United States Coast Guard Academy - Department of Athletics - Football - Bears Fall to Merchant Marine 21-7 in Season Opener

KINGS POINT, N.Y. - (9/9/06)-- For the third straight year and seventh time in eight tries, the United States Merchant Marine Academy Football Mariners defeated archrival United States Coast Guard Academy in the 26th Annual Secretaries’ Cup Championship, 21-7.

After a scoreless first half that saw two potential USMMA scoring drive go awry, including a 47-yard field goal attempt that fell inches short by sophomore kicker Geoff Troy and junior Davey May getting stopped on fourth-and-two inside the CGA ten-yard line, the Mariners finally got on the board with their first drive of the second quarter.

In what turned out to ultimately look like a two-minute drill, junior signal caller Chuck Kleinschnitz moved the Mariners 73 yards down the field in seven plays, completing four-of-six passes in the process, including a touchdown 34-yard strike to senior receiver Preston Morgan for the game’s opening score. The Mariners led 7-0 at halftime.

Merchant Marine found itself in outstanding position to open the third quarter with a 63-yard kick return by senior Jake Miller to set the offense up on the Bear 23-yard line. However, Coast Guard’s defense stood firm in the face of adversity, forcing a failed field goal attempt by Troy from 31 yards out.

But the Mariners defense refused disallowed any swing in momentum, shutting down the Bears once again with a quick three-and-out. Following a 22-yard punt return by Miller to give USMMA the ball on the CGA 33-yard line, the Mariners this time took care of business as sophomore Cameron Amigo scored his first touchdown of the season from eight yards out to give the Mariners a 14-0 lead.

Coast Guard, which failed to move the ball past the 50-yard line for the opening 37 minutes of the game, finally showed some life offensively to answer Amigo’s score with a nine-play, 80-yard drive to narrow the deficit in half, 14-7.

Josh Williams found the end zone with a three-yard touchdown run for Coast Guard’s lone score of the day.

With less than seven minutes remaining in the contest, USMMA put the game on ice with a 16-play, 90 yard drive, capped by Kleinschnitz scoring on a quarterback sneak on fourth and goal from the one-yard line.

Miller’s career-day as a kick and punt returner was the one of the highlights for USMMA. The Mechanicsville, Maryland native with the help of his teammates returned eight punts for 175 yards, including a long of 54 yards. He returned two kickoffs for 87 yards.

Kleinschnitz went 18-for-27 on the day with one passing and rushing touchdown and two interceptions. The Melbourne, Florida native sprinkled the pigskin all over the field in the win. Kleinschnitz got the ball to nine different receivers on the day.

Junior John Spiropoulos led the receiving corps with five catches for 62 yards. Morgan added four grabs for 76 yards, while senior Adam Franco caught two big chain-moving third down passes for 20 yards.

Sophomore running back J.J. Watson sparkled in his first game of the season with a team-best 74 rushing yards on 12 carries. His rushing was instrumental in the success of the final scoring drive for USMMA, in addition to great run blocking by the offensive line.

May finished the day with 53 yards on 18 rushes, while Amigo added 36 to the 163 total rushing yards for the Mariners.

Led by junior linebacker Garron Edgington game-high 14 tackles and a sack, the Mariner defense held junior quarterback Christian George and the Bears to 140 yards offense on the day.

George, making his first career start at quarterback, completed 7-of-16 passes for 49 yards and one interception, on the final play of the game.. Lance Lynch led the rushing attach with a team-best 65 yards.

Freshman free safety Steve Arguelles had both of Coast Guard's interceptions while adding eight tackles in hit first collegiate game. Sophomore linebacker Jack Gill led the Bears with 13 tackles, one for loss.