PAXTON, MA : The Anna Maria College football team claimed their first-ever Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Championship on Saturday afternoon, capping off their most successful regular season in school history with a 31-7 victory over visiting SUNY Maritime at Caparso Field in Paxton, Massachusetts.

THE BASICS:                                     

• Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
• Score: Anna Maria 31, Maritime 7
• Records: AMCATS of Anna Maria (7-2, 5-1 ECFC) | Privateers of Maritime (3-6, 3-3 ECFC)

STANDOUTS:

• Having set nearly every school record in the passing game this season, the AMCATS turned to the ground game against the Privateers, with senior Vincent Marrone (Wayne, NJ) exploding for 164 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, his first time running the ball all season. Marrone's 74 yard scoring run with 9:50 to go in the fourth effectively put the game out of reach.
• Anna Maria senior defensive lineman Jude Sampson (Waterbury, CT) led a stellar defensive effort by the AMCATS, recording 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for a loss in the final home game of his career as the AMCATS held the Privateers to just 186 yards of total offense. With his back-to-back sacks of Sassi early in the fourth quarter, Sampson broke the school's single-season sack and tackles-for-loss record.
• Anna Maria senior defensive back Darrin Cooper (Fulton, NY) recovered a blocked field goal attempt and returned it 83 yards with 10:28 to go in the third to put the AMCATS ahead 17-7 at that point.
• Anna Maria senior defensive back Armstrong Antoine (Stratford, CT) posted a team-high 11 tackles on the day.
• Anna Maria senior quarterback Alex Cohen (Plymouth, MA) concluded his historic regular season, throwing for 157 yards on 13 of 22 passing.
• Anna Maria senior wide receiver Justin McMillian (Middletown, CT), the reigning ECFC Offensive Player of the Week, caught five passes for 68 yards while returning one kickoff for 23 yards.
• Anna Maria senior linebacker Danny George (Leicester, MA) had an interception late in the fourth quarter, putting the cherry on top of an eight tackle performance that saw him tackle the ball-carrier for a loss twice.
• Maritime freshman quarterback Steven Sassi (East Islip, NY) completed 13-of-17 passes for 87 yards and one interception.
• Maritime fifth-year running back Christian Schiavone (White Plains, NY) rushed for 52 yards on the day to lead the Privateers.
• Maritime sophomore defensive back Sergio Borda (Toms River, NJ) led the Privateer defense with six tackles.

SENIOR DAY:                                                   

• Prior to the game, the AMCATS recognized their graduating senior class as part of senior day. Cohen, wide receiver Hayden Braga (Foster, RI), running back Johnathan Gomez (Sleepy Hallow, NY), linebacker Swavaughn Small (Mattapan, MA), defensive lineman Jude Sampson (Waterbury, CT), wide receiver Justin McMillian (Middletown, CT), defensive lineman Adam Black (Bedford, NH), defensive back Carl St. Paul (Brooklyn, NY), long snapper Chandler Czarnota (Manchester, MA), George, Cooper, offensive lineman Devin White (Worcester, MA), linebacker Dylan Diorio (Grafton, MA), defensive back Dylan Gansert (Belmont, NH), defensive lineman Jake Mangano (Bellingham, MA), tight end Josh Green (Quantico, MD), offensive lineman Kevin Supan (Monroe, CT), wide receiver Kristian Sapp (Cromwell, CT), defensive lineman Louis Costanzo (Lindenhurst, NY), quarterback & holder Matthew Sapere (Old Lyme, CT), offensive lineman Riley Cole (Stratham, NH), offensive lineman Tyler Pappas (Wall, NJ) and Marrone were recognized by coaches, teammates, family members and fans as the most successful class in AMCAT history. Each of these student-athletes have each made outstanding contributions not only to the Anna Maria football program but to the entire campus community as a whole. Although their time on the playing field may soon be coming to an end, they will forever be a part of the AMCAT family.

UP NEXT:

Anna Maria now awaits word of their postseason destination in the upcoming NCAA Championship Tournament.  Stay tuned to goamcats.com and our social media accounts for announcements.

STAY CONNECTED:

For the latest on Anna Maria College Athletics, follow the AMCATS via social media on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

2021 ECFC Championship