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Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus Athletics

Official Website of FDU - Florham Devils Athletics FDU - Florham Devils Athletics
Jose Caceres
56
Winner FDU-Florham FDU 1-0
48
Merchant Marine USMMA 0-1
Winner
FDU-Florham FDU
1-0
56
Final
48
Merchant Marine USMMA
0-1
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
FDU FDU-Florham 21 7 21 7 56
USMMA Merchant Marine 6 22 14 6 48

Game Recap: Football |

Football Wins Thriller Over USMMA, 56-48

KINGS POINT, N.Y. (September 7, 2019) – Senior Damarquis Price and sophomore Connor Perez each caught three touchdowns as the FDU football team topped the United States Merchant Marine Academy 56-48 Saturday afternoon.

Junior Anthony Caserta broke the school record with seven touchdown passes, while senior Nick Maciejewski kicked a school-best eight extra points.

After both sides failed to score on their opening drives, the Devils marched down the field in eight plays, going 88 yards. Caserta hooked up with Perez for a 13-yard completion on 3rd-and-10 early in the drive before the duo connected on a 23-yard touchdown to give the Devils a 7-0 lead. Merchant Marine answered back on their ensuing possession before FDU regained the lead. A six-play, 65-yard drive was finished off with a one-yard TD pass to Perez. The big play on the drive saw Caserta link up with Price for a 38-yard strike to set up 1st-and-goal on the one-yard line.

FDU forced a fumble on the next USMMA drive, which was recovered by defensive linemen Dante DeSantis. Taking over in Mariner territory, it took three plays for Caserta and Perez to hook up for the third time in the quarter, this time from 42 yards out. The Devils defense came up big on the next series, as rookie Jafar Sannie popped the ball loose at the FDU 12 yard line. Senior Jose Caceres was able to fall on it and give the Devils the ball back.

The Mariners forced the Devils to punt on the next two series and capitalized on each of their own to pull level at 21. The hosts took the lead for the first time in the game with 1:22 left in the opening half, scoring on a three-yard rushing touchdown. The Devils needed just 1:16 to tie things at 28, as Caserta found Price for a 20-yard touchdown. The Mariners had a final chance at the end of the first half, but Krystian Abbott's Hail Mary pass was intercepted in the endzone by sophomore Jake Swindasz, and the two sides entered the break even at 28.

Opening the third quarter, Merchant Marine fumbled on their third play from scrimmage, and it was Caceres who notched his second recovery of the day. It took three plays for the Devils to score, with Price hauling his second TD reception of the afternoon. FDU forced a punt on the next series, before junior Rory Sullivan found himself on the receiving end of a Caserta touchdown, this time from 13 yards out.

The Mariners answered right back, using just 1:45 to go 69 yards before a 48-yard rushing touchdown shrunk the Devils lead to 42-35. Caserta completed five passes on the next drive, culminating with a three-yard scoring play to Price. The senior receiver aided the drive by catching all three passes for 32 yards. A long kick return coupled with a penalty gave the Mariners excellent field position before a 33-yard rush once again brought the hosts within one score.

Senior linebacker Stewart Saharic made a huge stop opening the fourth quarter, tackling the runner short of the first down marker to give FDU the ball back. The momentum was short-lived, as Caserta tossed an interception on the next FDU drive. The Devils forced a punt and went 81 yards in four plays to cap off their scoring on the day. Senior Robert Blakely ripped off a 57-yard touchdown run, pushing the Devils lead back to 14.

The Mariners got to the Devils nine-yard line before sophomore Diony Dilone made a three-yard loss on 4th-and-three and forced a turnover on downs. The Mariners scored one final time with just three seconds left, but Sullivan fell on the onside kick to seal the Devils victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
  • Caserta surpassed the previous school-record of six touchdowns, which was held by Tyler Maurer and Jagger Green. The junior finished 30-of-51 for 522 yards.
  • Blakely recorded his first career 100-yard game, finishing with 130 yards on just eight carries.
  • Maciejewski crossed the 100-point plateau for his career and was a perfect 8-for-8 on extra points.
  • Price hauled in 10 catches for 283 yards, while Sullivan had nine grabs for 103 yards.
  • Caceres led the way with 13 tackles, while newcomers Tyre Williams and Eli Guzman had 12 and 11 respectively.
 
UP NEXT
The Devils host William Paterson University in their home-opener next Friday, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.
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