gregory McGoldrick was 12 of 19 for 161 yards and one touchdown.
The Mariners held a 49-47 lead with about two and half minutes left to play when Anna Maria started a drive on their own 49. Facing third-and-14, McGoldrick was sacked by Cody Chapman setting up fourth and long. McGoldrick fired a pass, intended for Josh Sundquist, that sailed out of bounds but an official called Matt Clifford for a controversial unsportsmanlike conduct call for bumping into Sundquist when he was out of bounds. Three plays later, McGoldrick hooked up with Sundquist on a 29-yard touchdown pass. McGoldrick two-point pass to William Ricard put the AMCATS up for good, 55-49.
What a rush: Fahey's four touchdowns against Anna Maria is the second most in school history. Fahey, who rushed for 255 yards on 28 carries, tied Don Thibodeau, Jim Bower (3 times) and Nick Bourassa. Fahey's performance landed him on the NEFC Weekly Honor Roll.
Maine Maritime's 575 rusing yards against Anna Maria ranks the Mariners first in Division III in rushing yards per game.
Getting his kicks: Justin Hockney tied a school record with seven extra points made against Anna Maria. Michael Brennan also converted seven extra point attempts against Coast Guard in 2009.
