Maine Maritime Academy Athletics

Football
NEFC Championship Game Release

11.15.08

Plymouth State sinks Maine Maritime 46-16

PSU wins NEFC Title and Advances to the NCAA Tournament

Castine, Maine – Senior running back Jeff Mack (Milford, NH) ran for a game high 139 yards on 31 carries and scored two touchdowns, as Plymouth State University improved to 10-1 on the season with a decisive 46-16 victory over Maine Maritime Academy Saturday afternoon in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Championship game. Jeff Mack was named the William J. Mottola Most Valuable Player for his efforts in the game.

The Mariners end their season at 7-4 while the Panthers advance to the NCAA National Tournament, which will begin next Saturday. The Panthers will be making their fourth trip to the NCAA tournament, their first since the 1995 season.

The Panthers converted five MMA turnovers into 21 points while rushing for 287 yards on the day. The Panther defense held MMA to 216 yards rushing, 167 yards below their average, and held the nations third leading rusher (Jim Bower) to 47 yards on the ground.

Plymouth State got off to a great start, scoring on their first possession, when quarterback John DeMarco (Milford, NH) ran the ball in from 40-yards out to give the Panthers the 6-0 lead. The extra point by kicker Chris Dopp (Epsom, NH) was good and with just over three minutes gone in the first quarter the score stood a 7-0.

Maine Maritime responded on their first possession of the game, going 64-yards on 7-plays, capping off the drive with a Jim Bower (12 carries for 47 yards) 14-yard touchdown run. The Mariners converted the two-point conversion and briefly held an 8-7 lead. The Bower touchdown run was his 25^th of the year, which ties the school and NEFC single season record for touchdowns in a season.

Just over two minutes later, the Panthers answered with a 61-yard drive of their own, to gain the lead back at 14-8. Brandon Clough (Rochester, NH) rumbled in from 1-yard out after a 56-yard DeMarco to J.J. Brooks (Seabrook, NH) completion that got the Panthers down to the 3-yard line (extra point was good).

MMA opened the second quarter with a Nick Bourassa (Jay, ME) touchdown run and a Matthew Rende (Augusta, ME) two-point conversion, giving the Mariners a 16-14 lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Tim Nicholson (Franklin, MA) ran the ball all the way back to the MMA 22-yard line, setting up another Plymouth State touchdown just 6 plays later. The short drive was capped off by a Jeff Mack 2-yard run. The extra point kick missed wide to the right and Plymouth led 20-16.

Plymouth State struck again after recovering an MMA fumble, marching down the short field to pay dirt, and increasing the lead to 27-16. The fumble was recovered by Plymouth defensive back Mike Lannon (Sharon, MA) and helped set up the Steve Campbell (Northborough, MA) 1-yard run. Seconds later, MMA quarterback Matthew Rende (5 fumbles on the day) fumbled again on his own 32-yard line, and was recovered by Steve Campbell (2 forced fumbles, 1 recovered, and 9 tackles). The Panthers managed the clock, and with just 23 seconds left in the half, John DeMarco (12 rushes for 78 yards and two scores) scrambled over the left side and punched it in from 6-yards out. The score gave the panthers the 33-16 lead going into the half.

Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter and with barely 5 seconds gone in the fourth, Jeff Mack scored from 9-yards out. With his 139 yards rushing today, Mack broke the single season rushing record with 1,679 yards in 2008.

Plymouth State would tack on another score just minutes later, once again converting off of a MMA fumble. Campbell (5 rushes for 44 yards and 2 td’s) rumbled 28-yards to push the lead to 46-16 and end the NCAA hopes of Maine Maritime Academy.

The Plymouth State defense was impressive, forcing 5 fumbles and only giving up 243 yards of total offense. The Panthers held MMA over 20 points below their scoring average and shut down one of the nations top rushing offenses. Leading the way for the Panther defense was Brian Keenan (Hampstead, NH) and Steve Campbell who had 9 tackles apiece. Jim Sestito (Foxboro, MA) and Alex Battaglino (Avon, CT) each had a sack, while Campbell forced two of the five MMA fumbles.

Maine Maritime linebacker Travis Fergola (Mexico, ME) led MMA with 13 tackles, while Wade Mondoux (Berwick, ME), Cody Andrews (Holden, ME), Joel Chadbourne (Westbrook, ME), and Chris Kates (Lisbon Falls, ME) each tallied 9 tackles.

MMA Athletics • Pleasant Street • Castine, ME 04420 • (207) 326-2450