MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME FOOTBALL

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Mass.

FINAL:              UMASS DARTMOUTH 37, MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 14

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. -- Sophomore quarterback Jace Pena (Milton,MASS.) threw for 320 yards and two touchdowns as UMass Dartmouth defeated the Buccaneers 24-17 for a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference victory over Massachusetts Maritime Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium.

 The visiting Corsairs (3-6, 3-4 MASCAC) scored first in the 1^st quarter on their second possession on a 13 yard touchdown pass from Pena to junior wide receiver Abbi Bamgbose (Worcester, MASS) after two strong run of 15 and 20 yards during the drive.  The Corsairs scored again in the 2nd quarter after starting at their own 18 yard line and completing two passes, one for 15 yards and the second for 20 yards, culminating with a 6 yard touchdown pass from Pensa to junior wide receiver Jeremy Jackson (Middletown, RI) and led 14-0.  Both Pena and Mass Maritime senior quarterback Chris Haggerty (Cohasset, MASS) threw interceptions in the second quarter.  The Buccaneers (1-8, 0-7 MASCAC) scored in the second quarter, when Haggerty found senior wide receiver Ryan Taft (E. Longmeadow, MASS) in the end zone to bring the score to 14-7. 

At the start of the second half, Mass Maritime receive the kickoff and started at their own 42-yard line after good return but was unable to sustain a drive and had to punt after committing three penalties.  UMASS Dartmouth took over on their own 20 yard line after freshman punter George Lampros' (Bridgewater, MASS) punt rolled into the end zone.  UMASS Dartmouth moved the ball to the Mass Maritime 42 yard line but was forced to punt.  UMASS Dartmouth's junior running back perfectly placed a punt out of bounds at the MMA 1-yard line.  On the very next play, junior Tony Slaughter (Springfield, MASS) and senior linebacker Marvey Mathurin (Woburn, MASS) from UMASS Dartmouth sacked MMA quarterback Haggerty in the end zone for a safety making the score 16-7. 

Mass Maritime had an opportunity late in the 3^rd quarter to bring the score to 16-10 but Lampros 39-yard field goal missed to the right and the scored remained 16-10 going into the 4^th quarter.  On the third play of the 4^th quarter, Pena connected with Bamgbose again for a 60 yard touch and his second of the touchdown of the day stretching the score to 23-7.   On the Buccaneers first possession of the 4^th quarter while in punt formation on fourth down, the snap was send over Lampros's outstretched arms and UMASS Dartmouth defenders pounced on the ball at the MMA 4 yard line.  On the second play, the Corsairs senior running back Michael Slaughter, Jr. (Springfield, MASS) scored from 1 yard out to make the score 30-7. 

Mass Maritime took the ensuing kickoff and went four plays and was forced to punt.  The Mass Maritime defense held and the Buccaneers got the ball back when MMA sophomore Cameron Stewart recovered a fumble lost by Corsair freshman running back Gayee Myers (Providence, RI) on the Buccaneer 17 yard line.   Two plays later, MMA sophomore Ty Ebdon (Gales Ferry, CT) threw an interception to UMASS Dartmouth freshman Brendan Cuthill (Fall River, MA) where he took the ball to the Buccaneer 12 yard line.  On the next play, Slaughter scored to make the score 37-7. 

With less than two minutes in the game, Buccaneer junior wide receiver Paul Sances (Middleboro, MASS) scored a touchdown on a 11 yard reverse play that made the final score 37-14. 

Pena completed 14-of-36 passes, threw four touchdown passes for 321 total yards.  Slaughter rushed for 113 yards on 26 carries.  Bamgbose scored two receiving touchdowns and had 114 total receiving yards for the Corsairs. UMASS Dartmouth ended the afternoon with 442 total yards from scrimmage. 

Senior Richie Phillips (Onset, Mass.) rushed for 38 yards on 19 attempts in the setback for Massachusetts Maritime, which received 70 yards through the air from Haggerty as part of 192 yards of total offense. 

 Freshman Peter Banks (Webster, Mass.) recorded an interception for the Buccaneers and sophomore Kyle Johnston (Raynham, MASS) had two hurried throws and five tackles on the day.  Sophomore Austin Stahmer (Wareham, MASS) and sophomore Nicholas Carpenter (Mashpee, MASS) led the Buccaneers with 8 tackles.  Senior Alexander Ruddy (Mansfield, MASS) and sophomore Sean Smialek (South Dartmouth, MASS) each had a QB sack while Cameron Stewart recorded the only fumble recovery.

Massachusetts Maritime will host Bridgewater State in the 39^th Annual Ocean Spray Cranberry on Saturday, November 14 this Saturday afternoon at 12:00 pm in their season-ending Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference clash at Clean Harbors Stadium.