KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Sept. 7, 2024) – The USMMA football team opened the 2024 season with a convincing 44-27 home victory over Western Connecticut State on Saturday to highlight Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend at KP. Prior the game, classes that ended in 4's and 9's marched on to the field for Homecoming and the seven new inductees to the Athletics Hall of Fame were recognized at midfield.
 
On the gridiron, the Mariners used a smothering defense and an offense that, once it found its groove, was electric throughout the game.
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Zatyk Holub
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Gervy Alota
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Coach Croall 

Junior quarterback Gervy Alota (San Diego, Calif.) had his hand in four touchdowns on the day, as he ran three in and passed on to senior Talsen Smith (Roseville, Calif.) for 60 yards that opened the scoring early in the first quarter. Alota also amassed 116 yards on 5-for-11 passing.
 
Sophomore Will Surdez (Colts Neck, N.J.) and senior Zach Zebro (East Brunswick, N.J.) also found the end zone for the Mariners on rushes in the second half, while senior Jackson Tinkis (St. Petersburg, Fla.) nailed a 25-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
 
Defensively, junior Caleb Green (Flower Mound, Texas) led the Mariners with eight tackles, while sophomore Jonathan Hardy (Savannah, Ga.) and senior Chad Hollar (Wilmington, N.C.) both had five stops each. Hollar had a third quarter interception and one tackle for a loss.
 
Three other Mariners all had four tackles apiece, sophomore Aiden Graham (Allen, Texas), who also had two TFLs including one sack, senior Jack Temple (Rockville Centre, N.Y.) who had a big quarterback hurry to help break up a play in the first half, and sophomore Zatyk Holub (Mount Vernon, Iowa) who blocked a punt deep in WestConn territory early in the game. Temple and Holub both also had tackles for losses.
 
The WestConn offense struggled early, as the Mariners held them to just one first down over their first quarter-plus. The Wolves' John Giller had 168 yards on 17-of-24 passing, with three touchdowns. Markus Faucett hauled in three catches for 49 yards, with two of his grabs going for touchdowns.
 
On defense for WCSU, Eamon Moran registered a game-best 12 tackles and two Wolves recorded first-quarter interceptions.
 
Up next, the Mariners will travel down to our nation's Capital to take on Gallaudet in a game slated to begin at 12-noon at the Bisons' Hotchkiss Field.
 
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