Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 14, 2024) – The USMMA football team rolled past non-conference foe Gallaudet University, 55-7, on Saturday afternoon at the Bison's Hotchkiss Field down in our nation's capital. The Mariners' record improves to 2-0 on the season, while Gallaudet falls to 0-2.
Game Links
Senior wide receiver Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) caught a 28-yard TD pass from junior Gervy Alota (San Diego, Calif.) early in the second quarter and the ensuing PAT gave the Mariners a 14-0 lead. That touchdown was the 30th receiving TD of Smith's career, tying Kevin Feighery '95 for the most in program history.
Smith finished the day with two catches for 46 yards and Alota threw for 83 yards on 5-of-10 passing, while also rushing for 101 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Sophomore Will Surdez (Colts Neck, N.J.) added 91 rush yards with one TD and freshman Bubba Mustain (Oro Valley, Ariz.) picked up a pair of fourth-quarter scores on two- and 27-yard runs.
Two other Merchant Marine rushers found the end zone – senior James Menor (Gresham, Ore.) who opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown in the first and sophomore Seamus Bonte (Westerville, Ohio) midway through the second on a one-yard run. Senior Jackson Tinkis (Bossier City, La.) was a perfect 7-for-7 on PATs.
Not counting the final drive of the game, the Mariners scored touchdowns on eight of their nine drives on the day. They owned the total offense on the day, gaining 501 yards to the Bison's 198.
Defensively, sophomore Aiden Graham (Allen, Texas) led USMMA with six tackles including two for combined losses of four yards. Junior Chase Shavey (Mercer Island, Wash.) caused a fumble and classmate Sam MacDonald (Phoenix, Ariz.) got his hand on two punts, with both resulting in Mariner TDs on the ensuing possessions. MacDonald and five other Mariners finished with four tackles apiece.
For Gallaudet, junior Gabe Segovia threw for 90 yards on 6-of-14 passing with one touchdown, which was caught by classmate Jaylen Johnson for a 20-yard scoring play late in the third quarter. Junior Zefan Nathanson recorded a game-high 13 tackles, while senior Jacob Hartman had 12 stops including two for losses with one sack.
Merchant Marine will go into their early-season bye week and return to the gridiron on Saturday, Sept. 28, when the Mariners open NEWMAC Conference action on the road against rival SUNY Maritime. Kickoff is scheduled for 12-noon at the Privateers' Reinhart Field.
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