CASTINE, Maine - The New England College football team picked up their first road win in program history on Saturday, defeating Maine Maritime Academy, 17-14, in Conference of New England (CNE) action.
The Pilgrims are now 2-0 against the Mariners since the team made their official return last season. With their second win of the season, the 'Grims have now surpassed last year's total here in year two.
Maine Maritime received the opening kickoff as the NEC defense hit the field to begin the game. The Mariner's called a flea-flicker as their first play from scrimmage, and the ensuing pass was intercepted in the middle of the field by junior Ethan Cenesca (Manchester, N.H.) and returned to the MMA 22-yard line. NEC worked their way down to the 5-yard line where Cenesca, running out of the wildcat, finished what he started with a 5-yard rushing touchdown – his first offensive score of his career.
MMA worked their way into the red zone on their first drive of the second quarter, but sophomore Dylan Roy (Windham, N.H.) picked off Harris Stone at the Pilgrims 4-yard line for the team's second turnover of the first half. The 'Grims would manage to get out of their own end zone before punting the ball back to the hosts.
The Mariners pieced together a 13-play drive towards the end of the first half, ultimately being stopped by the NEC defense inside the 10-yard line. Forced to settle for a field goal with seven seconds on the clock, the 25-yard attempt was blocked by sophomore Oscar Keresey (Pittsfield, Maine) to send the game into the half, 7-0 Pilgrims.
Just as the Mariners turned the ball over on the first drive of the first half, the Pilgrims coughed up the ball on a strip sack on the opening drive of the second half. Three plays later, MMA's Auston Harris tied the game at 7-7 with an 8-yard rushing touchdown.
But the Pilgrims had an immediate answer; Sophomore Spencer Brien (Plaistow, N.H.) returned the ensuing kickoff 81-yards to the house for the team's first special teams touchdown in program history. The kick return touchdown gave the 'Grims the lead once again, 14-7.
After forcing another Mariners punt, the NEC offense began to piece together some chunk plays until junior Fire Anderson (Cranford, N.J.) fumbled at the tail end of a 16-yard run. Maine Maritime again capitalized on the turnover as the very next play saw Harris run 52 yards for the game-tying score.
The Pilgrims offense stalled out at the Mariners 5-yard line on their next possession. Opting to go for a field goal to take the lead, freshman Gavin Ford (Hillsborough, N.H.) trotted out but missed the 22-yard attempt.
With the ball going back to the Mariners with a chance to take their first lead of the day, the NEC defense came up with a big stop to force a punt. Both Cenesca and sophomore Gavin Philbrook (Goffstown, N.H.) made key tackles to get the ball back to their offense.
The NEC passing attack got going on their next drive with freshman Brody Sobotka (Hastings, N.Y.) connecting on sizable gains to juniors Conrado Lago (Methuen, Mass.) and Gavin Auger (Derry, N.H.). Once again stalling out in the red zone, the Pilgrims showed confidence in Ford and sent the field goal unit back out onto the field. Ford came through, drilling a 33-yard attempt to put NEC up by three.
After forcing a quick MMA punt, NEC was forced to punt the ball back to the Mariners with 1:11 left on the clock. A 55-yard punt from junior Ben Roy (Windham, N.H.) pinned the Mariners at their own 12-yard line with zero timeouts at their disposal. Two plays later, Stone was once again intercepted by Cenesca who picked off the Mariners on both their first and final offensive snaps of the game.
The Pilgrims return home in search of win number three against Western New England University at 12 PM on Saturday, October 31st.
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