Thibodeau lifts MMA to victory over Curry

CASTINE – Don Thibodeau scored on a 1-yard run with three seconds remaining, lifting the Maine Maritime Academy Mariners to a 28-21 homecoming victory over Curry College 28-21 in New England Football Conference action at Ritchie Field Saturday afternoon.

Maine Maritime Academy has posted back-to-back wins for the first time since the final two weeks of the 1998 season.

Thibodeau, a senior fullback, piled up 249 yards on 27 carries, his second 200-yard rushing effort in as many weeks. He also scored a 38-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Curry College (Mass.) held an 18-minute advantage in time of possession, but turned the ball over four times. MMA converted two of those miscues into touchdowns.

MMA’s winning drive began at its own 32-yard line with 1:10 to play. Quarterback B.J. Dunlap and Brandon Goodrich teamed up on a 15-yard option run to spark the march, the Dunlap fired a 25-yard pass to Cody Schmidt that gave the Mariners the ball at the Curry 1 with 15 seconds left.

Thibodeau was held to no gain on his first try, then scored after an MMA timeout.

Goodrich turned in scoring runs of 10 and 7 yards for the Mariners.

Chris Tracy spearheaded the MMA defense with 14 tackles, including four for negative yardage. Chris Metcalf also posted 14 stops.

Brandon Benoit rushed for 138 yards, including a 78-yard TD, for Curry. Kevin Holleran completed 13 of 25 passes for 175 yards.

Curry (1-2) 7 7 0 7 – 21

Maine Maritime (2-0) 13 8 0 7 – 28

CUR – Sunday 4 run (Vincent kick)

MMA – Goodrich 10 run (Dunlap kick)

MMA – Thibodeau 38 run (kick failed)

CUR – Heredia 3 run (Vincent kick)

MMA – Goodrich 7 run (Thibodeau rush)

CUR – Benoit 78 run (Vincent kick)

MMA – Thibodeau 1 run (Dunlap kick)