Dan Dowling punted seven times for a 43.7 average, including five punts inside the 20, and also had 15 tackles and a forced fumble vs. Mass. Maritime. (File photo by Richard Orr Photography)
BUZZARDS BAY – Junior quarterback Mike Stanton (Quincy, Mass.) completed 22-of-32 passes for 352 yards and three touchdowns, as Massachusetts Maritime amassed a school-record 724 yards of total offense in notching a 35-13 New England Football Conference Bogan Division victory over Westfield State Saturday afternoon, Oct. 27, at Clean Harbors Stadium.
Stanton staked the host Buccaneers (5-3, 4-2 NEFC Bogan) to a 21-0 advantage in less than 10 minutes of play, as he connected with sophomore Jonathan Wright (Newburyport, Mass.) on a 25-yard touchdown pass on the opening possession of the contest that capped a 10-play, 69-yard drive, and the two hooked up again just over four minutes later on a 78-yard strike (the career longest pass completion and reception for both) that extended Massachusetts Maritime’s lead to 14-0. Stanton then found sophomore E.J. Bennett (East Wareham, Mass.) on a 65-yard touchdown pass to give the hosts a three-score cushion, as that completion enabled him to break Derek Gagnon’s career passing yards mark with 4,928 yards in 26 career games, as Gagnon held the previous mark of 4,771 set from 1990-93.
Sophomore quarterback John Trudel (Niantic, Conn.) gave the Buccaneers a 28-0 advantage midway through the second stanza after connecting with freshman Drew Girouard (Sagamore Beach, Mass.) on a 13-yard pass that capped an 11-play, 67-yard drive, and the visiting Owls (2-7, 1-5 NEFC Bogan) got on the board with 1:10 remaining in the half when freshman quarterback Erik Washburn (Lisbon, Conn.) found junior Kevin Nicol (Wolcott, Conn.) on a 23-yard touchdown strike. Washburn took advantage of a short field early in the third quarter to connect with junior Jeff Winchell (Scituate, R.I.) on a 13-yard touchdown that cut Westfield State’s deficit in half (28-13), but Massachusetts Maritime responded on the ensuing possession by marching 77 yards on nine plays in just 1:35 of clock time, as Trudel’s three-yard plunge with 7:42 to play in the third stanza accounted for the final score.
Junior Stefan Gustafson (Plymouth, Mass.) added 172 rushing yards on 13 carries in the triumph for the Buccaneers, who also received 110 rushing yards from senior Barry Reopell (South Dennis, Mass.) as part of a balanced attack that saw Massachusetts Maritime rush for 359 yards and throw for 365 as part of the record-breaking 724 yards of total offense that eclipsed the previous mark of 695 set back on September 22nd against Coast Guard. Wright hauled in seven receptions for 138 yards for the winners, who also received six catches for 109 yards from Bennett. Junior Keith Caruso (Hingham, Mass.) broke the school single-season records for receptions (54) and receiving yards (721), as the previous marks were held by Tim Quinn (53 catches in 1982) and Dan Reading (681 receiving yards in 1999).
Washburn completed 23-of-41 pass attempts for 224 yards to go with his two scores in the setback for Westfield State, including eight connections for 81 yards to Nicol. Freshman Joshua Trainque (Lunenburg, Mass.) added 70 rushing yards on 15 attempts for the Owls, who amassed 358 yards of total offense on the day.
Senior Evan Sheridan (Chelmsford, Mass.) paced Massachusetts Maritime defensively with seven solo tackles and an interception on the afternoon, while fellow senior Eddy Ramos (Sunny Isles, Fla.) added six solo stops as well as his team-leading fifth pick. Senior Nick Mazurkiewicz (Attleboro, Mass.) forced and recovered a fumble for the Buccaneers, who also received two sacks each from senior Kevin Griffin (Worcester, Mass.) and sophomore Zachary Ryan (Danvers, Mass.). The victory enabled the hosts to clinch their third straight winning season, a milestone last completed by Massachusetts Maritime from 1998 through 2000, and the triumph also snapped Westfield State’s five-game series win streak that dated back to 2007.
Senior Dan Dowling (Stoneham, Mass.) recorded 15 total tackles (14 solo) and registered a 43.7 yards average (five inside the 20-yard line) on seven punts in the setback for the Owls, who also received 15 tackles (14 solo) from senior Justin Ehrhardt (Stoneham, Mass.). Senior Mike Szydlowski (Wilbraham, Mass.) chipped in with nine solo stops and an interception for the visitors, who also received 10 total tackles (nine solo) from senior Jeff Smith (Whitman, Mass.).
Massachusetts Maritime hosts Bridgewater State in the 34th Annual Cranberry Bowl Presented By Ocean Spray next Saturday afternoon at Clean Harbors Stadium beginning at Noon, while Westfield State hosts Fitchburg State in its New England Football Conference Bogan Division and season finale next Saturday afternoon in Westfield, Mass. that also kicks off at Noon.
