CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (Oct. 12, 2024) – Led by a defensive effort that forced two fumbles, had one interception and allowed just 125 total yards, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football team notched a 21-0 road victory at MIT. USMMA improved to 4-1 (2-1 NEWMAC), while MIT fell to 2-3 (0-3 NEWMAC).
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Strip-Sack By Holub Leads To Endicott TD In First
• WATCH: Shavey's Big Interception In The End Zone At End Of Second
• WATCH: Alota & Smith Connect For 80-Yard TD In Third
• WATCH: Temple's Fumble Recovery Leads To Smith's Second TD Of The Day 

Junior quarterback Gervy Alota (San Diego, Calif.) completed 8-of-12 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) had six receptions for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Senior James Menor (Gresham, Ore.) had seven carries for 42 yards, and freshman Sonny Endicott (Colorado Springs, Colo.) added six carries for 33 yards and a touchdown to lead the ground game. Senior Jackson Tinkis (Bossier City, La.) was a perfect 3-for-3 on PATs on the day.
 
Senior Chad Hollar (Wilmington, N.C.) had a team-high nine total tackles to pace the defense. Sophomore Aidan Graham (Allen, Texas) contributed six total tackles, including 3.0 sacks that resulted in losses of 26 yards. Sophomore Zatyk Holub (Mount Vernon, Iowa), meanwhile, had four tackles, including a strip-sack that resulted in a 26-yard loss and set up the Mariners' first touchdown.
 
After the first four drives of the game ended in punts, an MIT turnover gave USMMA a short field and led to the first score of the game. With MIT facing second and 10 at its own 31-yard line, Holub sacked the quarterback for a 26-yard loss and a forced fumble. The Mariners recovered and were in business. Three plays later, Endicott rushed for a two-yard touchdown that put USMMA up, 7-0, with 2:51 left in the first quarter.
 
MIT threatened late in the first half, reaching the red zone after a 35-yard rush combined with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty set up first and ten at the USMMA 14-yard line. On the very next play, however, junior Chase Shavey (Mercer Island, Wash.) had an interception in the end zone to preserve the 7-0 advantage at halftime.
 
Just like the first half, the second half started with four-consecutive punts before a big play led to a USMMA touchdown. While the defense had the sack-fumble for the big play in the first half, it was the offense's Alota-to-Smith connection that provided the spark this time. On a third-and-eight play from the USMMA 20-yard line, Alota found Smith in-stride for an 80-yard TD strike that made it 14-0 with 2:30 left in the third.
 
Another MIT fumble set up the next USMMA scoring drive early in the fourth as senior Jack Temple (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) recovered to give the Mariners possession at the MIT 47-yard line. After an offside penalty gave the Mariners five yards, Alota found Smith for a 23-yard reception. Alota then completed a seven-yard pass to Endicott before Smith caught a 12-yard TD pass that made it 21-0 with just 10:45 left.
 
USMMA forced another punt and then iced the game with a 10-play, 63-yard drive that chewed up the final 7:26 of action.
 
The Mariners host Norwich for Senior Day next Saturday, Oct. 19, at noon.