KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 14, 2023) – Seniors Ceaser Gonzalez (Norco, Calif.) and Cole Simmons (Montrose, Colo.) each surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football team ran its way past MIT, 28-14. The Mariners improved to 5-1 (3-1 NEWMAC) with the win, while the Engineers saw their record fall to 1-5 (0-4 NEWMAC).
 
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• Box Score

Gonzalez carried 27 times for 132 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Mariners, while Simmons collected 124 yards on 24 carries. The Mariners outgained the Engineers, 300-158, on the ground.
 
Sophomore quarterback Gervy Alota (San Diego, Calif.) finished 7-of-12 for 82 yards and one touchdown, while also adding 21 yards on eight carries. Junior Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) caught four passes for a game-high 54 yards and one touchdown. Classmate Jackson Tinkis (Bossier City, La.) was a perfect 4-for-4 on PATs.
 
Senior Teddy Brunger (Indialantic, Fla.) totaled nine tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, while junior Chad Hollar (Wilmington, N.C.) added seven tackles and one interception. Junior C.J. Livesay (Morristown, Tenn.) also finished with seven tackles and 1.0 sacks on the day.
 
MIT scored on its opening possession, grabbing a 7-0 lead after chewing up 6:04 on the clock as part of a 13-play, 68-yard drive.
 
The Mariners answered immediately on the ensuing possession as Gonzalez tied the game at 7-7 with a five-yard touchdown run that capped a 10-play, 74-yard drive that took just 3:43 off the clock.
 
After forcing MIT to punt, USMMA marched right back down the field and took a 14-7 lead with 12:05 left in the second quarter. It was Gonzalez that found paydirt once again, this time with an 11-yard rushing TD.
 
The USMMA defense then forced another punt, but MIT regained possession courtesy of an interception. The Mariners, however, took the ball right back seven plays later as Hollar came up with an interception of his own. Just 4:19 later, the Mariners saw their lead expand to 21-7 as Gonzalez scored from 1-yard out for his third rushing TD of the half with just 16 seconds left before the break.
 
The Mariners extended the lead in the third quarter as Smith hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass that gave USMMA 28 unanswered points and a 28-7 lead with 6:19 to play.
 
MIT took advantage of a short field following a Mariner fumble in the fourth. The Engineers needed just 31 yards to find the endzone and make it a 28-14 game.
 
The Mariners return to action on Oct. 21 with a noon home game against WPI. 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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