MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME FOOTBALL
Saturday, October 1, 2016
Elliot Field, Fitchburg, Mass.
FINAL: MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME 30, FITCHBURG STATE 0
FITCHBURG, Mass. -- Senior Marshall McCarthy's (Duxbury, Mass.) 59-yard interception return for a touchdown capped Massachusetts Maritime's first shutout in 10 years as the Buccaneers limited Fitchburg State to 122 yards of total offense in notching a 30-0 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football victory over the Falcons Saturday afternoon at Elliot Field.
The visiting Buccaneers (3-1, 2-0 MASCAC) forced six turnovers by the host Falcons (2-3, 0-3 MASCAC) on the day, as Massachusetts Maritime received the only points it would need just 5:15 into the contest when junior Bobby Gross (Tampa, Fla.) recovered a fumble in the end zone on Fitchburg State's second possession of the game. The visitors extended that margin to 14-0 with 8:06 remaining in the half when senior Shane Haggerty (Cohasset, Mass.) connected with fellow senior Aidan Desrosiers (North Attleboro, Mass.) for a 30-yard scoring strike off a wildcat formation, and following a fumbled Falcon punt less than three minutes later, junior Richie Phillips (Onset, Mass.) scampered in from three yards out for his eighth rushing touchdown of the year (ninth overall) to give the Buccaneers a 20-0 advantage at the break. Freshman Sean Kahler (Greenville, R.I.) capped a seven-play drive late in the third quarter with his first career field goal from 22 yards out to increase the visitors' edge to 23-0, and McCarthy iced the triumph with his first career pick-six early in the final stanza to give Massachusetts Maritime its first shutout since a 19-0 victory at MIT on September 9, 2006.
The Buccaneers rushed for 206 of their 284 yards of total offense in the soggy conditions, as 69 of the visitors' 84 plays came on the ground. Phillips and senior Kenny Pierce (Beverly, Mass.) combined for 45 carries and 162 yards for the winners, who received a combined 73 passing yards from Shane Haggerty and freshman Ty Ebdon (Gales Ferry, Conn.). Massachusetts Maritime's defense limited Fitchburg State to just five first downs and 26 rushing yards on the afternoon, as senior Grady McCarthy (Madison, Conn.) added a pair of interceptions for the visitors who limited the Falcons to just 58 plays on offense. Shane Haggerty added three receptions for 49 yards to go with his touchdown pass for the winners, who also received six total tackles from sophomore Adrell Enlow (Worcester, Mass.).
Senior Jevon Brown-Simpson (Lynn, Mass.) rushed for 32 yards on the day for the hosts, as sophomore quarterback James Antonelli (Westford, Mass.) completed 14-of-36 pass attempts for 96 yards to go with the three interceptions. Senior Mambour Samb (Pawtucket, R.I.) paced Fitchburg State defensively with 19 total tackles (10 solo), as Massachusetts Maritime ended Fitchburg State's three-game series win streak that dated back to 2013.
Massachusetts Maritime hosts Western Connecticut in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference outing next Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium that kicks off at Noon, while Fitchburg State heads to Worcester, Mass. next Saturday afternoon for a MASCAC clash with Worcester State that kicks off at 1:00 p.m.