Strong Second Half Lifts Mass. Maritime over Worcester State

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Mass. Maritime Buccaneers' strong second half lifted them over the Worcester State Lancers for a 35-31 victory over the Lancers in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play. With the Buccaneers win, they improve to 2-1 (1-0 MASCAC), while the Lancers drop to 0-4 (0-2 MASCAC).

Worcester State was up by 14 at the half, but the Buccaneers fought back and gave an outstanding offensive performance, rallying in the second half. While the Lancers had a 363-186 passing advantage over the Buccaneers, Mass. Maritime outnumbered the Lancers in rushing yards 424 to 137, which had a tremendous impact in their second half comeback.

Worcester State was the first team to put numbers up on the board, as senior quarterback, Trevor Vasey (Cumberland, R.I.) threw a 7-yard pass to freshman Dexter Andrews (Dorchester, Mass.) for the first touchdown of the game. Sophomore Eric Nunez's (Milford, Mass.) good kick put the Lancers up 7-0 in their second drive of the game with 6:11 left in the first quarter.

The Lancers would once again up the score to 14 and then 21 to nil in the second quarter, and only allowed the Buccaneers one touchdown for a 21-7 score at the half. Vasey added in another touchdown on a 4-yard run in a third down attempt, while junior Derek Moore (Mendon, Mass.) received a 15-yard pass from Vasey for the third touchdown of the game.

With 1:50 to go in the first half, Mass. Maritime's sophomore Kenny Pierce (Beverly, Mass.) went on a 51-yard run for the Buccaneers first touchdown of the game, leading into the 21-7 score going into the third quarter.

The tables turned in the second half, as Mass Maritime scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to tie the game at 21. With 11:08 in the 3^rd, senior quarterback Brad Skeffington (Salem, Mass.) recorded a 1-yard run, lessening the Lancers' lead to seven off a good kick from junior Ryan Quinn (North Andover, Mass.). The game-tying opportunity came up shortly after when Pierce had a 7-yard run with 6:27 left in the third.

Worcester State then backfired with a touchdown shortly after, on an 11-yard pass from Vasey to sophomore Connor Amann (Stamford, Conn.) and a good kick from freshman Adrian Lingo (Sharon, Mass.) to take the lead back at seven.

The Buccaneers would once again tie up the score at 28 with 1:31 left on the clock in the 3^rd quarter on another run from Pierce and a good kick from Quinn.

With 12 second left in the third, Worcester State's Lingo attempted a 26-yard field goal, and was successful in giving the Lancers the three point advantage going into the fourth quarter.

Much of a back and forth fourth quarter, Mass. Maritime was the only team able to complete a play in the fourth to take the win and the lead over the Lancers, as an interception was thrown and there also was a turnover on downs. Pierce saved the day once again, as he rushed 30-yards for a touchdown, and Quinn's kick was good for the 35-31 win.

Pierce had a game-high 188 rushing yards - his longest run being 51-yards. He scored all but one of the Buccaneers' touchdowns (4). Mass. Maritime's quarterback, Skeffington, passed for a total of 186 yards, rushed for 109, and recorded the team's additional touchdown.

Junior wide receiver Shane Haggerty (Cohasset, Mass.) led the Buccaneers in receiving, as he tacked on eight receptions for a total of 118 yards.

Defensively for the Buccaneers, senior Ash Ergle (Modoc, S.C.) led the team with 14 tackles (seven assisted), and one tackle for loss. Senior Jack Schmitt (Bourne, Mass.) and junior Marshall McCarthy (Duxbury, Mass.) each had 11 tackles apiece.

For the Lancers, Vasey threw 32 complete passes out of 48 attempts, throwing two interceptions. He totaled 363 yards and marked three touchdowns for the Lancers.

Senior running back, Kemani Jones (Milton, Mass.) led Worcester State in rushing yards with 84 (27 carries), while senior Dana Valentine (Roxbury, Mass.) was next up with 56. Down the field, sophomore Isaiah King (Richmond, Va.) led the team in receptions with nine, while Moore had six with a total of 80 yards.

Defensively for the Lancers, junior linebacker Shane Gleim (N. Grosvenordale, Conn.) registered a game-high 20 tackles with (13 unassisted). Sophomore lineman Gaston Pastorino (Fitchburg, Mass.) totaled 10, while junior Matt Loureiro (W. Boylston, Mass.) and sophomore Dan Orlando (Westborough, Mass.) each had eight.

Both teams will take on Fitchburg State in their next respective MASCAC outings, as Mass. Maritime hosts the Falcons next Saturday afternoon. Worcester State heads to Fitchburg State on Saturday, October 10^th for the Sterling Cup clash with Fitchburg State that kicks off at 2:00 p.m.