KINGS POINT, NY - Quarterback
Nick Becker passed for 308 yards with two touchdowns to lead the Union College football team to a 27-14 Liberty League win at the United States Merchant Marine Academy Saturday.
The Mariners honored its 19 graduating seniors before kick-off, including Michael Biehn, who racked up a team high 14 tackles and forced two fumbles. Matthew McDaniels rushed for 177 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the loss.
Becker was 21 for 38 for his first career 300 yard game and just his fourth career start.
Darnel Thomas finished the day with 99 rushing yards on 26 carries for the visitors while Colin Hinchey posted 65 rushing yards for Merchant Marine.
Josh Callahan was Union's leading receiver with four grabs for 102 yards and Matthew Berglund paced the Mariners with four catches for 32 yards. Union snapped a three game losing streak with the victory.
Jake LaRovera led Union with 11 tackles.
Merchant Marine (4-3, 1-3 Liberty) grabbed the momentum on the opening kick-off as Tyler Washington forced a fumble and Patrick Keyes recovered to give the Mariners prime field position. However, Daniel Kennedy missed a 35-yard field goal wide right to keep the game scoreless. The Dutchmen would tally the first points of the game as Becker hit
T.J. Franzese with a six-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-0.
Union (3-6, 3-3 Liberty) saw the Mariners march down the field on the ensuing possession but maintained a touchdown advantage after another missed field goal from USMMA, this time from 25 yards out. The Dutchmen grabbed a 10-0 edge on a
David Pope 28-yard field goal with 10:40 remaining in the second quarter. Just over four minutes later, Union scored 17 unanswered points with Becker hitting
Andrew Baker for a 60-yard TD pass.
McDaniels provided a great individual effort to get Merchant Marine on the scoreboard with 3:56 left in the half. The sophomore quarterback appeared to be wrapped-up before breaking free up the right side for a 43-yard touchdown run. The Dutchmen would work their way deep into USMMA territory as the game headed towards the intermission. However, Skyler Stone came up with an interception at the six-yard line to keep the score line at 17-7 heading into halftime.
Union quickly moved into scoring position early in the second half but another interception, this time by Patrick Clarke at the 17 yard line, appeared to end the threat. However, after a USMMA false start an errant pitch was bobbled and wound up in the end zone where
Jake Lebowitz dove on in it for a Union touchdown. McDaniels sparked the Mariners again with a 51-yard run late in the third quarter, eventually setting up his own 17-yard touchdown that cut the deficit to 24-14.
The Dutchmen padded their lead with 11:55 to play as Pope knocked through a 31-yard field goal. The Mariners would get three more possessions, including one following Union's fourth turnover, but was unable to threaten down the stretch.
Union hosts RPI next Saturday, November 16 in the oldest collegiate football rivalry in New York State. The Dutchmen will honor 20 seniors wrapping up their careers in ceremonites prior to the 12 p.m. kickoff.
