CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Oct. 15, 2022) – The USMMA football team earned a shutout for the first time since the 2019 season, as the Mariners traveled up to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and defeated the Engineers, 17-0, on Saturday at MIT's Steinbrenner Stadium. The victory was Merchant Marine's fifth-straight to improve the Mariners' record to 5-1 (3-0 NEWMAC), while the Engineers fall to 2-3 (0-2 NEWMAC) in defeat.
 
Game Link

• Box Score 

In a scoreless first half, the Engineers had a big edge in time of possession, as MIT had the ball for 19:44 compared to 10:16 for the Mariners. MIT also had an 8-3 advantage in first downs and outgained USMMA in total offensive yards by a 104-51 total. The Merchant Marine defense did have a huge stop on the game's opening drive, as senior Connor Caffrey (Spokane Valley, Wash.) picked off a pass in the Mariners' end zone for a touchback.
 
The Mariners got on the scoreboard on their opening drive of the second half, as they drove 75 yards in 15 plays, capped by an eight-yard rush up the middle by senior Matthew Savard (Orlando, Fla.) and the extra point my sophomore Jackson Tinkis (Bossier City, La.) made it a 7-0 score.
 
After an MIT three-and-out on the next drive, USMMA pushed the lead to 14-0 as senior Jeremiah Wang (Manassas, Va.) found an open sophomore Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) from 11 yards out in the corner of the end zone.
 
USMMA kept up the offensive pressure on its next drive as well as they moved into the red zone on a 36-yard completion by Wang to Smith. Tinkis converted a 25-yard field goal to end the drive as the game headed to the fourth quarter at 17-0.
 
In the opening five minutes of the fourth, MIT drove deep into USMMA territory and on fourth down, nearly found the end zone on a pass play, but the ball was knocked away by junior Payton Gourley (Simi Valley, Calif.). The two teams were scoreless the rest of the way as the Mariners came away with the 17-0 final.
 
Junior Thomas Joyce (Taunton, Mass.) led USMMA with nine tackles, while C.J. Mustain (Oro Valley, Ariz.) had another five tackles for losses (dropping the Engineers back 28 yards), including four sacks that set MIT back 23 yards. Gourley finished with seven tackles and was one of six Mariners with a pass breakup.
 
On the offensive side, Wang completed four passes for 101 yards with the one TD, with Smith hauling in all four catches for 101 receiving yards. Senior Max Michaels (Fleming Island, Fla.) led the way on the ground with 65 yards.
 
The Mariners will travel down to Washington, D.C., next Saturday, Oct. 22, to take on Catholic University in the two teams' final NEWMAC meeting before the Cardinals leave for the Landmark Conference next season. Kickoff is scheduled for Live stats and a live video feed of the game will be available with links on the USMMA Football Schedule Page.
 
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