MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME FOOTBALL

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Currier Field, Plymouth, N.H.

FINAL:              MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 27, PLYMOUTH STATE 7

PLYMOUTH, N.H. --  Freshman Kenny Pierce (Beverly, Mass.) rushed for 149 yards on 19 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns, while senior quarterback John Trudel (Niantic, Conn.) completed 20-of-29 pass attempts for 151 yards and two more scores to lead Massachusetts Maritime to a 27-7 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football victory over Plymouth State Saturday afternoon at Currier Field.

Pierce capped a game-opening 12-play, 56-yard drive with a two-yard plunge just four minutes into the contest to give the visiting Buccaneers (3-6, 2-5 MASCAC) the early advantage, and he extended that margin to 14-0 midway through the second quarter on a 14-yard touchdown run that was set up by a strip sack by senior Victor Andrade (Yarmouth Port, Mass.) on the host Panthers’ (1-8, 0-7 MASCAC) 41-yard line.  Following a Plymouth State punt, Trudel connected with fellow senior Jonathon Wright (Newburyport, Mass.) on a 20-yard scoring strike and a 20-0 lead at the break, and Massachusetts Maritime capped its scoring just 4:35 after intermission when Trudel hooked up with senior Bobby Rosano (North Reading, Mass.) for a 13-yard touchdown on the Buccaneers’ opening possession of the second half.  The Panthers’ lone score of the day came with 1:09 remaining in the contest, as senior quarterback Drew Bolton (Concord, N.H.) found freshman Jake Becker (Portsmouth, N.H.) on a 29-yard touchdown to cap a six-play, 91-yard drive.

Pierce averaged 7.8 yards per carry in amassing 164 all-purpose yards in the win for Massachusetts Maritime, as Rosano (eight) and fellow senior E.J. Bennett (East Wareham, Mass.) combined for 14 receptions and 87 yards for the Buccaneers, who amassed 336 yards of total offense in running 72 plays on the afternoon.  Bolton completed 10-of-23 pass attempts for 131 yards in the setback for Plymouth State, which received 55 rushing yards from senior Mark Hennessy (Westford, Mass.) to go with a combined seven receptions for 111 yards by Becker and junior R.J. Kasper (Killingworth, Conn.).  The Panthers collected 206 yards of total offense on the day but were limited to just 75 on the ground.

Andrade led the way defensively with nine total tackles (five solo and two for losses) to go with his sack and forced fumble for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received nine total stops from senior Kyle Hardy (Salem, Mass.), who also averaged 12.4 yards on four total punt returns.  Juniors Brendan Smith (Dartmouth, Mass.) and David Yerxa (Milford, Conn.) also registered sacks on the day for the Buccaneers, who also received an interception from senior Brad Skeffington (Salem, Mass.).

Senior Kyle Wilson (Dover, N.H.) paced Plymouth State defensively with nine total tackles (seven solo) and 1 ½ sacks on the day, while sophomore Will Perotti (East Canaan, Conn.) also collected nine total stops for the Panthers, who also received six tackles and a pair of sacks from junior James McCormack (Saugus, Mass.).

Massachusetts Maritime heads to Bridgewater, Mass. next Saturday afternoon to renew rivalries with Bridgewater State in the 36^th Annual Cranberry Bowl Presented By Ocean Spray that kicks off at Noon, while Plymouth State hosts Fitchburg State in its Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference finale next Saturday afternoon at Currier Field that also kicks off at Noon.