SUNY Maritime Football Falls to Division I FCS Opponent Hampton University on Senior Day

COURTESY: ALAN SCHAEFER/SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE ATHLETICS

BRONX, New York -- The Maritime College Football team honored its 23 seniors in a short pre-game ceremony Saturday afternoon before falling to Division I FCS opponent Hampton University. The senior class will leave Maritime with a winning record in every season they played, and set many records along the way.

With violent gustts, both special team units and offenses struggled going into the wind on the day. With senior quarterback Thomas Wright (Wantagh, N.Y./Wantagh) out for the second straight game, Joseph Butterworth (Massapequa Park, N.Y./Massapequa) and the Privateers offense started the game with the ball going into the wind. The Pirates showed their prowess right away forcing a quick three and out from Maritime. Following a tough punt into the wind, Hampton ran a hurry up offense right down the field to take a quick 7-0 lead on Maritime.

The ensuing drive for the Privateers reached the 50-yard line following a roughing the kicker penalty, but once again they stalled and gave the ball back to the Pirates. Hampton added its second touchdown of the game within the first seven minutes and took a 14-0 lead.

Maritime brought the ball into Pirate territory on the following possession thanks to two personal fouls on Hampton and an 11-yard carry from Khalil Lewin. Unfortunately, the Privateers weren't able to convert on the penalties and turned the ball over on downs at the 32-yard line.

Maritime's defense came up with its first stop of the game on the following drive, but the offense continued to struggle to move the ball until the end of the half. With 2:13 remaining in the first half and John Lynn (Rockville Centre, N.Y./Chaminade) at quarterback, the Privateers finally found some momentum. A 13-yard completion to Nicholas Morman (Covington, La./Northlake Christian) and an 11-yard pass to Curtis Smith (Brooklyn, N.Y./New Utrecht) got the drive going. A defensive pass interference and another pass to Smith kept the drive alive, but Maritime ran out of time and was forced to attempt a 42-yard field goal. However, with the wind at his back, senior kicker Ian Ziemski (Bel Air, Md./C. Milton Wright) stepped up and drilled the field goal attempt to put the Privateers on the board before half.

With a 28-3 lead, the Pirates wasted no time adding to it in the second half. Hampton drove down the field and scored in 56 seconds to begin the third quarter. Lynn continued to see more success throwing the ball with the high wind gusts, but the Pirates defense was too much to handle for Maritime.

Similar to the end of the first half, Maritime put together it's best drive with time expiring. A personal foul on the Pirates started the drive for the Privateers, but then Lynn got the momentum going with an 18-yard completion to Benjamin Andrews (Brooklyn, N.Y./Fort Hamilton) and then a 7-yard pass to Christian Castle (Felton, Pa./Red Lion). Two plays later, Lynn found senior wide receiver Cormac Quigley (Bellmore, N.Y./Mepham) for 21 yards to take the Privateers down to the nine-yard line. On third and goal, Lynn connected with Brandonn Drumgole (Mt. Sinai, N.Y./Mt. Sinai) for his first career passing touchdown and Drumgole's 10th receiving touchdown this season.

BOX SCORE

ATTENDANCE: 468

Lynn finished 14-27 for 127 yards and a touchdown, while defensively Liam Bailey (Sayville, N.Y./Sayville) tallied a team high 12 tackles. He also added to career sack record with a seven-yard sack. Eli Bryant also finished with a 10-yard sack and a forced fumble.

The Privateers get back on the field next weekend when they travel to Gallaudet as they look to secure second place in the ECFC and earn a bid to the New England Bowl.

SUNY MARITIME COLLEGE ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS