Football Claims First Win Over Buccaneers

- PAXTON, MA : 680 days after their last victory, the Anna Maria College football team prevailed 23-13 against visiting Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Saturday afternoon at Carposo Field in Paxton, Massachusetts.

THE BASICS:

- Date: Saturday, September 18, 2021
- Score: Anna Maria 23, Mass. Maritime 13
- Records: Buccaneers of Mass. Maritime (1-1) | AMCATS of Anna Maria (1-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Anna Maria senior quarterback Alex Cohen (Plymouth, MA) threw for a career-high 355 yards on 25 of 36 passing with one touchdown completion. Cohen punched in two more touchdowns on the ground, scoring or throwing for all three of Anna Maria's scores on the day.               
• Anna Maria sophomore wide receiver Deandre Wallace (Waterbury, CT) recorded three receptions for 118 yards. Wallace's 98 yard touchdown catch from Cohen with 7:27 remaining in the fourth quarter and the AMCATS backed up in their own endzone proved to be the play of the game, breaking the back of a MMA team that had momentum at that point. As of press time, Wallace's reception ranks first in the nation for longest reception for this season thus far.  
• Anna Maria junior linebacker Ty'Rique Bruce (Newark, NJ) led the defense with 12 total tackles and one pass breakup. Grad student linebacker Swavaughn Small (Mattapan, MA) finished with nine tackles, including 2.5 for a loss behind the line of scrimmage.
• Anna Maria sophomore kicker Ryan Kent (Marlton, NJ) stayed perfect on the season, going three-for-three on extra points.       Kent also averaged 48.8 yards on four kickoffs.
• Mass Maritime senior quarterback Curtis Cann (Easton, MA) threw for 195 yards passing, with 126 of those coming off nine receptions from sophomore wider receiver Andrew Brightman (Wareham, MA) . Cann punched in the Buccaneers sole touchdown of the day, a four yard scamper with 6:57 to go in the third quarter.
• Mass Maritime junior defensive back Andrew Longwater (Tybee island, GA) led the Buccaneers with ten tackles and one pass breakup.   
• Coming out of halftime with the AMCATS leading 7-3, Cann engineered an 11 play, 63 yard touchdown drive to give the Buccaneers their first lead of the game. But Anna Maria responded right away, as Cohen drove the hosts down the field, answering Cann's touchdown rush with one of his own.
• Then in the fourth quarter, Cann stranded the AMCATS at their own two-yard line  with quick-kick punt. Under pressure, Cohen found Wallace deep over the middle, for one of the most electrifying plays in Anna Maria football history.
• With 1:18 to go in the game, Cann was sacked in his own endzone by Small and Anna Maria junior defensive lineman Elijah Allston (Cheshire, CT) for a safety, giving the AMCATS two more points and effectively icing the contest.
• Anna Maria is now 1-1 for the first time since 2013.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Total yards were 406-209 in favor of the AMCATS.

-  Time of possession was 32:28-27:32, going the Buccaneers' way.

UP NEXT:

- Anna Maria will be back on the field next Saturday when they head to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.  

STAY CONNECTED:

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