The Mariners improve to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in the league, while the Dutchmen fell to 2-6 overall and 2-4 in the Liberty League.

 

Merchant Marine broke a 21-21 tie with just 2:26 remaining in the fourth quarter when quarterback Derrick Ventre had a 12 yard scoring run. It capped a 13 play, 83 yard drive that consumed 6:39 off the fourth quarter clock. The Mariners started the drive when Dan McGroarty forced a Union fumble and Edward Logan recovered for the Mariners at their own 17 to stop a potential lead drive by Union.

 

Union senior running back Chris Coney had 29 carries for a season high 232 yards rushing, just 12 yards short of his career high, with a touchdown. It was his 18^th career 100 yard rushing game and fifth of his seven game season. He now needs 101 yards in the season finale at Springfield to become only the second Union rusher in history to record 4,000 career yards. Tom Arcidiacono had 4,915 from 2003 through 2006.

 

Reserve quarterback Connor Gallo was seven for nine with two touchdowns and 110 yards while Chase Richey had two touchdown receptions with 59 receiving yards. Chris Gross, one of 19 seniors honored prior to the final home game of the season, had a team high nine tackles with a sack.

 

Ventre was seven for 10 passing with 72 yards and ran for another 32 yards with his rushing touchdown. Mike Mitchell had four catches for 46 yards and Kevin Stapf had a game high 12 tackles. Jacob Fabricius made 10 stops for the Mariners.

 

Merchant Marine had 335 total yards in offense while the Dutchmen had 327. Each team recorded three sacks each. Union played without starting quarterback Drew Connolly and key wide receiver Justin Gallo (the league leader in many receiving categories) due to injuries.

 

The Mariners quickly took a 7-0 lead, as Gosselin broke through the middle for a 63 yard rushing touchdown on the second play from scrimmage, 57 seconds into the game. USMMA made it 14-0 with 40 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Gosselin ran in from one yard out to cap a seven play, 47 yard drive that took 3:25. He accounted for five rushes and 33 yards on the drive.

 

Union threatened on a drive that began at the home 41 with 35 seconds left in the first quarter. But on the ninth play, Garret Washington intercepted a Union pass in the end zone to stop the threat. After the Dutchmen held on four downs, Union converted a 10 play, 45 yard drive in 5:41 to get on the board at 14-7. Connor Gallo found Chase Richey for a 21 yard passing score with 1:54 left in the half. Coney had six carries for 22 yards on the drive.

 

Union tied the contest on a 27 yard catch by Richey from Connor Gallo 4:25 into the third quarter. The play came on a fourth and 24 from the Merchant Marine 27 yard line. The eight play, 66 yard drive consumed 4:29.

 

On the next drive, the Mariners marched 65 yards on 12 plays in over a half of the third quarter time (7:40). Gosselin ran in from one yard out with 2:53 left in the period for the 21-14 lead. A pass interference penalty on a fourth and three kept the drive alive for the Mariners. Union took the kickoff and nine plays and 64 yards later, tied it on a one yard run from Coney 2:13 into the fourth quarter.

 

The Dutchmen threatened to take the lead before McGroarty forced the fumble that his teammate Logan recovered.

 

Union ends the season at Springfield November 13 at 1:30 p.m. while Merchant Marine hosts league rival Rensselaer Saturday at 12 p.m.