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10.3.09

Mariners Collect Important Bogan Division Win, Beat Westfield 21-13

Bower runs for 125 yards

Castine, ME – Senior fullback back Jim Bower (South Paris, ME) ran for 125 tough yards on 25 carries carrying Maine Maritime to a 21-13 victory Saturday afternoon (October 3) over Westfield State College in a Bogan Division, New England Football Conference (NEFC) contest. 

The contest was marred by seven fumbles and three interceptions with three of those turnovers resulting in points for the other team.

With the win MMA improves to 3-1 and 1-1 in the Bogan Division while Westfield State drops to 2-3 and 0-2 in the Bogan Division. 

Maine Maritime took a 7-0 lead on their second possession of the game when Tyler Angell (Leeds, ME) (13 carries, 71 yards) ran the ball in from 19-yards out. The touchdown was set up by a 37-yard rush by Jim Bower (So. Paris, ME) which came after a Westfield State fumble. The fumble was recovered by linebacker Michael Brennan (Manchester, ME), and three plays later Angell put MMA on top. The scoring drive was only three plays and took just 1:05 off the clock.

Westfield State returned the favor, converting an MMA turnover into their first score of the day with 9-seconds left in the first quarter. Jim Bower fumbled on the Maine Maritime 22 yard line and was recovered by Westfield State linebacker Chris James (Athol, MA). The Westfield offense took the field and went 22-yards in three plays for the quick score. Quarterback Kyle Anderson (Westminster, MA) (17 carries, 61 yards) ran the ball in from 4-yards out but the extra point was missed and MMA held on to the 7-6 lead.

Two Westfield State drives in the first half were stymied by senior cornerback Mike Riley (Milton, VT). Riley intercepted two Anderson throws inside the MMA 1-yard line to stop potential scoring drives by the Owls.

The Owls came out of the locker room in the second half with a purpose, going 50-yards in 6:32 to take a 13-7 lead after a Luke Johnson (South Attleboro, MA) (30 carries, 127 yards) touch down run. Johnson ended the drive with seven straight rushes for a total of 21 yards. Chris Stengel (Forrest Hills, MD) converted the extra point.

The Mariners answered the Westfield State score and took the lead for good (14-13) late in the third quarter when Jim Bower capped off a 11-play, 69-yard drive that consumed over five minutes of clock.  Michael Brennan connected on the extra point.

The Mariner defense took over from there, holding the Owls to 61-yards of total offense in the fourth quarter on four possessions.

MMA’s final drive of the day proved to be the clincher, getting a 14-yard touchdown run from Matthew Rende (Augusta, ME), pushing the lead to 8 points at 21-13. The score was set up by the Mariner defense forcing the Owls into a turnover by downs and giving the ball back to the offense at the Westfield 16 yard line. Three plays later Rende crossed the goal line for the TD.

Westfield State had one more chance to even the score but their last drive stalled at the MMA 23 yard line after two important pass break-ups near the end zone from defensive back Mike Riley.

Kyle Anderson passed for 146 yards on 31 attempts to go along with his 61 yards rushing in the loss. Evan Berneche (Chicopee, MA) led the team with 6 catches for 81 yards while David Benoit (Ludlow, MA) collected 5 catches for 65 yards.

Westfield State College compiled 340 yards while the Mariners’ option attack totaled 294 yards on the ground. 

MMA junior Travis Fergola (Mexico, ME) led the Mariners in tackles with eight, while Franklin Sawyer (Lisbon, ME) and Riley each had 7. Michael Brennan and Tom Lockhart (Dexter, ME) each had fumble recoveries while Wade Mondoux (No. Berwick, ME) had six tackles, a sack, and two tackles for loss.

Westfield State linebacker Chris James (Athol, MA) led all defenders with 13 tackles while Josh Mathieu (Fitchburg, MA) added 10. Ryan O’Connell (Athol, MA) had an interception for the Owls.

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