Northfield, Vt. (Oct. 31, 2009) – The Maritime football team lost an important first-place game on Saturday at Norwich, 15-3, in the final road game of the regular season. With the loss, the Privateers fall to 6-3 overall (3-2 ECFC), while the Cadets improve to 6-3 (5-0 ECFC).
In victory, Norwich has clinched the No. 1 overall seed in the conference and will host the 2009 ECFC Championship Game on Saturday, November 14, 2009. The Privateers’ chances of playing in that game are now in their own hands after Mount Ida’s 29-28 win over Husson has eliminated the Eagles, which means a Maritime win in Week Ten will guarantee a second-place finish in the ECFC.
The usually-strong Maritime offense was held to a season-low three points after gaining 333 yards of total offense, but committing six turnovers on the day. The only points of the game for the Privateers came a season-long 34-yard field goal by sophomore David Kittinger-K/P (Fort Myers, Fla./South Fort Myers) in the third quarter.
Maritime’s best chance of scoring a touchdown came late in the first quarter. After charging the ball upfield 84 yards on 15 plays, the Privateers got the ball to the Norwich 2-yard line, but could not convert on a fourth and goal and turned the ball over on downs.
The Cadets scored the first TD of the game on a 22-yard run at 8:57 of the second quarter. Kittinger’s field goal cut that lead to 7-3 and that score stood until almost midway through the fourth.
On the Privateers second possession of the final period, the Norwich defense forced a fumble at the Maritime 47-yard line and brought it in for a touchdown to open the lead up to 13-3. After a questionable two-point conversion was successful, the Cadets had a 15-3 lead.
Maritime would turn the ball over on each of its next three possessions (one fumble and two interceptions), but got the ball back one last time with seven second left. However, after two pass completions moved the ball to the Norwich 31-yard line, time expired on the Privateers.
Sophomore Anthony Gagliano-QB (Islip Terrace, N.Y./St. Anthony’s) led the Privateers offense with 136 passing yards and 87 rushing yards. Gagliano was 10-for-20 in completions on the day, with two interceptions. On defense, freshman Pat Lasher-LB (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) had a team-high seven total tackles (six solo and two assisted), including one for a loss of two yards, while first-year sophomore Keith Barnes-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) ranked second on the squad with 6.5 tackles (six solo and one assisted). On special teams, Kittinger averaged 39.75 yards on four punts, with a long of 53 yards, and landed one inside the Norwich 20-yard line.
The Privateers return to action when they host 5-4 (3-2 ECFC) Gallaudet on Friday, Nov. 6, in the regular season-finale. Maritime controls its own destiny, as a win over the Bison would clinch a spot in the ECFC Championship Game the following week. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. under the lights on Reinhart Field.
