Maine Maritime Rifles Past Fitchburg State, 40-7

Teague posts lone touchdown in NEFC Bogan Division opener

CASTINE, Maine. (September 24, 2011) – Maine Maritime Academy exploded for 34 first half points en route to a 40-7 win over Fitchburg State University in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division opener.

The Mariners (3-0, 1-0 NEFC) scored on each of their first five possessions, piling up 316 yards offense in the first half as the early run left the Falcons (1-3, 0-1 NEFC) in a hole they could not escape.

Maine Maritime hit the end zone on its first two possessions of the first quarter, scoring a pair of touchdowns in unusual fashion. On the Mariners first score, quarterback Matthew Rende (Augusta, Maine) called his own number on third and goal from the three. Sophomore Jonathon Salvatore (Leominster, Mass./Osceoia) put a shoulder into the ball which popped up into the air, but too the Falcons luck, landed in the hands of Nick Bourassa (Jay, Maine) for the early 7-0 lead.

On the next Maritime possession, senior Chris Rose (Gloversville, N.Y./Gloversville) jarred the ball loose from Bill Wetherbee (Veazie, Maine) at the goal line. Again, the ball popped up into the air, this time finding its way into Nate Duford's (Claremont, N.H.) to make it a 14-0 game

Fitchburg State responded driving down to the Mariner's 13, where the Falcons set up for a 30-yard field goal. The Mariners broke through however, blocking the kick and giving Maine Maritime possession on its own 21 at the end of the first quarter. Ian Champeon (Dover-Foxcroft, Maine) took the first snap of the second quarter up the right sideline for 79-yards and a touchdown to make it 21-0. Champeon finished with a game-high 126 yards on 12 touches.

Fitchburg State went three and out on the ensuing possession, before Michael Burgess (North Yarmouth, Maine) blocked the Falcons' punt to give the Mariners a short field. Rende called his own number four times on the six-play, 28-yard drive, before punching in on the right side from three yards out to give the Mariners a 34-0 lead at the break.

Fitchburg State opened the second half strong, scoring on the opening drive to cut the Maritime lead to 34-7.  The Falcons were poised to strike from the Maine Maritime five-yard line as Brian McDonald (Walpole, Mass./Hebron Academy) completed a pass to Alexander Morse (Charlemont, Mass./Mohawk Trail) to set up Steph'fon Teague's (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) three-yard jaunt into the end zone.

McDonald finished the game with 193 yards on 19 completions in 35 attempts. Senior Jeremy Kimber (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) was on the receiving end of eight passes, notching 84 yards on the afternoon. Defensively, Sean Golden (Uncasville, Conn./Montville) recorded eight tackles, seven solo and forced a fumble, while sophomore Joseph Sasso (Melrose, Mass./Melrose) had six solo stops, including two for losses, to go with his fumble recovery.

Fitchburg State (1-3, 0- 1 NEFC) returns home next weekend as it hosts Coast Guard Academy at 1:30 p.m. Maine Maritime (3-0, 1-0 NEFC) travels to Worcester State next weekend