WESTFIELD, Mass. – Mass Maritime Academy quarterback Matt Long ran for three short touchdowns to lead the Buccaneers to a 31-7 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football victory over Westfield State University on Saturday at Alumni Field.
The upstart Bucs move to 3-0 on the season and 1-0 in the conference, while Westfield dips to 0-4, 0-2 in the MASCAC.
Mass Maritime grabbed a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, cashing in a pair of long drives with Long's touchdown runs of four and six yards.
Westfield answered late in the first half, as senior quarterback Jake Cassidy hit receiver Tod Holloway, Jr. in stride at the 15-yard line and he scampered into the end zone for a 39-yard TD connection that cut the lead to 14-7 after Corey Pooler's extra point.
The Owls had two solid first-half drives foiled, one failing on a fourth down from the Bucs' 18-yard line on an incompletion, and at the end of the half with time running out at the MMA 33, the Owls' WR option pass was intercepted at the six-yard line with 12 seconds left.
Mass Maritime made the most of their opportunities, as kicker George Lampros hoisted a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter to cap a 13-play drive, then in the fourth, Long scored his third TD of the day, this one on a 2-yard plunge that cashed in on a 6-play, 59-yard drive.
Long finished 10-19 passing for 149 yards, and rushed for 48 yards. Conner Reynolds added 77 yards rushing on 17 carries. Receiver will Bennett led the Bucks with three catches for 85 yards. Defensively the Bucs stiffened in the second half. Jack Fontana led with 11 tackles, and the team finished with seven tackles for losses, include a sack and a half from Colin McCabe.
Holloway led Westfield's offense with seven catches for 87 yards and the touchdown. Cassidy finished 24-43 for 174 yards passing.
Defensively, the Ols were led by 10 tackles each from Justin Smith, George Cole and David White. Rashawn Settles finished with eight tackles, including a sack. Punter Cody Cleveland was called into service nine times, booting for a 46.8 yard average, including two inside the 20 and a pair of 60 yarders.
Westfield will be back in action next Saturday, October 5 with a conference game at Bridgewater State. MMA will host its homecoming against Worcester State, with noon starts for both games.