The Maritime football team defeated ECFC-foe Gallaudet University, 21-14, on the road Saturday night to end the 2010 regular season with a perfect 10-0 mark! The winning score came with 1:14 left in the fourth quarter, when junior running back Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) ran in a four-yard TD to cap off a seven-play, 47-yard drive.
That drive began after Gallaudet started a drive in great field position at Maritime’s 48-yard line with 5:54 left in the game, but were only able to run one play before freshman linebacker Junior Burrell (Upper Marlboro, Md./Dr. Henry A Wise) forced a fumble at the line of scrimmage that the Privateers recovered. Burrell also had a key interception that sealed the victory when Gallaudet was driving up-field looking for the game-tying score.
"I am really proud of our team to finish undefeated,” said head coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes. “To be able to make it through our conference [undefeated], and we have had some battles, is tough. It has been a special season."
The Bison got on the board first in the opening quarter on the initial drive of the game. Quarterback Jimmy Gardner hooked up with Ryne Worsham on a 61-yard pass for the score. The point after kick was no good and Gallaudet led, 6-0, just 2:29 into the game. The Bison successfully attempted an on-side kick and got the ball back, but went three-and-out.
On Maritime’s opening offensive drive, the Privateers got all the way down to first and goal, but were unable to run the ball in and turned the ball over on downs. The rest of the opening quarter saw great defense from both teams and the score was 6-0 at the end of 15 minutes of play.
In the second half, Maritime got on the board when sophomore quarterback Joe Dickey (Middletown, N.J. / Middletown North) ran in a 21-yard touchdown on a 3rd-and-7 play. The PAT kick by freshman Brendan Carey (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus Central) was good and the Privateers took a 7-6 lead. Maritime scored once again before the end of the half, when sophomore running back Fritz Jean (Palm Coast, Fla./Palm Coast) scored on a 30-yard run with just 49 seconds remaining.
In the second half, Gallaudet tied the game in the third quarter when running back Phillip Hayes found the end zone after a nine-yard rush and the Bison went for two points and scored on a passing play from Gardner to running back Cole Johnson. The score was tied 14-14.
The fourth quarter saw Gallaudet nearly take a three-point lead but a 27-yard field goal attempt by Justin Wilson sailed wide right and turned the ball over to Maritime.
Maritime was led by Dickey, who rushed for a game-high 98 yards and one TD. Jean finished the day with 67 yards on 10 carries, while senior Greg McGough (Edgewater, Md./Blessed Trinity) rushed for 53 yards. On defense, sophomore linebacker Pat Lasher (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) recorded a team-high 11 tackles (eight solo and three assisted), including one for a loss of three yards. Sophomore Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) registered nine tackles, including two for combined losses of eight yards and recovered the fourth-quarter fumble.
The Privateers will now await their fate as the NCAA Selection Committee will, over the next week, decide the 32-team field for the NCAA Division III Tournament. Maritime is likely to emerge out of Group B, which earns three at-large bids to the national tournament. The selections are scheduled to be announced on Sunday, Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. and will be broadcasted nationally on ESPNews.
Courtsey of Maritime Athletics