The start of the 2014 Massachusetts Maritime football season is just a few short weeks away, and as pre-season preparations continue, Head Coach Jeremy Cameron has tabbed five Buccaneers to serve as co-captains for his 10^th season at the program’s helm this fall.

The senior quintet of John Trudel (Niantic, Conn./Ledyard), Kevin Stanton (Abington, Mass./Cardinal Spellman), Reynard Ortiz (Lowell, Mass./Lowell), Zach Ryan (Danvers, Mass./Danvers) and Brad Skeffington (Salem, Mass./Salem) will provide leadership for the 2014 squad, as all five have made significant contributions to Massachusetts Maritime’s success over the last three seasons.  Cameron, who has guided the Buccaneers to four straight winning campaigns for the first time since the late 1980’s, has great confidence in this group to keep the program heading in that same positive direction.

“All five of our captains are outstanding leaders in the program, in the classroom and in the campus community,” Cameron, who has guided Massachusetts Maritime to 20 victories over the last four years, says of this year’s group.  “They have exhibited an incredible work ethic both on and off the field, and they know what it takes to be successful.  The experience and determination that they bring to every aspect of our team will benefit everyone tremendously.”

Trudel was a dual threat last season for the Buccaneers and looks to be Cameron’s starting quarterback headed into the fall, as he accounted for 17 total touchdowns (10 passing, seven rushing) on just 94 total plays while amassing 378 yards of total offense.  “Johnny Touchdown” also earned all-Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference honors as a punter, as he averaged 39.7 yards on 24 attempts with a long of 56 yards.  Stanton, an all-New England Football Conference pick as a sophomore, returns to the Massachusetts Maritime defensive backfield after registering a team-leading four interceptions, including a school-record 100-yard return for a pick six at Worcester State, and adding 42 total tackles (34 solo) along the way.

Ortiz solidifies the Buccaneer linebacking corps after recording 49 total tackles (28 solo), three interceptions and seven pass break-ups for loss as a junior, while Ryan, who joined Stanton as an all-NEFC pick in 2012, returns to Cameron’s defensive line after collecting 37 total tackles (31 solo), seven pass break-ups and five tackles for losses of 17 yards.  Skeffington is also a triple threat for Massachusetts Maritime, as he has played at quarterback, running back and defensive back during his career.  Last season, Skeffington recorded 35 total tackles (30 solo) and broke up four passes, and on the offensive side of the ball he rushed for 82 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

All five Buccaneer captains have been named at points during their career to the Massachusetts Maritime Athletic Director’s Honor Roll, MASCAC Fall All-Academic team and the NEFC All-Academic squad.  The quintet joins 51 letterwinners who are set to return for pre-season training camp in just over two weeks, as Cameron’s crew begins the 2014 season on Thursday, September 11^th when the Buccaneers travel to Throggs Neck, N.Y. to take on SUNY-Maritime in the Seventh Annual Chowder Bowl clash that kicks off at 7:00 p.m. EDT.