CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – The Maine Maritime Academy Mariners defeated the Holland College Hurricanes 34-9 in a preseason football game played on Saturday in Castine, Maine. It was the first-ever meeting between the NCAA Division 3 Mariners and the Atlantic Football League champion Hurricanes, in a battle for the Kongsberg Cup.
The Mariners jumped out to a 14-0 lead, scoring on their first two possessions, before the ‘Canes defense seemed to adjust to the triple option offense. A fumble recovery by the Hurricanes’ Andrew Pidgeon gave the visitors excellent field position on the MMA 19-yard line, but they had to settle for a field goal to make the score 14-3 at the end of the opening quarter.
To start the second quarter, the Mariners relied on their running game to take them down the field to score again. The Hurricanes battled back with a 49-yard catch and run by rookie running back Jamaal Storr, who rumbled all the way to the Mariners 5-yard line. Once again, the offense could not convert for the major and a field goal attempt went wide left, ending the first half with a score of 21-3.
Both teams substituted freely in the second half of play. Hurricanes Head Coach Andrew Hickey took a look at all five of his quarterbacks and used his entire roster. The ‘Canes scored their only touchdown of the game in the 4th quarter on a 15-yard pass from Khiry Best to Xavier Hanna, making the score 34-9. The play was set up by a catch-and-run by Andrew Rowe, who was the top receiver on the day with 122 yards on 7 receptions.
For the game, the Hurricanes generated 320 yards on offense to the Mariners 376 yards. The inability to punch it in to the end zone, combined with 4 turnovers and 13 penalties hampered the offensive attack.
The Hurricanes open up their regular season on the road next Saturday at 4 p.m. against the UNB Saint John Seawolves, a rematch of last year’s AFL championship game.
The team will host their home-opener Sunday, September 21 at 1 p.m. at MacAdam Field, UPEI Alumni Canada Place. For more information about the Hurricanes, visit hcfootball.ca.
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