THROGGS NECK, NY – The Maritime College football team is looking for their fifth straight postseason appearance in the 2021 season after reaching the NCAA tournament in 2019. The NCAA tournament appearance marked the Privateers second trip to the national stage in program history and they will hope to make it back with a strong mix of returners and newcomers.
"My expectations for the team are the same since day one, and that's to put the best product out on the field every single day," said head coach Mickey Rehring. "We want to be able to put ourselves in position to be playing for an ECFC Championship at the end of the year to get that automatic bid and that's something that will never change."
Although Maritime has lost some key players from the 2019 team including multiple All-Conference selections on both sides of the ball, they still return a strong core of players from the 2019 season. They will be led into the 2021 season by captains, Frank Vano, Liam McManus, James Varga, and Robert Brando.
"I think this year will be a good bounce back year after not being able to play last year," said Varga. "We have a great defense and a young offense with a lot of talent so I think we have a good shot at winning the ECFC and making the playoffs again."
In 2019, Maritime boasted the top defense in conference play by only allowing 15 points per game and 318 yards per game. Despite losing leading tacklers Liam Bailey and Justin Snuffer from that roster, they believe they have the pieces to maintain that impressive defensive effort and keep teams out of the end zone in 2021.
On the offensive end, the Privateers will turn to some new faces to help lead the way, but Rehring is very confident in the team's and first-year offensive coordinator Zach Sterling's abilities to move the ball.
"I'm excited that we have a brand new coordinator to take over play calling in Zach Sterling, and we hired some great people around him, including some alumni that have seen what it takes to win here," said Rehring. "We got a lot of guys returning on offense, but we're also really excited about the young guys, which isn't just the freshman since the sophomores didn't get to play too much last year. We're always going to try and establish the run, but I think we have people at the quarterback position that will fit fight for that spot and that can throw the ball and get us moving down the field pretty quickly."
Although the players only reported to camp a week ago, the intensity and energy brought by Maritime to the preseason is noticeable after not being able to compete in 2020 due to COVID-19.
"The energy is absolutely where it needs to be," said Brando. "I feel really confident with the excitement that everybody has and we're going after it in the weight room and guys are just super excited to be back here."
The Privateers open up the 2021 season on Friday, Sep. 10 at Massachusetts Maritime in the Chowder Bowl. To see the full 2021 schedule, click here.
