KINGS POINT, NY – After a thrilling home win over Mass. Maritime last Friday night, the Maritime College football team played its second straight rivalry game on Saturday afternoon.  The Privateers (1-2) were unable to pick up a second consecutive rivalry victory, however, as Merchant Marine (1-1) notched a 48-13 triumph at Brooks Stadium.

Maritime received the opening kickoff and drove all the way to the Merchant Marine 11.  Michael Trupiano's (Kings Park, NY) field goal attempt was blocked, though, and the Mariners took over.  Merchant Marine traveled 80 yards in 15 plays for a Matthew Savard touchdown, then forced a fumble on the Privateers' ensuing possession.  The Mariners had a 2^nd-and-4 at the Maritime 35 when Jeremiah Wang's pass was intercepted by Aidan Griffin (Queens, NY), who returned it 65 yards to paydirt.  After a Merchant Marine penalty on the extra point attempt, the Privateers decided to instead go for two, but Steven Stassi's (East Islip, NY) pass fell incomplete and the Mariners maintained a 7-6 lead.

Merchant Marine then scored three second-quarter touchdowns to increase its advantage to 28-6.  The Mariners added two more scores in the third quarter before Maritime mounted an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that was capped by Stassi's nine-yard pass to Michael Varela (Lindenhurst, NY).  Merchant Marine followed with a 73-yard scoring drive of its own to make it 48-13, which would be the final margin.

Stassi finished 20-for-27 passing for 219 yards and a touchdown, while Aidan Nunez (Carmel, NY) went 3-for-3 for 22 yards.  Ian Derda (Guilford, CT) led the Privateers with six catches for 105 yards, and Varela had four receptions, including the touchdown.  Sergio Borda (Toms River, NJ) paced the Maritime defense with 12 tackles, 10 of which were solo stops.

The Mariners gained 495 yards on the ground, with Savard carrying 25 times for 177 yards and three scores.  In addition to rushing for 64 yards and a touchdown, Wang completed one pass for a 30-yard TD.  He also threw one interception.  Thomas Joyce and Chad Hollar had five tackles apiece, while C.J. Mustain recorded 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Up next for the Privateers is a 1 p.m. matchup with William Paterson (2-1) next Saturday at Reinhart Field.  It will be Maritime's final non-conference game of the season.