To say that the quarterback match-up in the 35th Annual Cranberry Bowl clash is a contrast in styles would be more than a fair assessment.

Massachusetts Maritime’s Mike Stanton is a traditional drop back passer who will graduate with nearly every school passing record.  Bridgewater State’s Mike McCarthy is a dual threat who can beat you with his legs as well as he can beat you with his arm.

But while their styles may contrast, there is a common bond that both signal callers share:  success.

Since Stanton’s ascension into the starting role three games into his freshman campaign, the Buccaneers have been one of the nation’s most prolific attacks while posting three straight winning seasons for the first time in over a decade.  And since McCarthy’s arrival from Martha’s Vineyard, the Bears have made tracks to the NCAA championship as one of the region’s winningest programs.

If the first three meetings between these two standouts are any indication, fans should be in for a treat as they lead their respective squads into battle for The Scoop for a final time.  Stanton directed Massachusetts Maritime to a 23-7 triumph as a rookie back in 2010, and McCarthy has provided two of the more memorable performances in Cranberry Bowl history in the last two years, including last fall when he directed Bridgewater State to a fourth quarter 31-21 comeback victory here at Clean Harbors Stadium to earn his second straight Harrington Trophy as the game’s Most Valuable Player.

As the Mikes prepare for their final meeting, they share another common bond:  team first.

“Numbers don’t make a difference—at the end of the day, it’s all about the team,” Stanton says.  “The only goal going in is to get the win.”

“Individual numbers are an afterthought,” McCarthy echoes.  “Numbers are secondary—the team comes first and always will come first.”

The memories made in a rivalry game last with both teams years after the final whistle sounds, and both quarterbacks are grateful for the memories the Cranberry Bowl has provided over the last three years.  McCarthy knew the Bears faced a challenge last year being down four in the final frame, and a loss would have certainly knocked Bridgewater State out of NCAA playoff contention.

“I just wanted to make sure we took it one first down at a time—we were determined not to come off that field without scoring,” McCarthy says of last year’s comeback.  “I had complete confidence that our defense would do the job, and it was up to the offense to do the same.  We stayed focused and were able to execute.”

Stanton’s taste of Cranberry success came in the final game of his freshman season, as he completed just 10 passes for 119 yards, but one was a 29-yard second quarter scoring strike that helped stake Massachusetts Maritime to a 13-0 halftime lead en route to its first series win since 1996.

“That game was important for a lot of reasons,” Stanton says of the 2010 contest.  “You always want to end the season on a high note against your rival, but it gave us a winning record and momentum going into the future.  It’s something I’ll always remember.”

The middle match-up in 2011 is one that both quarterbacks look back on as the best of their three meetings to date, as the see-saw affair at Swenson Field provided four ties and a pair of comebacks that each directed.  Stanton’s 20-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter rallied the Buccaneers back from 14 points down to tie the score at 28, but McCarthy responded with an eight-yard scoring strike of his own to give the Bears the lead back.  The hosts built their advantage to 10 before a 31-yard Stanton touchdown pass pulled the visitors back to within three, and Massachusetts Maritime drove deep into Bridgewater State territory in the closing minutes before succumbing by a 38-35 final.

“That game showed what makes the rivalry great,” Stanton says.  “Both teams left everything they had on the field, and unfortunately we came up just a little short.”

McCarthy, who amassed 246 yards of total offense in collecting his first Harrington MVP honors, concurs:  “That was a fun game to be involved in—it was back and forth the whole day, and both teams kept making plays.  We were able to stay focused and our defense came up big at the end.”

In preparation for the final Mike & Mike showdown, both head coaches know how positive the impact that both quarterbacks have had on their respective programs.

“Mike is a high level player who only cares about winning,” Massachusetts Maritime’s Jeremy Cameron says of Stanton.  “He is extremely tough and makes everyone around him better.  He understands what we are doing in the scheme of our offense—his numbers could be higher, but he has sacrificed those in the system we run.  He just cares about getting the “W”.”

“I’ve said before that Mike isn’t just an outstanding quarterback, he’s a great football player,” Bridgewater State’s Chuck Denune says of McCarthy.  “He may not have the numbers of a traditional quarterback, but he has the desire to win and wants his team to be successful.  He has always given us a shot to win, and he will kick, scratch and claw to help us get to that goal.  He is one of the best football players I’ve ever coached.”

The coaches are effusive in praise of their respective field generals, but what does the dynamic duo have to say in describing themselves—and their counterpart?  When asked to choose the one word that describes them best, their responses were...

“Competitor,” says Stanton.  “I never give up—no matter how many mistakes I might make or how many times I get knocked down, I keep getting up.  I never go out on the field thinking we are not going to win.”

“Relentless,” McCarthy says.  “Every time I step on the field, I do whatever I can to elevate the play of the team, whether it’s in a practice or in a game—you can never rest on your accomplishments.”

And about each other?

“He’s unpredictable,” Stanton says of McCarthy.  “Elusive.  Crafty, those would be good words.  He just keeps coming after you, and that’s what winners do.”

“He’s a great competitor and someone who makes great decisions on the field,” McCarthy says of Stanton.  “He’s a tough opponent to go against.”

As the mid-November sun sets over Buzzards Bay this afternoon, the curtain will slowly come down on the outstanding careers of both quarterbacks, and both will be overcoming emotions that will most assuredly wash over them as the day progresses.

“I don’t know if I’ve ever really thought about it ending,” Stanton says.  “It’s been an amazing ride over the past four years.  To play in a rivalry game like this is special, but being part of this with my teammates is what I will always remember.”

“It’s always big for me coming back to the Cape,” McCarthy, an Edgartown native, says.  “It will be real emotional playing in front of so many family and friends.  Knowing it could be my last game ever, it will be special and memorable.”

One of the Mikes will come off the turf today with The Scoop in hand, but the rewards they have provided for both programs will be remembered long after their last attempt.  The first three acts of their memorable play have provided great drama, and undoubtedly their final act will bring down the curtain on a classic quarterback rivalry.