THROGGS NECK, N.Y. -- Junior Richie Phillips (Onset, Mass.) rushed for a career-high 100 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winning 4-yard run with 24 seconds remaining, as Massachusetts Maritime scored twice in the final 4:24 of action to notch a 28-24 victory over SUNY-Maritime in the Ninth Annual Chowder Bowl played Friday evening at Reinhart Field.
The visiting Buccaneers (1-0) trailed 24-14 with 8:06 remaining in the contest, as junior quarterback Thomas Wright's (Wantagh, N.Y.) one-yard plunge had given the host Privateers (1-1) their 10-point cushion. Massachusetts Maritime responded with a 13-play, 65-yard drive that was capped by Phillips's five-yard scamper with 4:24 remaining, and a SUNY-Maritime fumble on the third play of the ensuing drive was recovered by Buccaneer freshman Kyle Johnston (Raynham, Mass.) at the visitors' 47-yard line with 2:49 to play. Junior quarterback Chris Haggerty (Cohasset, Mass.) hooked up with Phillips on a 25-yard connection that advanced the ball to the hosts' 30 on the first play of the deciding drive, and after a pair of first down conversions, Phillips plunged in for the winning touchdown that gave the Buccaneers their first-ever win in The Bronx in five chances and their second straight Chowder Bowl triumph.
After a scoreless opening quarter that saw Massachusetts Maritime advance twice inside the SUNY-Maritime 10-yard line only to turn the ball over on downs, the Privateers capitalized on a blocked punt to take a 3-0 lead on junior Matthew Murphy's (Seaford, N.Y.) 38-yard field goal just 2:16 into the second stanza. The Buccaneers responded with a nine-play, 80 yard drive capped by Phillips' first score of the night from 10 yards out to take a 7-3 edge less than three minutes later, but the hosts quickly regained the advantage on senior Brett McKinney's (Westernville, N.Y.) three-yard plunge with 6:25 to play in the half. Following an exchange of possessions, the visitors used an 83-yard scoring strike from Haggerty to sophomore Paul Sances (Middleboro, Mass.) with 1:44 remaining in the second quarter, but a 35-yard touchdown pass from Wright to sophomore Christian Castle (Felton, Pa.) with 18 seconds to play before intermission gave SUNY-Maritime a 17-14 edge at the break. That score held up until the fourth quarter when the Privateers capitalized on an interception by senior Eric Wallace (West Point, N.Y.) at the Buccaneer 38-yard line that led to Wright's one-yard plunge and the hosts' 10-point lead, setting the stage for the visitors' furious comeback.
Phillips amassed 122 yards of total offense on the night and accounted for all but 59 of Massachusetts Maritime's rushing yards, as Chris Haggerty completed 16-of-30 pass attempts for 230 yards in his first collegiate start. Sances hauled in four catches for 118 yards in his first start as a receiver for the Buccaneers, who also received six receptions for 55 yards from senior Shane Haggerty (Cohasset, Mass.). The visitors held a 388-367 edge in total offense for the evening and claimed the Chowder Bowl for the third time in the last four seasons, avenging a pair of last minute setbacks to the hosts suffered both in 2012 and 2014 under the Throggs Neck Bridge.
McKinney rushed for 125 yards on 28 carries to go with his touchdown in the setback for SUNY-Maritime, while Wright completed 13-of-25 pass attempts for 138 yards. Castle and junior Matt Ward (Ronkonkoma, N.Y.) combined for nine catches and 114 receiving yards for the Privateers, who opened their season last week with a 35-28 overtime victory at Massachusetts Maritime's next opponent, Maine Maritime.
Senior Marshall McCarthy (Duxbury, Mass.) and junior Bobby Gross (Tampa, Fla.) each recorded 11 total tackles to lead the way defensively for the Buccaneers, who also received a career-high 10 stops from sophomore Owen Harrington (East Bridgewater, Mass.). Senior Kendal Parker (Evans, Ga.) paced SUNY-Maritime with 10 total stops, while senior Brian Price (New York, N.Y.) joined Wallace with an interception in the setback for the Privateers.
Massachusetts Maritime hosts Maine Maritime in the 44th Annual Admiral's Cup contest on Saturday, Sept. 17, at Clean Harbors Stadium beginning at 1 p.m., while SUNY-Maritime hosts Merchant Marine in a non-league clash next Friday evening at Reinhart Field that kicks off at 7 p.m.