CASTINE, Maine- The Keystone College football team picked up their first varsity win of the season as they took down Maine Maritime Academy 47-22 Saturday afternoon at Ritchie Field.
This is the first head coaching win for Hugh Kirwan '24 MS.
After the Giants forced the Mariners to punt on their first drive, the offense answered immediately as Frankie Leyshon (Lake Ariel, Pa./Western Wayne) found Johann Henningan (Philadelphia, Pa./Imhotep Charter) for a five-yard touchdown.
The Keystone defense came in clutch in their second possession as Maine Maritime quarterback Evan Arcenaux's pass would be intercepted by Myles Parsons (Baltimore, Md./Randallstown). Unfortunately, Keystone would punt on their second offensive drive.
The Giants special teams wrapped up the scoring in the first quarter as James Craig (Harpursville, N.Y./Harpursville) blocked a punt which went out of the end zone for a safety.
Keystone opened the second quarter with a 16-yard rushing touchdown from Ethan Sadler (Endwell, N.Y./Maine-Endwell) and later capitalized on a two-point conversion.
Maine Maritime would finally get on the board as Arcenaux would find Eli Bennett for a 10-yard receiving touchdown.
The Mariners defense forced an interception on the Giants next offensive possession and Keystone would respond by forcing a turnover on downs.
Maine Maritime would cut their deficit to two as Nyrel Norris added a rushing touchdown with about one minute remaining in the first half. Keystone's Zion Patterson (Wilmington, Del./Delcastle Technical) tallied a 27-yard receiving touchdown with to close out the first half.
Keystone began the second half scoring with a 19-yard field goal from Jeremiah Ortiz (Scranton, Pa./Scranton). They would later score around the halfway point of the third quarter as Jayson Nami (Freehold Township, N.J./Freehold Township) caught a short pass from Leyshon and took it 43 yards to the house.
Demontay Hawkins (Warrenton, N.C./Warren County) concluded the third quarter with a 33-yard touchdown reception. In the fourth quarter, Samad Robinson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) wrapped up the sensational offensive performance with a 27-yard rushing touchdown.
The Mariners added one more touchdown following Robinson's score as Norris found the end zone once again from 13 yards out.
Leyshon led the air attack with four touchdowns off 224 yards passing. Robinson provided 72 yards on the ground. Nami led the receiving core with 172 yards.
On the defensive side, Nicholas DeFrancesco (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) had nine total tackles with 2.5 being for loss. Parsons and Khyair Goodwin (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) combined for five pass break-ups. Mahkai Allen (New Castle, Del./William Penn) and Seth Johnson (North Hills, Pa./Upper Dublin) each recorded a sack.
The Giants had 418 yards of total offense, compared to 225 from the Mariners. Keystone was a perfect 5-for-5 on fourth down conversions.
Keystone is on a bye this coming week. They return to the field on Sunday, Oct. 12 for a JV game at King's College (Pa.). Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
