Union, N.J. (9/24/22) – The United States Merchant Marine Academy used a late safety to break a seven-all tie and edge the Kean University football team, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon's home opener.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Mariners (2-1) used a long possession late in the second quarter to put the game's first points on the board. Matthew Savard completed the drive with a three yard plunge to cap an 80 yard, 21 play drive that ate up eight minutes of the clock.
The Cougars tied things up early in the third quarter as the defense forced a fumble near midfield setting up good field possession for the Kean offense. Facing 3rd and 5 at the USMMA 26 yard line, Robbie Nungesser found Jake Zerillo down the sidelines for a 22 yard completion. Nungesser completed the drive with a four yard scamper followed by a George Chrissafis extra point to knot things up at seven-all.
With under two minutes in the contest the Mariners' Cole Simmons blocked a Kean punt deep in their own territory that went out the back of the endzone for a safety and what would be the winning points for USMMA.
Kean's defense held the Mariners and forced them to punt with less than a minute to go. Kean's last attempts were thwarted as Payton Gourley intercepted a pass at midfield to seal the win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
USMMA passed just seven times on the afternoon and were 0-for-7 in those tries. They racked up 267 rushing yards in the win. Zerillo led the Kean receivers with 71 yards on five catches. Nungesser was 19-of-32 for 205 yards. Aaron Cottrell, Jamma Ndiaye and Raymond Gorny led the defense with 17 and 16 tackles respectively.
UP NEXT:
Kean remains home and will face William Paterson on Saturday at 1 p.m. as part of Kean's Homecoming festivities.
