FOOTBALL FAMILY DROPS ECFC MATCH-UP AT MARITIME

The Mount Ida College football family dropped their second consecutive loss to hosting Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (GNAC) foe SUNY Maritime College 42-0 this past Saturday in Throggs Neck, New York.  The Mustangs fall to 3-5 overall and fall into a tie for third in the ECFC standings with Gallaudet University at 3-2. 

SUNY sophomore Jamie Spanopoulos (Franklin Square, N.Y. /H. Frank Carey) led the way for Maritime with a career-high four touchdowns, all on the ground. Spanopoulos, who last week set the new single-season touchdown mark, picked up right where he left off, scoring four times on runs of 16, 11, 2 and 5 yards. The fullback ended the day with 131 yards on the ground on 18 carries for an average of 7.3 yards per carry. The sophomore has scored a touchdown in every game this year for Maritime.

The Privateers also got two running touchdowns by the twin-brothers, Anthony and John Gagliano (Islip Terrace/St. Anthony's). Anthony ran in the first score of the game on Maritime's first drive on a 55-yard run, while John picked up the last TD of the day after carrying it 15 yards to the house. Anthony led all players with 149 rushing yards as well as 21 passing yards. John had 83 yards rushing and had long runs to set up two of Spanopoulos' touchdowns, including a game-high 60 yard run.

The Mustangs had a tough day all around mustering only seven first downs for the entire contest.  Senior quarterback Michael Cloutier (Troy, NY/Lansingburgh) went 7-14 with one interception throwing for only 58 yards.  Mount Ida sophomore running back Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) rushed for only 68 yards, his third game this season under 100 yards rushing and without a touchdown, on 23 carries.  Junior Jordan Edinger (Key Largo, FL/Coral Shores), sophomore Clarence Dukes (West Haven, CT/West Haven), and freshman Eli Shuler (Northford, CT/North Branford) all recorded seven tackles a piece. 

The Privateers defense stood tall today, led by three-time ECFC Defensive Player of the Week Keith Barnes (Westbury, N.Y./Westbury) who had a game-high 10 tackles (nine solo and two assisted), including one for a loss of three yards. Senior-captain Mike Oehl-LB (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown West) ranked second on the squad with seven tackles, including two for a combined loss of four yards and one forced fumble. Sophomore Sean Wiggers-DB (Norwood, N.J./Northern Valley Old Tappen) recorded his team-leading fourth interception of the year in the second quarter, had one pass breakup and finished the day with five tackles.

The Mustangs host their final ECFC match-up this coming Saturday against visiting Husson University starting at 1:00 p.m.