CASTINE, Maine — Senior quarterback Derek Victory tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Groff with 11:55 left and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy made three fourth-quarter interceptions, including two by Mark Behne, to rally past Maine Maritime Academy 21-14 in a New England Football Conference game Saturday afternoon.
Maine Maritime (1-3, 0-2 NEFC) built a 14-0 lead on quarterback Michael Fahey’s touchdown runs of one and nine yards.
Michael Burgess’ fumble recovery set up Fahey’s second TD.
Mike Clancy cut the lead in half by capping a 10-play 67-yard drive with a three-yard run with 7:06 remaining in the first half.
The Bears (3-2, 2-0 NEFC) got the ball right back on the ensuing kickoff as the wind knocked the ball down and Joe Rizzardi pounced on it at the Mariner 27-yard line.
The Bears then capitalized to tie it on Victory’s 37-yard TD pass to Kyle Jackson and Tyler Henning’s school-record 88th extra-point kick.
Rizzardi blocked a 22-yard field-goal attempt in the third quarter.
Will Daniels’ first career interception and 30-yard return set up the game-winning touchdown pass from Victory to Groff.
Behne made his first interception on a fourth-and-seven play from the Coast Guard 34-yard line with 7:44 remaining and he made his game-clinching interception in the end zone with 40 seconds left.
Victory completed 11 of 23 passes for 165 yards and set the school career passing yards record with 4,686 yards.
Groff had four catches for 27 yards and Carter Provost made three receptions for 51 yards. Clancy’s 40 rushing yards led the Bears.
Fahey ran for a game-high 159 yards on 31 carries and Joe DiBiase netted 121 more on 19 carries.
Maine Maritime Academy outgained Coast Guard 428-245 and had 403 rushing yards out of its triple option. Coast Guard rushed for 80 yards.
MMA also had a heavy edge in time of possession (41:50 to 18:10).