BUZZARDS BAY, Mass -- In a rare Thursday night game for Buccaneer football, Maritime took on UMass Dartmouth with both teams coming off of wins in their respective games last week. The Corsairs took an early lead in the first half and though the Bucs started a comeback, getting within a touchdown, Dartmouth held off their pirate counterparts winning the game 28-14.

The Basics

Final: Corsairs 28, Buccaneers 14

Records: UMass Dartmouth 5-1 (4-0)

              Maritime 2-3 (2-1)

Inside The Numbers

For The Bucs

• Offensively, quarterback Marc Murphy completed 17 of 26 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
• Running back Ja'iel Johnson ran the ball 15 times for 52 yards. Johnson also caught five passes for 31 yards.
• Tight End Declan Van Nest caught two balls from Murphy for 64 yards, including a 41-yard touchdown pass.
• Wideout Andrew Brightman caught four passes for 55 yards and a touchdown.
• Running back Owen Roth caught three passes out of the backfield, including a 43-yard catch and run.
• Defensively, Hugh Wells led all defenders with nine tackles, all solo. He also had a sack and a tackle for loss.
• Linebacker Hunter Lassere racked up seven tackles, five solo, and had a forced fumble.
• Cornerback Demetri Boozer had five tackles in the game.
• On special teams, kicker Logan Tsika converted both of his point after attempts.
• Punter Jack Mulligan punted four times totaling 160 yards, an average of 40.yards per punt with a long of 44 yards and one punt that pinned Dartmouth inside their 20 yard line.
• Johnson also returned five kickoffs for a total of 93 yards.

For the Corsairs

• Offensively, quarterback Dante Aviles-Santos completed 19 of 30 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball seven times for 14 yards and a score.
• On the ground, Luis Gonzalez ran the ball 10 times for 46 yards and two touchdowns. 
• Richarno Hylton ran the ball 14 times for 66 yards to lead all rushers.
• Wide receiver Angel Sanches caught six passes for 191 yards and a touchdown.
• Defensively, Sam Alicea made six solo tackles, had two sacks and two tackles for loss.
• Defensive lineman Josh Lacerte made three tackles, had a sack and two tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
• On special teams, kicker Braedyn DeMarco converted all four of his PATs.
• Punter Matt Gacioch punted four times for 112 yards, an average of 28 yards per punt.

How It Happened

On the first drive of the game, Dartmouth had two miscues that ended their opening drive on a quick three and out. They had a botched handoff on the first snap of the game followed by a false start that pushed them back to 2nd and 19. The Bucs stopped the drive and forced a punt. Maritime went 49 yards in eight plays on their first drive and were stopped at the Dartmouth 23. Electing to go for it on fourth down, Johnson came up two yards short and the Bucs turned the ball over on downs. On their next drive, the Corsairs marched down the field on six plays and 80 yards, capping the drive off with a Gonzalex run into the endzone from 28 yards out. DeMarco converted the PAT and the Corsairs took a 7-0 lead midway through the first. The Buccaneers were forced to punt again on their next drive, punting the ball to the Dartmouth 10. The Corsairs again put together an 80 yard drive, including a 66-yard pass to Sanchez that set up UMass inside the Bucs five. Maritime was able to keep Dartmouth out of the endzone and on a DeMarco field goal attempt came up with a block by Chris O'Brien. Cobey Williamson returned it to the end zone but the play was called back due to a block in the back. The Buccaneers took over on offense anyway as it was a turnover on downs. UMass Dartmouth led the Bucs 7-0 at the end of one quarter of play.

In the second, Maritime was forced to punt and Dartmouth took over on their own 24. In four minutes and 13 seconds, the Corsairs drove 76 yards in 10 plays and extended their lead to 14-0 on an Aviles-Santos touchdown toss to Sanchez from 22 yards out. On the ensuing kickoff, Dartmouth forced a fumble and recovered it on the Maritime 33 yard line. With a short field, despite a holding call, UMass worked their way into the red zone and then into the endzone on an Aviles-Santos four-yard scamper for the score. The Corsairs extended their lead and took that 21-0 lead into the halftime break.

Down 21-0 coming out of the break, Maritime gained some momentum right out of the third quarter gate. In the opening drive of the second half, the Bucs took the ball 74 yards in seven plays, scoring on a 41-yard pass and catch from Murphy to Van Nest. Tsika converted the PAT and the Bucs were on the board, trailing 21-7. On the Corsairs first drive of the third, Maritime forced a three and out and got great field position at their own 42 on a short, 23 yards punt from Gacioch. Murphy and the Bucs proceeded to close the gap on the scoreboard again on their second drive of the quarter, driving 57 yards on seven plays and capping off the drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Murphy to Brightman. After the Tsika PAT, the Bucs were back within seven points with over 20 minutes to play. On the next UMD drive, Sanchez and Hylton provided the offense necessary for the Corsairs to drive down the field and retake a 14-point lead. Dartmouth went 75 yards on nine plays and Gonzalez ran it into the endzone from one yard out. The Corsairs led 28-14 at the end of the third.

The Bucs got the ball early in the fourth and with great field position on their 46 after another short punt from Gacioch. After a pass and catch from Murphy to Roth for 43 yards the Buccaneers were in business with the ball at the Dartmouth 11 yard line. They were able to get to the eight and get a first and goal on a Corsair defensive holding call. On second down, CJ Waite intercepted Murphy in the endzone to end the Bucs drive. Though the Buccaneers got the ball back again later in the quarter, the Corsairs were able to hold them off, get the ball back and run out the clock to secure the 28-14 road win over the Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers fall to 2-3 overall and 2-1 in conference with five games remaining on the schedule. UMD improved to 5-1 and 4-0 in MASCAC play with the win.

What's Next

The Buccaneers will travel to Worcester State on Saturday, October 15th to take on the Lancers at 2:30pm.