Trudel, Hardy, Pierce Garner Respective MASCAC Football Weekly Honors
Three members of the Massachusetts Maritime football team were recognized by the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference for their performances in Saturday’s 46-41 Buccaneer victory at UMass Dartmouth, as seniors John Trudel and Kyle Hardy were named as the respective league Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week, while freshman Kenny Pierce was tabbed as the MASCAC Rookie of the Week for the second time this season.
Trudel, a native of Niantic, Conn. and a graduate of Ledyard High School, tied the school single-game record with four touchdown passes on the day, as he completed 25-of-45 attempts for 336 yards and accounted for five total scores in the triumph, including a first quarter one-yard plunge. Trudel’s touchdown tosses were from 31, 18, 38 and 29 yards out, and the latter connection in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter provided the margin of victory. Trudel, who shared the Offensive Player of the Week accolade with Bridgewater State’s Matthew Green, has now accounted for 17 of the Buccaneers’ 23 visits to the end zone this season.
Hardy, a native of Salem, Mass. and a graduate of Salem High School, recorded an interception at his own 13-yard line with 1:04 to play to seal Massachusetts Maritime’s win, as he also returned a second quarter fumble 39 yards to stop a Corsair scoring drive with the Buccaneers trailing by 14 points. Hardy also recorded five total tackles on the afternoon, including four solo stops.
Pierce, a native of Beverly, Mass. and a graduate of Beverly High School, rushed for a career-high 186 yards on just nine carries while accounting for 227 all-purpose yards (41 receiving) and a pair of touchdowns, including a career-best 81 yard scoring scamper in the third quarter. Pierce, who also earned the honor back on September 27th, averaged 20.7 yards per rushing attempt and also hauled in an 18-yard touchdown pass on Massachusetts Maritime’s opening possession of the second half.
Head Coach Jeremy Cameron’s squad, which picked up its second win of the season with the triumph, hosts Framingham State in its regular season home finale on Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium beginning at Noon EDT.
