Preview: Football vs. Maine Maritime

THE GAME: Anna Maria hosts Maine Maritime Academy on Saturday, Sept. 13th at 3:00 p.m. LIVE STATS will be available for the contest. Tailgating will be available prior to kickoff, price per car is $10. 

THE SERIES: Saturday's game marks the fifth meeting between the two schools. The series record stands at 2-2; the AMCATS have won the last two meetings. 

2013 - at Maritime: W, 55-49

2012 - AMCAT Field: W, 34-14

2011 - at Maritme: L, 42-13

2010 - AMCAT Field, L, 47-0

LAST MEETING: Maine Maritime hosted last season's high-scoring affair. The Mariners held a 42-26 lead at halftime, but the AMCATS came out of the locker room to score four-straight touchdowns en route to the 55-49 victory, including three in the fourth quarter. Anna Maria totaled 532 yards of offense in the win, including 322 rushing yards. The Mariners, who favor the triple-option, recorded 575 of their 582 total yards on the the run. 

AMCATS' LAST OUTING: Anna Maria suffered a 38-6 loss to Worcester State in the season opener last Friday. Sophomore quarterback Gregory McGoldrick threw for 179 yards on 18 completions, while junior running back Christopher Bettano totaled 50 yards on 19 carries. Punter Stefano Marziale, a 2013 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) All-Conference selection, totaled 352 yards on 11 punts for an average of 32 yards per punt. He finished with three punts that landed inside the 20-yard line. 

The AMCATS struggled against a solid Worcester State defense. Anna Maria's lone score came early in the third quarter on a three-yard run by Bettano. Worcester State scored their first touchdown nine minutes into the first quarter and added another tally with 3:07 left to play in the first frame. The Lancers added a touchdown and a 32-yard field goal in the second quarter to take a 24-0 lead into halftime. 

Defensively, the AMCATS' defense held Worcester State to just two second-half scores. Anna Maria made it hard for the Lancers to achieve success on third down, as the Lancers were successful on just four of 15 third-down attempts. Kevin Card finished with a team-best nine tackles and a fumble recovery, whie Robert Sanders and William Bishop both finished with eight tackles.  

MARINERS' LAST OUTING: On Saturday, September 6^th, Maine Maritime defeated Holland College (PEI, Canada) in their season opener 34-9, clinching the Kongsberg cup at Ritchie Field. Jacob Doolan, Joseph DiBiase, and Michael Fahey combined for 301 rushing yards and five touchdowns to overcome the Hurricanes.

The Mariners scored a touchdown on their opening possession, forced a Hurricanes turnover on the next drive, and responded with a second touchdown to jump out to a quick 14-0 lead. The Mariners defense did a tremendous job of holding the Hurricanes to just three points at the end of the first quarter, considering they had a first and goal opportunity from the 8-yard line. 

Defensively, Justin Lovely led the Mariners with 10 total tackles, two solo tackles. Matt Clifford grabbed an interception in the third quarter, returning the ball nine yards to place the Mariners at their 43-yard line. The Mariners rushed down the field in 11 plays, good for 60 yards. Joseph DiBiase rushed 12 yards to score the touchdown, making the Mariner lead 34-3.

After the Hurricanes had scored on their previous possession, John Curtis recovered a fumble for the Mariners at the Mariner 21-yard line, ending the Hurricanes drive and momentum.

Maine Maritime held on for the 34-9 victory, clinching the Kongsberg Cup.

COMEBACK KID: In the 2013 meeting between Anna Maria and Maine Maritime, then-senior Robert Small recorded three of his four touchdown runs as part of the AMCATS' second-half comeback against the Mariners.

SWEET SIX: Today's game is the first of six home games for the AMCATS this season. Following next weekend's bye, the team will host Catholic on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 1:00 p.m. and Gallaudet on Oct. 4 at 1:00 p.m. Other home games include Oct. 18 against Maritime at 3:00 p.m., Oct. 25 against Norwich at 3:00 p.m., and Nov. 8 against Mount Ida at 1:00 p.m.