PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Maritime football took on Plymouth State in MASCAC play on Saturday afternoon on the road. The Buccaneers were unable to hold off the Panthers as they lost to their northernmost conference opponent, 27-7.

The Basics

Final: Plymouth 27, Maritime 7

Records: Plymouth 5-4 (5-2 MASCAC)

           Maritime 4-5 (3-4 MASCAC)

For The Bucs

• Colbe Andrews (Old Lyme, CT) led the offensive attack for the Bucs rushing for a touchdown on 10 yards rushing and had 53 passing yards on 5-of-14 passing.
• Jonah Mitchell (Sanford, FL) led the Buccaneer rushing attack with 39 yards on 13 carries. 
• Andrew Brightman (Wareham, MA) hauled in three passes for 40 yards.
• Defensively, Cobey Williamson (North Easton, MA) made his league leading fifth interception of the season which he returned 41 yards. He also made four tackles in the game. 
• Hugh Wells (West Hartford, CT) led all defenders with 13 tackles. He also had three tackles for los and a forced fumble.
• Cole Keefe (Merrimack, N.H.) made 12 tackles, one for loss and also forced a fumble.
• Senior Captain Kyle Rogers (Abington, MA) blocked a kick while also making three tackles. That is the fourth team blocked kick for the Bucs in 2021.
• On special teams, Graduate captain George Lampros (Bridgewater, MA) remained perfect on the season making his lone PAT of the day. Lampros also punted nine times for 336 yards, an average of 37.3 yards per kick with a long of 44 yards.

For The Panthers

• Brett Lavanchy threw for 198 yards on 16 completions with two touchdowns and an interception. 
• Manny Sanchez led all rushers with 74 yards on 21 attempts and a touchdown.
• Gavin Moody and Brian McGough each caught a touchdown pass. Moody caught six passes for 77 yards to lead all receivers. McGough caught two passes for 67 yards.
• Defensively, Quinn Girard recorded seven tackles and a tackle for loss in the game. 
• Kayden Baillargeon made six tackles and broke up two passes.
• Emmanuel Ughu made the only sack of the game and three other tackles. 
• On special teams, Ryan Milliken returned a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown.
• Kicker Dan Carey missed two field goals and made three-of-four extra points, having one blocked. 

How It Happened

The game started off well for the Panthers as Milliken took the opening kickoff 85 yards to the endzone for a touchdown. Carey's PAT was good to put Plymouth up 7-0. The next three drives ended in punts, two for the Bucs, one for the Panthers. On their second offensive drive of the game Plymouth drove 50 yards and was stopped on 3rd and eight by the Buccaneer defense at the 17 yardline. Carey came on to attempt a 27-yard field goal, which he missed, keeping the score at 7-0 Panthers, which it would remain at the end of the first.

On the drive that carried over to the second quarter for the Panthers, Lavanchy tossed a 59-yard touchdown pas to McGough on the first play of the quarter to put Plymouth up 13-0. Carey came on to attempt the PAT and had it blocked by Rogers. Thomas Garland (Weymouth, MA) recovered the blocked kick and returned it 20 yards. The score remained 13-0. A few drives later, the Bucs were forced in to a punting situation. Lampros punted the ball 39 yards to Milliken. On the play, Maritime was called for kick catch interference giving the Panthers the ball at their own 43. With a short field, Plymouth went to the pass game to try and extend their lead. On the 3rd and eight play of the drive Lavanchy had his pass intercepted by Williamson. He returned the ball to the Plymouth State eight yard line. The interception set up an eight yard touchdown drive for the Bucs, capped off by an Andrews one-yard dash in to the endzone. Lampros converted the PAT to cut the Plymouth lead to 13-7. On the ensuing drive, Lavanchy and the Panthers drove down the field, 71 yards in nine plays and scored on a Lavanchy to Moody 17-yard conection. Carey made the extra point to make the score 20-7 at the half.

Maritime received the second half kick and was held to a three-and-out by the Panthers defense. After a Lampros 41-yard punt, Plymouth took the ball on a 7-yard drive once again in 11 plays and capped the drive off with a Sanchez 23-yard touchdown. Carey made the extra point and the hosts led the Bucs 27-7. 

For the reaminder of the game the Plymouth defense stood strong not allowing the Buccaneers to get out of their own territory on any of their remaining drives. The Buccaneers defense also held the Panther offense at bay. Plymouth got the ball back late in the fourth quarter with 3:26 remaining. The ran the clock down with a first down and two kneel downs to pick up the 27-7 victory over the Buccaneers.

What's Next

Maritime will host Bridgewater State in the 42nd Annual Cranberry Bowl game, Sponsored by A&A Metro Transportation on Saturday, November 13th at 12pm. The game will be senuor day for the 13 Buccaneers seniors on the roster and is the final game of the 2021 season.