PLYMOUTH, N.H. -- Bucs football traveled north to New Hampshire to play an undefeated Plymouth State team in conference play on Saturday. A low-scoring affair, the Buccaneers had a 10-7 lead with two minutes left in the game. Plymouth marched down the field and scored to take a 14-10 lead with five seconds left and went on to win the game by the same score.

The Basics

Final: Panthers 14, Buccaneers 10

Records: Maritime 1-3 (1-2)

               Plymouth 4-0 (3-0)

Inside The Numbers

Maritime

• Quarterback Evan Pierce went 8-11 passing for 77 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.
• Brennan Keefe led the Buccaneers in rushing and receiving in the game. He ran the ball twice for 41 yards and caught five passes for 37 yards. 
• Santiago Martinez caught two balls for 32 yards and the only touchdown for the Buccaneers offense.
• Defensively, Jackson Mahoney led all players with 13 tackles, 11 solo, and had 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Mac Kromenhoek totaled three tackles, a sack, and 1.5 tackles for loss. 
• Nathan Malek and Brock Bower each forced a fumble in the loss. 
• On special teams, Grayson Smith converted his first collegiate field goal for the Bucs from 32 yards. 
• James Sansone and Martinez each punted three times—Martinez for 110 yards, an average of 36.7 yards, and one inside the Panthers 20-yard line. Sansone went for 113 yards, an average of 37.7 per punt. 

Plymouth

• Braden Lynn completed 14 of 27 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. 
• Reece Davis ran the ball 10 times for 77 yards and a touchdown. 
• Mitchell Cripps caught four passes for 42 yards to lead the team in receiving. 
• Jacob Morris caught one pass for two yards and a touchdown. 
• Defensively, Aidan Fritz and Khari Whitehead made eight tackles each.
• Whitehead and Shane McCormick had a half sack each. 
• On Special teams, Seamus Ross made both of his PATs.
• Lynn punted six times for 241 yards, an average of 40.2 yards per punt.

How It Happened

The entire first half between the Buccaneers and Panthers went scoreless, with 10 combined punts and a turnover.

In the second half, Plymouth started with the ball, and on the first play from scrimmage, fumbled. The Buccaneers recovered on the Panthers' 22-yard line and on their first down, scored on a Pierce to Martinez 22-yard touchdown connection to go up 7-0 14 seconds into the third quarter. On Plymouth's ensuing possession, they put together an 11-play, 71-yard drive and finished the drive off with a Davis touchdown run from one yard out, tying the game at 7-7. The score remained the same heading into the final quarter of play. 

The Panthers started the fourth quarter off with the ball but had to punt on fourth down from their own 29. Maritime got the ball at their own 33-yard line and took eight minutes off the clock on a 15-play, 52-yard drive. The drive stalled at the Plymouth 15, and they sent the field goal team onto the field. From 32 yards, Smith gave the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead with 4:43 to play. On the Panthers next drive, they turned the ball over on second down due to a fumble and a recovery by Bower. The Buccaneers got the ball back but were unable to go anywhere, gaining just five yards on four plays and turning the ball over to the Panthers on downs. With under two minutes to play, Plymouth put together an 11-play, 69-yard drive and scored on a Lynn to Morris two-yard pass, to take a 14-10 lead with five seconds left. The Bucs got one play on offense and were not able to move the ball as the Panthers took the 14-10 victory on their home field.

What's Next

The Buccaneers head to Dartmouth for their next game on October 3rd against UMASS Dartmouth at 7pm.