FITCHBURG, Mass — The Buccaneers defense played a complete game on Saturday against Fitchburg State, holding the Falcons to just three points and 134 total offensive yards in their 21-3 MASCAC victory.
The Basics
Final: Buccaneers 21, Falcons 3
Records: Maritime (3-3, 3-2)
Fitchburg (1-5, 0-5)
Inside The Numbers
Maritime
- Quarterback Evan Pierce scored twice in the game, both times on the ground from a yard out and ran for 38 yards on 12 carries in the Bucs run-heavy offense.
- Zach Proctor led all rushers with 67 yards on the ground on 18 carries. Brooks Moss added 50 rushing yards on six carries.
- Wide receiver Brennan Keefe caught both of Pierce’s completions in the game for 29 yards.
- Defensively, Jackson Mahoney led all Bucs with 7 total tackles, six solo and one assists, and had three tackles for loss.
- Defensive lineman Mac Kromenhoek made six tackles, recorded a sack, and had two tackles for loss.
- Safety and senior captain Liam Hines had an interception that he returned 60 yards for a score and had one tackle in the win.
- On special teams, punter Logan Tsika punted four times for 145 yards, an average of 36.3 yards per punt and pinned the Falcons inside their 20 yard line once.
- Kicker Andon Werling was 1-for-2 on PATs in the game.
Fitchburg State
- Quarterback Devin Lebron completed 11-of-24 passes for 112 yards and an interception.
- Matthew Aguirre ran the ball 15 times for 35 yards.
- Wideout Emilio Cabey caught six passes for 49 yards to lead all receivers in both categories.
- Defensively, Dexter Brown led all players with 14 total tackles.
- Emmanuel Cano recovered a fumble for the Falcons and had 11 tackles.
- On special teams, kicker Jonah Costa recorded the only Fitchburg points of the day with a 31-yard field goal in the first half.
- Punter Hunter Sands punted five times for 183 yards, an average of 36.6 yards per punt.
How It Happened
Fitchburg received the opening kick off and went three-and-out at the hands of the Buccaneers defense. On the Bucs first drive of the game they went 59 yards on 13 plays taking 6:34 off the clock and scored on Pierce’s first touchdown of the day from a yard out on fourth and goal. Werling converted the PAT and the Bucs led, 7-0. On the ensuing kickoff, Elijah Zaire McKnight returned the kick 57 yards to the Maritime 31 yard line. The Bucs defense held pat allowing just 18 yards on eight plays and the Falcons settled for three points from 31 yards out off the foot of Costa. Maritime’s lead was cut to four points, 7-3.
The 7-3 score carried into the second quarter and after a Pierce interception, a turnover on downs by the Falcons, a fumble from the Buccaneers and then punts by both teams, the Maritime defense struck with a 60-yard interception for a touchdown from Hines. Werling’s PAT was blocked and the Buccaneers led 13-3. Fitchburg took over with under a minute on the clock in the second quarter and after stalling in their own end they kneeled out the clock and the teams went to the break with Maritime leading 13-3.
There were eight points scored in the second half and they all came from the Bucs in the fourth quarter. After a scoreless third where the teams traded possessions, The Buccaneers took over after a Falcons punt early in the fourth. On 10 plays and 64 yards that took 5:40, Maritime marched in to the end zone again on another one-yard scamper by Pierce and went up 19-3. Pierce went on to convert a two-point conversion on a pass to Keefe and the Bucs extended their lead to three possessions, 21-3. The Falcons were unable to move the ball deep enough in to Maritime territory on their next and final drive with the Bucs turning the Falcons over on downs. The Bucs ran out the final 3:36 on the clock and left Fitchburg with a 21-3 conference win over the Falcons.
What’s Next
Maritime is at Framingham State on Saturday, October 26th at 12pm for a conference showdown with the Rams.
