KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Nov. 12, 2021) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football team will take on arch-rival Coast Guard in the annual Secretaries' Cup game tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 13, up in New London, Conn. Kickoff in the Mariners' 50th meeting all-time against the Bears is scheduled for 12-noon at USCGA's Cadet Memorial Field and will be produced and broadcasted live by ESPN on their web-streaming platform,
www.ESPN3.com.
Important Links
ESPN Remains Involved In Secretaries' Cup Game For Fifth-Straight Season
This will be the fifth-straight year that the "Worldwide Leader in Sports" ESPN will produce and broadcast the annual rivalry game, and we welcome back for the third time
Robert Lee for the play-by-play duties. He will be joined by a newcomer to the rivalry,
Craig Haubert, who will serve as the color analyst.
The direct link to watch the game can be accessed by
clicking here. You can also go to
www.ESPN3.com and find the game listed under the "Schedule & Replays" tab along the top.
Series History
Saturday's meeting will be the 50th all-time between the two academies. They first met back in 1949 and the Mariners own a 34-15 advantage. That includes a 27-13 lead since the first playing for the then-"Secretary's Cup" back in 1981. Since 17th-year head coach
Mike Toop '77 took over on the sidelines in 2005, the Mariners hold a 12-4 advantage.
A Closer Look At The Mariners
The Mariners enter Saturday's game with a 7-1 overall record, including a 4-1 mark in NEWMAC action. They started the season 7-0, which tied the program record for best start with the 1968 Mariner team. Kings Point also strung together 10-straight wins overall dating back to the 2019 season, which was an Academy record.
Merchant Marine look to win the Secretaries' Cup for the third-straight season. The Mariners lead the NEWMAC with 45.5 points per game, 379.9 rushing yards and 493.5 total yards per game this season.
Senior quarterback
Ian Blankenship (McRae, Ga.) leads the triple-option attack with 1,067 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, while he is 43-of-83 passing for 895 yards with 10 touchdowns and just one interception on the season.
Senior running back
Matt Strong (Pacific, Mo.) is second on the team with 54 carries for 457 yards and five touchdowns, while freshman receiver
Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) leads the Mariners with 26 receptions for 591 yards and eight touchdowns.
The USMMA defense is allowing 22.4 points and 301.9 yards per game (225.6 passing and 76.3 rushing).
Senior linebacker
Eric Davidson (Savannah, Ga.) leads the team with 64 tackles (36 solo), while junior defensive end
C.J. Mustain (Oro Valley, Ariz.) has 45 tackles, with a team-high 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Junior safety
Connor Caffrey (Spokane Valley, Wash.) is tied for the NEWMAC lead with four interceptions this season.
On special teams, freshman
Jackson Tinkis (Bossier City, La.) has made 37-of-38 extra points and is four-of-five on field goals with a long of 45 yards. Senior
Jack Ruark (Urbanna, Va.) is averaging 36.8 yards per punt. Merchant Marine has punted just 17 times this season with Ruark punting 11 times. On the return side, Smith handles the punt return duties and has averaged 14.75 yards on eight returns with a long of 80 yards that he took to the end zone earlier this season at SUNY Maritime. Strong is the primary kickoff returner and he has averaged 21.18 yards on 17 returns.
Scouting The Bears
Coast Guard sits at 2-7 on the season and is 0-5 in NEWMAC action under second-year head coach C.C. Grant. The Bears are averaging 288.9 yards per game (176.3 passing, 112.6 rushing) and 14.7 points per game.
Freshman Joe Armentrout will make his third collegiate start this week. He is 37 of 83 for 453 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Tight end Matt Ross leads the team with 35 receptions for 304 yards while running back Jared Colletti has 31 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Wide Receiver Damaso Jaime has 27 receptions and leads the team with 481 yards and three touchdowns.
Colletti leads the team with 166 carries for 724 yards with three touchdowns while Spencer McMillion has 43 carries for 293 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bears defense is allowing 25.4 points per game. Coast Guard is allowing 372.9 yards per game this season (175.6 passing and 197.3 rushing).
Senior linebacker Michael Palermo leads the team with 68 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss and one interception. Junior linebacker Connor Healy has 50 tackles while freshman Ethan Lasher is tied for the NEWMAC lead with four interceptions and senior William Price has three interceptions on the season.
Junior Finnegan Hall handles both the punting and kicking duties for the Bears. He is averaging 38 yards per punt and he has made 5 of 12 of his field goal attempts and connected on 13 of 16 extra points.
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