Merchant Marine Academy edges Gaulladet in last second thriller, 35-34

Kings Point, NY (Sept. 4)  - We thought yesterday's game was close, this one was even closer.  The US Merchant Marine Academy drove 63 yards with 1:15  left and one time-out before a 12-yard TD pass from QB Derrick Ventre to a diving WR Chaise Dunn tied the Gaulladet Bison's, 34-34, with :01 left in the game.  Richard Grennan sealed the win with his fifth extra point, something that the Bison could not do at all the entire game.  The school for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing was literally kicking-impaired which put them at a great disadvantage on the football field.  They did not attempt an extra point conversion or field goal because they had no skillful kickers!  On top of that, kickoffs gave USMMA great field position all day - not because of poor coverage, but poor kicking.  Most drives started at or near Gaulladet's 40-yard line.  Great, exciting game though.  Both teams played hard to win. 

     First to our surprise, QB Jimmy Gardner returned to run the triple option for the Bison this year giving the team from DC experienced leadership and an experienced option QB.  We thought he had graduated. The Bison have a cast of good running backs returning which will give the Gaulladet team many options to score a lot of points this year. However, Kings Point's leading RB Karl Heimbrock got the scoring started with a 8-yard TD run near the end of the first quarter.  The Gaulladet line got a hand on Rich Grennan's extra point, but the ball went up and over the crossbar for a 7-0 Mariner lead.  The conversion was more critical than we could ever expect.

   Early in the second period, The Mariners were sailing downfield again until the ball came loose and the Bison took over from their own eight.  Guest Game Analyst (GGA) Steve Cielsa pointed out that USMMA kept the ball on the ground moving into the gusting winds moving from our right to left. Both teams played ball control on the ground when the had the ball going into the gusting winds to make for a quick-moving first half.  Gaulladet drove 55 yards culminating in a 6-ayrd TD run by Ryan Bonheyo with 5:04 left in the first half.  On the extra point, holder Cole Johnson stood up and fired a pass to RB Scott Lehmann for two points.  We liked the play to give the Bison a 8-7 edge.  Little did we know at the time that it was an indicator that HC Chuck Goldstein had no confidence in his kicking game.  The proof was evident on the ensuing kick-off byJohnson when the ball rolled out of bounds at the USMMA 40.  The re-kick was even worse with the Mariners jumping on the weak kick at GU's 40.  After each subsequent Gaulladet score, the Mariners ended up with fantastic field position starting at the 50, the 44, GU's 43, GU's 38, and their own 41, the worst field position after a GU score all day. How bad was the kicking?  So bad that USMMA returned the ball 4 times for only 39 yards!  The Bison caused a fumble and DB Tony Tatum recovered at the 21.  GU drove and with :42 left, Gardner connected with Ryan Worsham on a 26-yard TD into the end zone.  The two-point conversion failed and The Bison took at 14-7 lead at halftime.

    This was our first time visiting Kings Point.  It was Parents' Weekend to open the season on a crisp, bright, windy day on Long Island Sound.  Parking on campus is very limited, so we ended up having a brief "tailgate" on the street adjacent to Captain Tomb Field at Brooks Stadium.  From there we walked into an open gate on to the field, but we decided to check out the campus on the far end of the field first.  On our return, we found out that not only game programs were free of charge, but that admission was also.  Students asked who needed tickets, handed them out, tore them, and handed them back to fans for free admission.  We assume it had to be done for attendance purposes only.  The official crowd announced was 1,012, but we know it was more than that, especially with close to 1,000 spirited Merchant Marine undergrads who marched on to the field before the game in attendance.  USMMA is one of five federally funded American service academies.  Kings Point is the only college in the world to offer a full year of on-the-job ship board training at sea.  Graduates enter the U.S. Naval Reserve.

   Gaulladet's next short kick was compensated for by DB Shelby Bean's INT to take over from the 41.  Shifty RB Phil Hayes (11 runs for 103 yards) took a pitch next and ran 59 yards for a TD.  The two-point try was no good and GU enjoyed a 20-7 lead. Starting at the Bison 43, the Mariners scored on a two-yard TD pass from Derrick Ventre ( (19 of 33, 177 yards, 1 INT) to Toby Malo to cut the lead, 20-14.  The Mariners took the lead on their next possession on Karl Heimbrock's eight-yard run.  He led all rushers on the day with 155 yards on 26 carries and three TDS.  Grennan's PAT put the home team ahead, 21-20. We knew that no matter how close Gaulladet could keep the score, their chance to re-take any lead would be by putting six up on the board.  The chance for three was non-existent! 

    In the fourth, Heimbrock's five-yard run gave Kings Point a 28-20 lead.  The Bison needed a TD and a successful  two-pointer to tie it up.  Hayes came up big on the ensuing Kick-off returning 70 yards to the USMMA 16. Gardner faked the hand-off and optioned to the right for a five-yard TD.  The Mariners stopped him on the two-point try and held the lead, 28-26.  The next kick was GU's worst. The Mariners started at the GU 38, but Heimbrock fumbled and Shawn Holder recovered for the Bison on their own six.  GGA Ciesla pointed out that two big fumbles close to the goal line kept GU in the game.  With 1:10 left, Gardner took it in from the two.  On a slotback around pitch, Cole Johnson took it in for a successful two-pointer for a 34-28 lead.  The Bison defense would have to hold.  With 1:05 on the clock, USMMA started with their worst field position of the day on their own 41. Ventre completed six straight passes to move his team and manage the clock efficiently to get to the GU 15.  However, a holding call set them back, but a personal fool call against GU in the end zone put USMMA on the 11.  Ventre threw two incomplete passes stopping the clock before connecting with Chaise Dunn on a diving reception in the end zone with :01 to go to tie the score.  Grennan gave the Mariners the lead with his PAT. 

    This was one of the strangest games  we ever witnessed, but it turned out to be one of the most interesting strategically.  Whether due to a sudden injury to a kicker or the total lack of one, the Bison fought hard to overcome their shortcoming. The Mariners were able to take advantage.  This will be a game that we will never forget!

Extra points: We saw a Temple student come out of the stands on Friday night to kick a ball barefoot through the uprights to win a contest.  It's hard to figure in this day and age with so many kids playing soccer, that Gaulladet could not come up with a kicker from somewhere in their student body.

Gaulladet has one of the tallest backfields we've seen anywhere.  At times all four DBs were 6'2" and taller.  6' 2" Gabe Pallone started at DB, but may possible play QB for the Bison in the future. 

Despite being hearing impaired, the offense was very disciplined getting off a at the snap of the ball.  Players fired off the lone on the snap very effectively.  They may have had one procedure call against them the entire game.  We wondered how the knew to stop at the sound of the whistle, but they did something right.  There may have been only two instances where action continued after the whistle, and one was at the instigation of USMMA.