CASTINE, Maine — The day was already a memorable one for Maine Maritime Academy senior Jim Bower just six minutes into Saturday’s New England Football Conference game against Framingham State College.
For the next 54 minutes, MMA’s defense made sure it was also a good one for the Mariners’ star fullback Saturday afternoon.
The Mariners’ defense, which has lived in the shadow of a Mariners’ offense that leads all NCAA Division III teams nationally in rushing offense, had arguably its best game of the season and made Framingham State’s offense feel as miserable as the weather.
Bower eclipsed the 3,000-yard career rushing mark and his Mariners made it look easy with a 49-21 victory over the Rams of Framingham, Mass., under steady rain and in cold, clammy conditions at Ritchie Field.
“That actually motivated us too because we didn’t want him [Bower] to get that mark in a game we lost,” said MMA junior linebacker Wade Mondoux, who led the team with five solo tackles (one for a loss), three assists, and a fumble recovery and return for a touchdown. “We wanted him to be able to totally enjoy it.”
Oh, he did.
“It’s really great to get to 3,000 yards. I mean, I think my high school total was like 2,001 yards,” said Bower, who played for Oxford Hills High in South Paris. “But the main goal is trying to get into the conference championship. It has been all year.”
The Mariners got a big assist toward that goal Saturday with a loss by Bridgewater State, the only team to beat the 6-1 Mariners this season. That gives MMA a one-game lead in the NEFC’s Bogan division with two to play.
It was MMA’s 40-14 loss to Bridgewater last month that head coach Chris McKenney credits for his team’s — specifically his defense’s — drastic improvement in recent weeks.
“I just think our kids are real focused now, especially ever since that game,” McKenney said. “We rotated kids in who were young and less experienced earlier in the year, but now they’re more experienced and more confident.
“We’re getting across the line quicker now and flying to the ball better. We’re making things happen.”
Some of those things that happened Saturday included four sacks, seven tackles for a loss, three fumble recoveries, and an interception as the Mariners limited the Rams to 234 total yards.
Mondoux and company were in the BSC backfield as much as the BSC offensive backs. Mondoux said it all started with the play of the defensive line and pregame scouting.
“They wanted to run, so we keyed on that, but we wanted to make the bad weather work for us and make it uncomfortable for them,” Mondoux said. “We checked the lineman first. If they were standing up, it’s going to be a pass. If they’re going forward, it’s going to be a run.”
Meanwhile, MMA’s ground-churning run game was churning up yardage along with the water off the Ritchie Field artificial turf.
Bower led the ground assault with 21 carries for 154 yards and one touchdown. Nick Bourassa of Jay also eclipsed the 100-yard mark with 119 yards and two touchdowns on just nine carries behind MMA’s offensive line of Travis Berube, Dan Weamer, Mike Secord, Andrew McCann and Michael Durrell.
The Mariners built up a 20-0 halftime lead and pushed it up to 42-0 with three minutes left in the third quarter before the Rams finally got on the board.
Ironically, the Mariners drew first blood with their passing game as quarterback Tyler Angell found Alex Coulombe for a 30-yard touchdown reception with 6:37 left in the opening quarter.
“I was a little surprised how big our lead was because of how well they did against Bridgewater State,” said Bower. “But we had everyone back and healthy and were just going really well.
“Our defense stepped up today and gave up only seven points all day before we put the second unit in.”
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