MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME FOOTBALL
Sixth Annual Chowder Bowl
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Clean Harbors Stadium, Buzzards Bay, Mass.
FINAL: MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 24, SUNY-MARITIME 20
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. -- Junior John Trudel's (Niantic, Conn.) 12-yard run with 3:16 remaining proved to be the difference as Massachusetts Maritime overcame a late third quarter 10-point deficit to post a 24-20 victory over SUNY-Maritime in the Sixth Annual Chowder Bowl played Thursday evening at Clean Harbors Stadium.
The host Buccaneers (1-0) trailed 20-10 after the visiting Privateers (0-1) used a field goal and a five-yard touchdown run by junior Greg Caneparo (Nanuet, N.Y.) with 22 seconds remaining in the third quarter to snap a 10-10 halftime tie, but junior Bobby Rosano (North Reading, Mass.) returned the ensuing kickoff 86 yards for a score that pulled Massachusetts Maritime back to within three at 20-17. After an exchange of possessions, SUNY-Maritime took control at midfield with just under 10 minutes remaining and drove to the hosts' 21-yard-line before fumbling with five minutes to play, and the Buccaneers marched 70 yards in seven play for the deciding score, which was keyed by a pair of third down conversion passes by senior quarterback Mike Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) of 33 yards to junior Jonathon Wright (Newburyport, Mass.) and 13 yards to junior E.J. Bennett (East Wareham, Mass.), the latter of which set up Trudel's winning scamper. The Privateers used a 14-yard kickoff return and a personal foul penalty to take over at midfield on the game's final possession with 3:09 remaining, and after converting a pair of fourth downs and driving to the Massachusetts Maritime 11 with nine seconds remaining, Buccaneer junior Reynard Ortiz (Lowell, Mass.) ended the contest with a stop of SUNY-Maritime freshman quarterback Isaiah Covington (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at his own 10 to give the hosts their first Chowder Bowl triumph in six tries.
Senior Brandon Rodrigues (Brockton, Mass.) staked Massachusetts Maritime to a 3-0 first quarter advantage with a 30-yard field goal in the closing minute, but SUNY-Maritime evened matters after recovering a fumble at midfield and receiving a 35-yard field goal from sophomore Diogo Dietrich (Rio de Janiero, Brazil). The Privateers capitalized on another Buccaneer fumble on the ensuing possession on the hosts' 41-yard line, and Caneparo capped a six-play drive with a two-yard touchdown plunge to give the visitors a 10-3 edge midway through the second stanza. After Massachusetts Maritime drove to the visitors' five before again turning the ball over on an interception, the hosts took advantage of an interception of their own by junior Brian Liamos (Brookline, N.H.) on the SUNY-Maritime 22 that was returned to the Privateer 2, and senior Stefan Gustafson (Plymouth, Mass.) scored from a yard out to plays later to forge the 10-10 halftime deadlock.
SUNY-Maritime took the opening kickoff after intermission and used a 12-play, 47-yard drive that resulted in a Dietrich 37-yard field goal to take a 13-10 lead, and the Privateers, who held the ball for 13:40 in the third quarter, followed with another 12 play drive which Caneparo capped with his second score of the evening to stake the visitors to their 10-point cushion, setting up Rosano's return and Trudel's fourth quarter heroics.
Despite committing the five turnovers and only holding the ball for 16:51 for the entire game, Massachusetts Maritime amassed 288 yards of total offense, including a 16-of-25 effort for 176 yards through the air by Stanton and 67 rushing yards from Gustafson. Senior Keith Caruso (Hingham, Mass.) hauled in five receptions for 59 yards, and with his first catch of the night became the Buccaneers' career receptions leader (126), breaking Assistant Coach Mike Kelley's mark of 121 set from 1995-98. Rosano returned four kickoffs for 155 yards to go with his score while adding five catches for 39 yards for the winners, who also received four catches from Bennett for 51 yards.
SUNY-Maritime recorded 20 first downs and rushed for 267 of its 313 yards of total offense in the setback, as the Privateers controlled the clock to a whopping 43:09 of possession time. Junior Paul Briggs (Shrub Oak, N.Y.) gained 117 yards on 28 carries for the visitors, who also received 59 yards on the ground from sophomore quarterback Zachary Chilcott (Ulster Park, N.Y.) as well as 47 yards from senior Frank Laino (Rockaway, N.Y.).
Junior Victor Andrade (Yarmouthport, Mass.) paced Massachusetts Maritime defensively with 11 total tackles and a sack, while Ortiz and fellow junior Richard Ford (Lynn, Mass.) each recorded 10 stops for the Buccaneers, with Ford adding a sack and a blocked field goal attempt. Junior Nick Coffiey (Wilmington, Del.) paced SUNY-Maritime with nine total tackles (seven solo) on the night, while sophomore Kameron Knight (Clayton, N.C.) added eight tackles and a fumble recovery for the Privateers.
Massachusetts Maritime heads to Castine, Maine next Saturday, September 21st to take on Maine Maritime in the 41st Annual Admiral's Cup clash that kicks off at 1:00 p.m., while SUNY-Maritime hosts Merchant Marine in the Seafaring Scuffle next Saturday afternoon in Throggs Neck, N.Y. beginning at 2:00 p.m.