Box Score CASTINE, Mass. – Coast Guard turned the ball over four times in the second half and despite holding the nations's top rushing attack to just 42 yards in the second half, the Bears fell to Maine Maritime 13-7 in a New England Football Conference (NEFC) game.
Coast Guard drops to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the NEFC while Maine Maritime improves to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in conference play.
The Coast Guard defense held the Mariners potent triple-option attack to just 56 yards in the second half, but the Bears threw four interceptions in the second half, two times inside the Maine Maritime 20-yard line and also turned the ball over on downs twice in Mariners territory.
Maine Maritime, which has the top rushing attack in Division III with 440.8 yard per game, was held to 262 total yards, 248 rushing. Coast Guard had 312 total yards, 245 passing.
Maine Maritime played a great game, they made the plays and we didn't," said Coast Guard head coach Bill George. "Our defense played very well in the second half, but we just didn't make plays on offense. We had some drops, we had some penalties and we didn't capitalize offensively. "
The Mariners took the opening kickoff and 75 yards in 15 plays using 7:13 off the clock as quarterback Michael Fahey scored from two yards out and following Johnny Weymouth's extra point led 7-0.
Coast Guard went three-and-out and the Mariners took five more minutes off the clock before fumbling and junior linebacker Ed Lazowski recovered for the Bears.
The Bears drove the Mariners 26-yard line and turned it over on downs, but following a punt, Coast Guard tied the game as sophomore quarterback Derek Victory threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Bryan Popp to cap a ten play, 70 yard drive. Sophomore Chris Bell's PAT tied the game with 6:44 left in the first half.
Maine Maritime answered right back with a 68-yard drive capped on a 2-yard run by Joseph DiBiase with 39 seconds left in the half, the extra point was no good making the score 13-7.
In the third quarter, Victory was intercepted on the first possession, the Bears turned it over on downs at the Mariner 32 on its second possession and Victory was picked on the third possession, but the defense stepped up each time forcing three punts..
In the fourth quarter, the Bears punted on its first possession before Victory was intercepted and knocked out of the game after taking a shot to the stomach.
Backup quarterback Gordy Holloway was intercepted on the next possessions before he led the Bears down to the Mariners 31-yard line before turning it over on downs with 4:26 left.
The Coast Guard defense rose to the occasion once again, getting a three-and-out as the Bears got the ball back with 2:23 left on their own 20-yard line. They would get to their own 49-yard line, but an incomplete pass on 4th and three sealed the deal with 21 seconds left.
Junior linebacker Kyle Wood led the Bears defense with 15 tackles, eight solo while senior linebacker Victor Rizzardi (13), junior defensive lineman Blake Bonifas (10) and junior defensive back Mark Behne (10) each had double figure tackles in the loss.
Victory was 24 of 37 for 213 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions while Holloway was 5 of 15 for 32 yards with an interception.
Senior Collis Brown led the Bears with nine receptions for 74 yards while Popp finished with six catches for a game-high 85 yards.
Fahey had 25 carries for 99 yards to lead the Mariners.
Coast Guard is back in action on Saturday when they host Endicott on Parents' Weekend with kickoff set for 1:30 p.m.
