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Release

9.12.05
The Mariner football program began the 2005 season with a strong performance on the road against Mt. Ida College of Newton, MA. The Mariners used a powerful running game and some solid defense to earn an impressive 21-13 season-opening victory.

The Mariners relied on a strong running game, rushing for a total of 343 yards, and 352 yards of total offense. Defensively the Mariners held the Mt. Ida Mustangs to only 88 yards on the ground. Time of possession for the game read as MMA: 34:54 and Mt. Ida: 25:06.

Led by senior running back Don Thibodeau (pictured right) of Shawmut, ME, (275 yards rushing on 39 attempts) the Mariners jumped out to a 6-point lead after Brandon Goodrich (Waterboro, ME) returned the opening kick-off 32 yards to the Mt. Ida 46 yard line. Two plays later at the 14:12 mark in the first quarter the Mariners had a six point lead on a 41 yard Thibodeau run.

After a 79 yards kick-off return to the MMA 10 yard line, the Mariner defense held strong, with Wayne Withers (South Portland, ME) recovering a Mt. Ida fumble.

On the day, Mt. Ida was able to post a total of 253 yards in the air, with quarterback Matt Marshall (21-32-2-253) connecting with receiver Mark Mitchell on a 5 yard pass to tie the score at six with 5:51 to go in the first quarter. Michael Mormile's extra point attempt was good to give the Mustangs a 7-6 first quarter lead.

On the opening drive of the second quarter, the Mustangs moved the ball 43 yards on 11 plays before the Mariner defense forced them to punt. On the next possession, the Mariners were unable to score, moving the ball 9 yards on 4 plays before BJ Dunlap (Norridgewock, ME) punted 43 yards to the Mt. Ida 3 yard line.

On the next Mt. Ida possession, it was Nate Bolduc (pictured right) of Farmington, ME who intercepted a Matt Marshall pass, returning it 3 yards to his own 23 yard line. After trading field position, it was Thibodeau who gave the Mariners a 14-7 half-time lead with an 8 yard touchdown run at the 0:19 mark in the second quarter

To start the second half, Joe Blier of Bangor, ME recovered the third fumble of the day for the Mariners after a 10 play, 52 yard Mt. Ida drive to the MMA 23 yard line. The Mariners drove down the field 71 yards in 12 plays, only to miss a 23 yard field goal attempt. On the next possession it was Bolduc again coming through on defense with MMA's fourth fumble recovery.

The scored remained he same until Brandon Hamilton intercepted a pass at the Mt. Ida 46 yard lineand returned it to the Mt. Ida 18 yard line. Ken Rackliff of Gardiner, ME then ran it in from 18 yards out to give the Mariners a 21-7 lead with 2:23 left in the game. Despite a 6 yard pass being caught by Charles Caughman from Matt Marshall with 38 seconds to go, the Mariners held on for a hard-earned season opening road win.

The Mustangs of Mt. Ida fall to 0-2 and the Mariners of Maine Maritime Academy stand at 1-0. Next up for the Mariners will be the visiting Curry College Colonels who come to Ritchie Field in Castine for a 1:00pm homecoming kick-off on Saturday, September 17th.
MMA Athletics • Pleasant Street • Castine, ME 04420 • (207) 326-2450