NEWTON, Mass. -  A six-yard reception by Keon Wilson (Providence, R.I.) on fourth-and-5 capped a nearly eleven-minute, game-ending drive and helped the Mustangs secure the 7-6 victory in Saturday afternoon's 2014 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) opener against SUNY Maritime.

With the win, the Mount Ida improves to 1-3 (1-0 ECFC) while SUNY Maritime falls to 1-3 (0-1 ECFC).

Wilson's fourth-down reception was one of his game-high four catches on the day. He finished with 45 yard receiving, also a game high.

Another huge part of that extensive, fourth-quarter drive was freshman running backJaleel Battle (Buffalo, N.Y.), who led all rushers with 108 yards gained on the ground.

Sophomore linebacker Sean Chinova (Watertown, Conn.) lead the way defensively, recording a game-high six solo tackles. He also added eight tackle assists.

All the scoring in this defensive battle took place in the first half. The Privateers opened the game with great field position after senior Greg Caneparo (Nanuet, N.Y.) returned the opening kickoff 33 yards to almost midfield. However, the Mustangs defense was able to step up and hold the visitors to a 39-yard field goal by Diogo Dietrich (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

Following the opening drive, neither team was able to solve the other's defense. Toward the end of the first quarter, when it looked like Mount Ida had something going offensively, Privateers' sophomore Eric Wallace (West Point, N.Y.) was able to force a fumble and Maritime took over.

However on the very next play, junior defensive back Zach March (Saint Paul, Minn.) was able to pick off the Zach Chilcott (Ulster Park, N.Y.) pass and put Mount Ida back on the attack.

The two teams would again trade turnovers to open the second quarter as Chris Toyloy (Yonkers, N.Y.) was able to force and recover a Chilcott fumble for the hosts before Patrick Connick (Spanish Fort, Ala.) was able to get the ball back for the visitors with an interception.

On the Mustangs next drive, they threw a little deception at their visiting ECFC rival. With 2:51 remaining in the first half, Mount Ida sent out the field goal team out to try and tie the game. However the ball was snapped directly kicker Tyler Rodgers(Bridgewater, Mass.) who rushed two yards to end zone. Rodgers then added the extra point to give the Mustangs the 7-3 lead.

Dietrich added his second field goal of the game, this one from 46 yards, to close out the first half with Mount Ida up 7-6.

In the second half the defenses continued to hold strong as the team's traded three-and-outs for much of the third quarter. It wasn't until the Mustangs got the ball back with 10:40 left on the game clock that the offense started to click. The hometown team took the ball on their own 8-yard line and did not give it back as they drove 86 yards on 21 plays to the win.

Chilcott and senior fullback Kyle Gardner (Amityville, N.Y.) led the Privateers offensively rushing for 63 and 45 yards respectively.

The Mustangs travel to Norwich next week for their first ECFC road contest of the year.

Maritime returns to Throggs Neck, N.Y. for their conference home opener against Husson next Saturday.