WORCESTER, Mass — In the Buccaneers penultimate game of the 2024 season, they ran for 363 yards and three offensive touchdowns in their 34-7 win over the Lancers on Saturday.
The Basics
Final: Buccaneers 34, Lancers 7
Records: Maritime (5-4, 5-3)
Worcester (3-6, 3-5)
Inside The Numbers
Maritime
- Brooks Moss led the rushing attack for the Bucs with 111 yards on seven carries and a touchdown. He averaged 15.9 yards per carry.
- Daniel Molloy ran for 66 yards and two touchdowns on six carries in the win.
- Quarterback Evan Pierce scurried for 32 yards on 11 carries and a score.
- Defensively, TJ Jones had an interception that he ran back 59 yards for a touchdown to go along with four tackles and a half tackle for loss.
- Marcus Mauceri led the Bucs with five tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, and a forced fumble.
- Kyle Stephens added a sack and 1.5 tackles for loss to go along with two total tackles.
- Demetri Boozer also recorded an interception and two tackles.
- On special teams James Sansone converted four of five PATs in the win.
- Punter Logan Tsika was only called on once and had a 43 yard punt.
Worcester
- Quarterback Cam Ayotte completed 14-of-23 passes for 190 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
- Nico Holmes led the rushing attack with 89 yards on 17 carries.
- Drew von Klock led all receivers with five catches for 129 yards and the only Lancers touchdown from 52 yards out.
- Defensively, John McMasters III had 18 total tackles in the loss.
- Matt O’Connor added 13 tackles of his own.
- On special Teams, Manuel Freitas converted his only PAT of the day.
- Punter Christian Sacco punted three times for 77 yards, an average of 25.7 yards per punt, and pinned the Bucs inside their own 20 yard line once.
How It Happened
After a three-and-out for the Lancers on the first possession of the game, the Buccaneers took over with great field position at the Worcester 38 yard line. Despite a fumble on the drive by the Bucs, Maritime went 38 yards on six plays and scored one a Pierce run for three yards to take a 7-0 lead early in the game. Worcester struck back quickly on the ensuing drive with a 52-yard hook up from Ayotte to von Klock for a game-tying touchdown. Not even halfway through the first quarter, the scoring continued as the Buccaneers scored on a chunk play on third and six from their own 43 yard line. Moss took it to the house from 57 yards away to give the Bucs the lead once again and for the remainder of the game, 14-7. Maritime held on to that seven-point lead through the remainder of the first.
In the second, the Bucs found the end zone again, this time on a 39-yard rush by Molloy following a turnover on downs by the Lancers at the Maritime 47 yard line. The Bucs went 53 yards on five plays and extended their lead to two scores, 21-7, an advantage they carried into the halftime break.
The Bucs received the second half opening kickoff and turned the ball over on downs at the Lancer 15 yard line. So close to scoring, the Buccaneers would eventually capitalize on the Lancers next drive. After Ayotte found von Klock for a 52-yard completion, he threw his first interception of the day to Jones who ran the ball back to the house for the touchdown. Sansone’s PAT was no good and the Bucs led by 20, 27-7.
The Bucs had the ball to start the fourth quarter after taking over with two minutes left in the third. In their longest drive of the day, Maritime went 52 yards on 12 plays taking 7:35 off the clock and capping the drive off with Molloy’s second score of the afternoon. The Bucs now led 34-7 with 9:22 left in the game. Worcester drove on their next drive, getting to the Bucs 24 yard line. On fourth down they failed to convert the fourth and five and turned the ball over to the Bucs with 4:58 left in regulation. Maritime proceeded to go 46 yards on seven plays and kneeled out the clock from the Worcester 33 yard line to seal the 34-7 victory over the Lancers to go to 5-4 on the season.
What’s Next
The Buccaneers travel to Bridgewater State next Saturday to take on the Bears in the 45th playing of the Cranberry Bowl at 12pm.
