Big Errors Lead to Big Loss for Mariners

Despite not giving up an offensive touchdown for an 11^th straight quarter, the Narragansett Mariners lost 14-13 on Saturday afternoon to Moses Brown, thanks to a missed extra point, a panicked final drive, 12 penalties, interceptions and a goal line fumble.

Narragansett (2-2, 2-1 Division III) head coach Richard Fossa put the loss to Moses Brown (2-1, 1-1 Division III) on himself.

“We gave one away,” Fossa said. “I don't like all the penalties, all the stupid penalties. The excuse is I need to get more control of the team.”

The Mariners had multiple opportunities to turn the game their way, early and late. However, the offense and special teams struggled.

At the end of the first quarter, senior Willie Perkins carried the ball off-tackle for six yards, right to the goal line. The Mariners had great field position, thanks to a bad snap and stout defense on the previous Quakers' possession.

However, a bad transfer on the snap to quarterback Mark Griffith ended up in a fumble, and Moses Brown recovered at the 2-yard line. Although the Quakers went three-and-out, a punt got the ball to the 38-yard line.

With the defense giving the ball back to the offense in good field position again, Narragansett squandered the advantage. A holding call pushed them back to the 48, and Griffith threw an interception to Zachary Patinkin on second-and-20.

Fossa said the series had a huge impact on the game.

“That was the turning point,” he said of the goal line fumble. “That's unexcusable. We had four plays to score from six inches.”

The goal line stand also seemed to give Moses Brown the confidence it would need on defense.

With 5:27 left in the half and the Mariners facing second-and-14, the Quakers penetrated the Mariners backfield on a pitch. Perkins dropped the ball, and after squirting about 20 yards backwards, it was picked up and run another four yards into the end zone by Tyler Somberg.

Moses Brown then recovered the ball on an onside kick, the first of several mistakes the Mariners made on special teams. However, the Quakers' drive stalled on the 31-yard line, as junior Arthur Kershaw picked off a pass at the 5 and ran it back to the 18-yard line.

Starting their drive with 3:11 left on the clock, the Mariners drove down the field for a touchdown, mixing up carries by Griffith, Perkins and senior Francis Castrovillari.

The score came on the final play of the first half. The previous play, a pass from Griffith went through the hands of senior Steve Smith in the end zone. However, the coaching staff noted that Castrovillari was wide open in the middle of the field. The Mariners ran the same play for an easy 16-yard touchdown reception.

However, Narragansett plunged into a hole at the very start of the second half.

From his own 20, B. Michael Beneduce returned the opening kickoff straight up the middle of the field, barely touched by Mariners special team players. The 80-yard touchdown, and the second extra point of the day from Timothy Graul, gave the Quakers all the points they would need.

The teams traded turnovers and stalled drives until a crucial special teams play, this time by Narragansett.

With about six minutes left, and facing a fourth-and-13 at their own 20-yard line, the Quakers tried to punt. Rushing off the edge, senior Patrick Degnan leapt and knocked the punt down. The Mariners recovered on the 10-yard line.

Castrovillari rushed for eight yards up the middle, and Perkins bounced off a tackle for a two-yard touchdown with 5:11 remaining.

The Mariners seemed poised to tie the game. However, an extra point by freshman Christian Humulock wobbled as it soared into the air, and flew wide right, leaving Narragansett behind 14-13.

Moses Brown was able to run the clock down to 1:33, thanks to a combination of Narragansett personal fouls and first downs on the ground. The Quakers went for it on fourth-and-three, but got stuffed, giving the ball back to the Mariners with 1:28.

Starting from their own 33-yard line, Griffith ran up the middle for a 15-yard gain. However, three subsequent scrambles went for six, three and one yard, and left the Mariners with almost no time on the game clock. On the game's final play, Griffith threw a desperation pass downfield that was intercepted by Patinkin.

Fossa said that on the final drive, he didn't fault Griffith for not throwing the ball away at times.

“That just comes with maturity,” he said. “Usually, he's able to run for a first down.”

Division III Outlook

The loss by the Mariners muddies the Division III standings up considerably. Before the game, Narragansett had the inside track on the top two spots in the division.

Now, there is more pressure on Narragansett to win against Rogers (2-1, 2-0 Division III), considered by most to be the top team in the division. Rogers' sole loss this year is against Division I La Salle. The Mariners host the Vikings 11 a.m. next Saturday.

“This is a game we should have won easily,” Fossa said, noting that Moses Brown was missing two starters. “This was a playoff game for us.”

The loss leaves the Mariners at 2-1 in Division III play, tied with East Greenwich, Middletown and Tiverton. Moses Brown is a half-game back, thanks to an early season bye, but would own the tiebreaker against the Mariners. Only the top four make the playoffs.

NARRAGANSETT STATS - RUSHING

PASSING

RECEIVING

MOSES BROWN STATS - RUSHING

PASSING

RECEIVING

CORRECTION: The kicker for Narragansett was initially incorrect. Patch regrets the error.