MMA football aiming high

September 7, 2012

By John Garner Jr., Cape Cod Times

BUZZARDS BAY – After posting its first winning season since 2000, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy football team hopes to challenge for a New England Football Conference championship this fall.

But first up is a major road test involving a nonconference, Chowder Bowl kickoff tonight against talented SUNY Maritime, at Reinhart Field in Throggs Neck, N.Y., at 7 p.m.

“We invited 102 players (to preseason camp) and stayed away from any major injuries,” said MMA coach Jeremy Cameron, now in his eighth season. “Our guys have done a good job in preseason. We look to feature good balance on both sides of the ball. Now it’s time to start the season with a big game on the road.”

Last fall, the Bucs posted a 5-4 record, including an Admiral’s Cup victory over Maine Maritime and an upset win over eventual NEFC champion Western New England.

SUNY Maritime is coming off an 8-2 season, finishing second behind Norwich for the Eastern College Football Conference championship. The Privateers captured the ECFC title in 2010 and an automatic bid into the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Their run-oriented offense is led by fullback Gary Bigham and receiver Eric Heedles and fellow tri-captain cornerback Chris Deluca on defense.

MMA plays four of its first five contests away from Clean Harbors Stadium, including SUNY-Maritime and Nichols, before hosting Coast Guard in its NEFC Bogan Division opener Sept. 22 at noon.

The Bucs play at Framingham State ON Sept. 29, Worcester State ON Oct. 6 and the 40th Admiral’s Cup game at Maine Maritime ON Oct. 20. MMA hosts Fitchburg State on Homecoming, Oct. 13, Westfield State ON Oct. 27 and Bridgewater State for the 34th Cranberry Bowl on Nov. 3.

Bridgewater began with an impressive 21-17 win at Springfield last Saturday, while Westfield beat Nichols, 41-8 and Worcester State defeated Anna Maria, 56-10. Framingham lost to Endicott, 34-7 and Fitchburg dropped a 13-3 contest to Becker in other NEFC season-openers.

MMA is led on the field by senior co-captain duo of speedy running back Barry Reopell (South Dennis) and hard-hitting linebacker Nick Mazurkiewicz.

Reopell, a two-time co-captain and former Dennis-Yarmouth standout, rushed for 394 yards and six touchdowns last season. Other top running backs include Austin Pierce and versatile Stefan Gustafson, who’s expected to contribute in all three phases of the game.

“We have a lot of good players on this team and hope to get off to a good start against (SUNY) Maritime,” said Reopell. “I like being a leader on this football team and hope to lead by example. We have a lot of options on offense and our defense is very strong.”

Returning for his third season as starting quarterback is junior Mike Stanton, who threw for 1,386 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Vying for playing time at QB are sophomores John Trudel and Brad Skeffington, a transfer from Salve Regina who’s an effective runner.

Returning starter Bryan Norberg, a 6-0, 240-pound bruiser, heads an offensive line that also includes Sean Marshall (Sandwich), Christopher Flynn, John Bochman, Ian Bradley, Josh Bevilacqua, Jeffrey Wallace, Timothy Lawler and Jared Roark .

The top returning wide receiver is sure-handed Keith Caruso, who caught 49 passes for 577 yards and two TDs, along with E.J. Bennett and Jonathan Wright, who hauled in two scores vs. Bridgewater State in the Cranberry Bowl.

The Bucs’ defense is paced by All-NEFC defensive lineman Sean Carver and All-NEFC DB Eddy Ramos. Carver compiled 34 tackles, four sacks, 12 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries, while Ramos recorded four interceptions, 32 tackles and seven pass breakups.
The biggest area of concern is middle of the defense where both 2011 NEFC Defensive Player of the Year Walter Butler and fellow all-conference linebacker Mike Bois graduated.

Joining Mazurkiewicz at linebacker is Victor Andrade (Yarmouthport), who recovered a fumble recovery for a TD in last year’s win over Maine Maritime, along with Max Devoe, Andrew Peterson and Chris Pisani.

The 5-9, 220-pound Carver is joined on the DL by 6-4, 240-pound Kevin Griffin, who registered 37 tackles, Donnie Sheridan, Zachary Ryan, Richard Ford, Gordon Fitch and John Dee. The biggest loss on the DL is All-NEFC James Hutchinson.

Ramos paces a talented secondary that includes the speedy Gustafson (49 tackles), Michael Sylvia, former LB Sheldon Roper (55 tackles), Kevin Stanton and Peter Markarian (Hyannis). Evan Sheridan, who collected 28 tackles and two INT’s, has moved to linebacker.

Again handling place-kicking and punting chores is Brandon Rodrigues, who’s compiled a 4.0 GPA his first two years at the Academy.

The elusive Gustafson returns as kick returner after averaging 24.8 yards per kickoff return, including a 79-yard touchdown against MIT and 10.8 yds per punt return with a 54-yard game-winning TD vs. Western New England.