THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Husson University football team played a hard-fought game in the inaugural Fusion Bowl, but ultimately fell to SUNY Maritime by a score of 21-14 in Throggs Neck, New York on Saturday afternoon.

Both offenses started out firing on all cylinders to begin the battle between the second-place teams in the Conference of New England and the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.

Maritime (8-3) received the opening kick off after Husson (6-5) deferred its choice to the second half and took the first drive of the game 75 yards on 10 plays and Mario Agyen scampered in from the 12-yard line to put the Privateers up 7-0 nearly six minutes in.

The Eagles benefited from a short kick off from Maritime and started their first drive of the game at their own 39-yard line. The drive looked to have stalled after junior Max Clark saw his third down pass to senior Dom Wilson fall incomplete, but a pass interference call gave Husson a new set of downs.

After two-consecutive short rushing attempts, the Eagles were back in a third down situation, but this time Clark hit senior Ja'Quan Myles streaking down the seam on the left side of the field and Myles went untouched from 40 yards away to even the game up at seven.

With the Privateers looking to put together another scoring drive, senior Walker Lenz came up with a big play for the Eagles, as he stripped the ball out of the hands of Maritime quarterback Steven Sassi and allowed sophomore Jahmye Tyson to pounce on the rolling football deep inside Privateer territory, setting Husson up at the six-yard line.

The Maritime defense did its best to keep the Eagles out of the end zone during the short-field situation, but on third and goal from the six-yard line, Clark found Myles again in the right corner of the end zone to give Husson its first lead of the game.

The start of the second quarter saw both teams forced to punt after short drives, which were followed up by back-to-back turnover on downs, setting the Privateers up with a final chance before the half to put points on the board.

Maritime rode the strong rushing of Devin Cline to get into prime scoring position, setting up first and goal from the Husson six-yard line late in the half. A three-yard rush from Cline and an incompletion from Stassi immediately brought it to third down for the Privateers and the Eagles stuffed Cline on a third down rushing attempt, leaving it at fourth and goal for Maritime at the Husson one-yard line. Stassi looked to find Nate Casaburi in the back corner of the end zone put the pass fell incomplete, allowing the Eagles to kneel out the final few seconds of the half and take their lead into the break.

After consecutive punts to begin the second half, Husson was set up with great field position after a short punt from the Privateers due to gusting winds.

Back-to-back first down plays from freshman Aiden Sergent and senior Cullen Casey put the Eagles at first and goal from the Maritime three-yard line. The drive wouldn't result in any points for Husson, as Clark fumbled a snap and the Eagles were unable to recover, allowing the Privateer defense to get off the field unscathed. 

Maritime took advantage of the miscue and put together a long 16-play, 78-yard touchdown drive just before the end of the third quarter to knot the game up at 14, as the Privateers converted two fourth downs on the drive, including a 15-yard touchdown pass from Stassi to Luke Caliendo to give Maritime the score.

The Eagles once again got inside Privateer territory, but Clark was intercepted on fourth down from the 35-yard line, allowing Maritime to take over with 13:12 remaining.

The Privateers continued to rely on the ground game to chew clock and get in position for a go-ahead touchdown, as another 16-play drive ticked over eight minutes off the clock and ended with Stassi finding Ian Derda for a six-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 Maritime with just over five minutes left.

Husson looked to fight back and would convert a fourth down to get deeper into Maritime territory when Clark found Casey for seven yards to earn a new set of downs at the 39-yard line.

After a rush for no gain and a seven-yard sack by the Privateers, the Eagles were set up with a troubling third-and-17 situation coming out of the two-minute timeout.

Clark tried taking a deep shot to senior Cam Holmes down the right sideline but was unable to convert and good pressure by Maritime on fourth down prevented Clark from finding an open receiver, leading to another turnover on downs. 

The Privateers were able to get a first down on the ground to salt away the final 1:50 and come away with the Fusion Bowl win.

Clark finished 10-19 through the air for 96 yards and two touchdown passes, in addition to 10 rushing attempts for 11 yards.

Sergent got 11 carries in his first-career start at running back, picking up 38 yards on the ground.

Myles concluded his career in the green and gold with a two-catch, two-touchdown game, tallying 46 yards.

Freshman Brayden Trombly led the Husson defense in tackles, racking up seven solo stops and seven assisted tackles, in addition to a tackle for loss.

Senior Ricky Hendrix and junior Evan Bourget each tallied 11 tackles, while Bourget posted a tackle for loss while filling in as a starter at middle linebacker.

The Eagles conclude their season with a 6-5 record, in addition to posting their second runner-up finish in the CNE and bowl game appearance in three seasons.