WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 22, 2022) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football team saw its five-game winning streak snapped with a 41-33 loss at Catholic. The Mariners (5-2, 3-1 NEWMAC) came up just short after scoring 25 points in the fourth quarter in their effort to overcome a 34-8 deficit midway through the third. The Cardinals (5-3, 4-0) remained perfect in NEWMAC play with the victory.
 
Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) starred on offense, finishing with 243 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches. The sophomore wideout had touchdown receptions of 61-yards and 20-yards in the fourth quarter.
 
Quarterback Jeremiah Wang (Manassas, Va.) finished 14-of-27 for 321 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding 63 rushing yards on 21 carries. Ceaser Gonzalez (Norco, Calif.) carried 12 times for 69 yards, while Matthew Savard (Orlando, Fla.) picked up 59 yards and one touchdown on 11 attempts. The Mariners outgained the Cardinals, 194-104, on the ground.
 
C.J. Mustain (Oro Valley, Ariz.) totaled eight tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, while Teddy Brunger (Indialantic, Fla.) also added eight tackles for the USMMA defense. Thomas Joyce (Taunton, Mass.) had an interception in the fourth quarter that set up a two-play, 63-yard touchdown drive.
 
It was all Cardinals early on as the home team jumped out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter. Catholic made it 24-0 with a field goal early in the second quarter before Smith hauled in a 24-yard TD pass and a successful two-point conversion made it 24-8 with 1:31 to play in the first half. The Cardinals tacked on a 27-yard field goal as the first half expired and took a 27-8 lead into the locker room.
 
The Catholic lead expanded to 34-8 midway through the third before the Mariners went to work on the comeback attempt.
 
After forcing a turnover on downs in the waning seconds of the third, USMMA went on a 10-play, 47-yard drive that culminated with a field goal to cut the deficit to 34-11. The Mariners took the ball right back on the Joyce interception and Wang found Smith for a 61-yard touchdown that made it 34-18. Catholic answered and took a 41-18 advantage with a 75-yard touchdown strike on the ensuing drive, but the Mariners marched 80 yards in just 1:51 and a 20-yard TD to Smith made it 41-25. The USMMA defense promptly forced a three-and-out and the offense needed just 1:04 to move the ball 63 yards before a 13-yard Savard rushing TD and a successful two-point try made it 41-33.
 
Nico Casares finished 22-of-31 for 349 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Cardinals.
 
The Mariners return to action at home on Oct. 29 for a 1 p.m. Senior Day matchup against Springfield. 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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