THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Oct. 16, 2010) – The Maritime football team set a new program record for wins in a season by improving to a perfect 7-0 overall with a 23-0 win over Becker College on a windy Saturday after at Reinhart Field. With the win, the Privateers also remain undefeated and in first place in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a 4-0 mark. The Hawks fall to 1-6 (1-3 ECFC).
The Maritime defense held Becker to just 118 yards of total offense and caused two turnovers: a first quarter fumble forced by junior Rob Gorgy-DL (Hillsborough, N.J./Immaculata) after a sack and a third quarter interception by junior Sean Wiggers-DB (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappan). Sophomore Keith Barnes-LB (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) had a team high nine tackles on the day (six solo and three assisted).
The Privateers recorded five sacks on the afternoon, including Gorgy's. Barnes had two sacks (part of 3.5 tackles for losses of a combined 13 yards), Gorgy and sophomore Thomas Boney-DE (Jacksonville, Fla./University Christian) had solo sacks, while senior Ernie Caponegro-LB (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) and junior Michael Neimes-DE (Jacksonville, Fla./Stanton College Prep) shared a fourth-quarter sack.
Junior fullback Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y./H. Frank Carey) led the Privateer offense with two touchdowns on the day. The first was in the second quarter on a two-yard run to put Maritime up 13-0. His second TD came via a nine-yard pass from sophomore gun-slinger Joe Dickey (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) in the third quarter that ended the scoring on the day. Spanopoulos amassed 74 yards on the ground and those nine receiving yards.
Dickey led all rushers with 89 yards and scored the first touchdown of the game on a 12-yard run with 6:06 remaining in the opening quarter. He was also 2-for-5 in completions for Senior Madison Leary-K/WR (Tavares, Fla./Tavares) kicked a 38-yard field goal right as time expired on the first half to give Maritime a 16-0 lead going into the break.
For Becker, freshman quarterback Curtis Ludden registered 84 yards in the air on 6-of-16 completions with one pick. He was also the team's top rusher with 17 yards amassed on the ground. Sophomore Johnattan Rivera caught three passes for 30 yards.
Maritime returns to action when the squad travels to take on ECFC-foe Mount Ida (4-2, 3-1 ECFC) in Newton, Mass. next Saturday, Oct. 23. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Mustangs' Mount Ida College Athletic Stadium.