BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. – Plymouth State University forced three fumbles, but Massachusetts Maritime Academy held off the Panthers, 21-10, in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) football game at Clean Harbors Stadium on Saturday.
The Buccaneers found the end zone on a one-yard quarterback keeper with 1:31 left in the first quarter to open the scoring.
PSU got good field position early in the second quarter when senior
Tyler Holcomb (Coventry, Conn.) recovered a fumble at the Mass. Maritime 11-yard line, but the offense stalled and a short field goal attempt went wide. The Buccaneers responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive to double the lead midway through the second.
Plymouth State answered with 13-play drive that lasted more than five minutes, and freshman
Ryan Bryant (Salem, N.H.) drilled a 46-yard field goal to make it 14-3 at halftime.
Mass. Maritime missed a field goal on its opening possession of the second half, and the Panthers responded with their best drive of the game. PSU covered 75 yards on 13 plays, holding the ball for nearly seven minutes, before senior
Reece Davis (Livermore, Maine) ran untouched up the middle for an 18-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-10 with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
The Buccaneers responded with a 10-play, 65-yard touchdown drive to make it 21-10 with 11:40 left to play, and the Panthers were unable to rally.
Plymouth State falls to 2-3 (1-3 MASCAC), while the Buccaneers remain the conference's lone unbeaten team, improving to 4-0 (3-0 MASCAC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 10, Mass. Maritime 21
- Plymouth State (2-3, 1-3 MASCAC)
- Mass. Maritime (4-0, 3-0 MASCAC)
How it Happened:
- After the Panthers went three-and-out on the opening drive, the Buccaneers moved into Plymouth State territory, but senior TJ Taveras (Rochester, N.H.) forced a fumble at the PSU 24-yard line, and classmate Aidan Fritz (Colchester, Conn.) recovered.
- Plymouth State was unable to convert a fourth-and-three at the Mass. Maritime 35-yard line, and the Buccaneers responded with a 65-yard touchdown drive to take a 7-0 lead with 1:31 left in the first quarter.
- The Panthers were forced to punt near midfield, but Mass. Maritime fumbled on the first play of the ensuing drive, and Holcomb recovered at the Buccaneers' 11-yard line. PSU came away empty-handed, though, as a field goal attempt went wide right.
- Mass. Maritime answered with an 80-yard touchdown drive to double the lead to 14-0 with 6:29 left in the first half.
- Plymouth State responded with a 13-play drive that used more than five minutes of clock. Senior Beau Fellows (Topsfield, Mass.) made a spectacular catch along the sideline to convert a fourth-and-eight to keep the drive alive, and Bryant booted a 46-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3 heading into halftime.
- Mass. Maritime missed a field goal on its opening possession of the third quarter, and PSU took advantage of an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the ensuing drive. Senior Rocky Marchitelli (Crested Butte, Colo.) completed six passes to three different receivers, including a five-yard completion to junior Matt Phillips (Clinton, Mass.) on fourth-and-two, setting up Davis's 18-yard touchdown run to make it 14-10 with 2:22 left in the third quarter.
- The Buccaneers responded with a 65-yard touchdown drive to extend the lead to 21-10 with 11:40 left to play.
- Plymouth State was unable to rally as Mass. Maritime held on for the win.
By the Numbers:
- Marchitelli completed 14 of 34 passes for 150 yards.
- Phillips caught five balls for 44 yards, while Fellows hauled in four for 67 yards.
- Junior Hunter Trueman (Rochester, N.H.) made three receptions for 23 yards.
- Davis finished with 24 rushing yards and a touchdown.
- Fritz posted a game-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble.
- Bryant's 46-yard field goal was the longest in at least 21 years. The school record of 51 yards was set in 2002.
- Plymouth State leads the all-time series, 19-10, and has won eight of the previous 10 meetings.
Up Next:
- After a bye week next weekend, the Panthers host Westfield State on Oct. 24 for a noon kickoff. Plymouth State will honor its 2025-26 conference champions and NCAA participants during halftime.
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