KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 19, 2024) – An 18-point halftime deficit proved too much to overcome as the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy football team saw its two-game winning streak snapped with a 35-24 defeat at WPI. USMMA fell to 5-2 (3-2 NEWMAC), while WPI improved to 4-3 (2-2 NEWMAC).
 
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• Box Score 

Junior quarterback Gervy Alota (San Diego, Calif.) finished 9-of-16 for 106 yards through the air and rushed 13 times for 102 yards on the ground to help pace USMMA. Senior Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) had four catches for 53 yards, while sophomore Will Surdez (Colts Neck, N.J.) carried 13 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, sophomore Jonathan Hardy (Savannah, Ga.) had a team-high 11 total tackles, while classmate Zatyk Holub (Mount Vernon, Iowa) added six tackles and senior Jack Temple (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) registered 2.0 sacks.
 
WPI went 77 yards on nine plays on the game's opening possession to grab a 7-0 lead with 9:20 to go in the first quarter.
 
The Mariners answered by going 80 yards on a 12-play drive that chewed 6:28 off the clock. Alota had the big play of the possession, a 34-yard rush that gave USMMA first-and-goal at the 10-yard line. After three rushes brought the ball to the five-yard line, senior Jackson Tinkis (Bossier City, La.) connected on a 22-yard field goal that made it 7-3 with 11:16 left in the second quarter.
 
After adding a touchdown for a 14-3 lead with 3:57 left in the second quarter, WPI forced a quick three-and-out and drove 60 yards in just 1:31 to add a touchdown that made it 21-3 at halftime.
 
USMMA needed just eight plays to go 79 yards and pull to within 21-10 with a touchdown on the first possession after the break. A defensive pass interference call and an 11-yard run by senior James Menor (Gresham, Ore.) brought the ball to midfield before Alota found freshman Sonny Endicott (Colorado Springs, Colo.) for a 19-yard reception. Menor later added a 16-yard run before Surdez finished the drive with a one-yard rushing TD.
 
WPI answered immediately, however, as a 43-yard return on the ensuing kickoff gave the Engineers the ball at midfield. Five plays later, a 27-yard TD pass made it 28-10 with 8:45 left in the third quarter.
 
The Mariners responded on the next possession after a kickoff out-of-bounds gave USMMA good starting field position at the 35-yard line. Alota had a 32-yard rush and a 14-yard rush before Menor ran it in from seven yards out to make it 28-17.
 
A sack by senior Chad Hollar (Wilmington, N.C.) helped force a quick three-and-out for the Engineers, but the Mariners followed with a three-and-out of their own. WPI then went 85 yards on seven plays, including a nine-yard TD pass that pushed the lead to 35-17 with 13:31 to play.
 
The USMMA offense went three-and-out before the defense forced a turnover. On third-and-13 just outside of the red zone, Temple sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble that was recovered by junior Marcus Wyman (McCall, Idaho). The offense then went on a 10-play, 76-yard drive to pull to within 35-24 with just 4:53 left in the game. Endicott and Surdez each had 11-yard rushes and Smith caught a 26-yard pass before Surdez found paydirt with a two-yard rush.
 
The Mariners return home to host Springfield College on Saturday, Nov. 9, at noon.
 
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