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10.4.08

Maine Maritime outlasts Westfield State 33-28

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Junior receiver Travis Shaw caught a 10-yard touchdown pass with 1:34 remaining as Maine Martime survived a Westfield State comeback to post a 33-28 New England Football Conference victory on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Maine Maritime is now 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the NEFC Bogan Division. Westfield, which suffered its second straight last-minute home setback, drops to 2-3 and 0-2.

The Mariners bolted to a 27-7 lead early in the second quarter, but the Owls rallied to take a 28-27 lead with 6:36 remaining in the game when junior receiver David Benoit (Ludlow) caught his third touchdown pass from senior quarterback Dan Cohen (Wilbraham).

But the Mariners returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to midfield, then converted two big fourth-down plays during the game-winning drive.

On fourth-and-11 from the Owl 35, quarterback Tyler Angell found a wide open Todd Murphy out of the backfield for an 18-yard gain to the 17.

Then on fourth-and-3 from the 10, Maine decided not to attempt a field goal because of its struggling kicking game. The moved paid off as Angell found Shaw in the right corner of the end zone for the game-winning TD pass. The run for the two-point conversion failed.

Westfield took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Mariner 35. But a critical holding call on 3-and-3 backed the Owls up to the 45. On fourth down, Benoit was wide open at the 23 but was unable to latch on to the ball as it was thrown just a bit behind him.

Maine Maritime converted several Westfield turnovers into touchdowns to take its commanding 27-7 lead with 12:19 left in the first half.

Linebacker Wade Mondoux returned a fumble 70 yards for a touchdown to give the Mariners a 6-0 lead. The PAT was blocked by Westfield’s Josh Mathieu.

Westfield took a 7-6 lead on a one-yard TD reception by Benoit to cap an 8-play, 58-yard drive.

Maine took the ensuing kickoff and quickly marched 45 yards in five plays, capped by a 15-yard TD scamper by Angell. Jim Bower rushed for the two-point conversion.

The Mariners took a 21-7 lead on the first play of the second quarter on a 1-yard run by Angell to cap a 9-play, 72-yard drive. Mike Brennan’s PAT kick made it 21-7.

The Mariners recovered a Westfield fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the Owl 36 and scored five plays later on a 12-yard run by Bower. The PAT kick failed.

Westfield’s second touchdown was set up when Steve Skribiski recovered a fumbled fair catch at the Maine 20. Six plays later, Cohen and Benoit hooked up for an eight-yard TD pass.

The Owls’ two fourth-quarter scores also were set up by Mariner turnovers – two interception totaling 64 return yards by junior defensive back Nick Leverone that gave the Owls excellent field position at the Mariner 32 and 17, respectively.

Tight end Brett Ralph (East Longmeadow) caught a 2-yard TD pass to make the score 27-21 with 8:36 remaining. The Owls took a 28-27 lead two minutes later when Benoit made an outstanding TD catch over the middle on a 4-and-15 situation.

Benoit again led the receivers with 12 catches for 89 yards and three scores. Cohen completed 25 of 40 passes for 186 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, but he was sacked five times.

The Owls again struggled to get their ground game established as they had 57 net yards rushing on 34 carries. However, Owl freshman Luke Johnson did rush for 80 yards on 18 carries.

Angel led the deceptive Mariner option offense with 82 yards rushing on 15 carries and two touchdowns. He completed 5 of 11 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Linebacker Jay Fielding posted a game-high 15 tackles for Westfield. Freshman strong safety Kyle Anderson had 11 tackles, including three for losses, and Leverone had eight tackles and a pass breakup along with his two interceptions.

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