WASHINGTON - Gallaudet University scored 22 points in the fourth quarter against bitter rival SUNY Maritime here Saturday on Homecoming weekend but got denied on a two-point conversion run in the final seconds as the Bison lost 26-24 before a crowd of 830 at Hotchkiss Field. The loss is the first this season in Eastern Collegiate Football Conference play for the Bison, who are still in the mix for the conference title with two games left.

Gallaudet (5-2, 3-1 ECFC) got behind early to SUNY Maritime (2-5, 1-2 ECFC) as turnovers plagued the Bison for the entire game. GU threw three interceptions and fumbled the ball seven times as the Privateers recovered two of those miscues. The visitors turned three Bison turnovers into 18 points in the first half as Gallaudet trailed 18-0 at the break.

The Bison got on the scoreboard in the third quarter with a safety when SUNY Maritime punter Michael Trupiano stepped out of bounds with the ball as he was about to punt the ball from his own end zone. SUNY Maritime thought it had put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Tate Neiderer (25 carries, 148 yards) scored on a 10-yard touchdown run and converted a critical two-point conversion to go up 26-2 with 13:58 left in regulation. 

Gallaudet received a spark on the next SUNY Maritime drive after the Bison turned the ball over on downs deep in Privateer territory. Maritime quarterback Aidan Nunez dropped back to pass and didn't see defensive back Eric Gregory (Metairie, La.), who jumped the route and picked off the pass at the 20-yard line and ran it back for the quick pick-six interception score at the 8:42 mark. 

Maritime tried to run down the clock on the next possession as GU was forced to burn several timeouts but the Privateers turned the ball over on downs near midfield. Sophomore Mikka Harvey (Prince Frederick, Md.) scored on a 34-yard touchdown run minutes later and GU converted on its second straight two-point conversion to cut the lead down to eight points, 26-18, with 3:59 left on the clock.

The GU defense stood strong on the next possession and forced a crucial three-and-out punt for the Privateers, who gave the ball back to the Bison with 2:50 left on the clock.

Gallaudet marched 58 yards on 12 plays and scored on Harvey's second touchdown run of the game when he ran 23 yards into the end zone with 36 seconds left. The Bison went for two but a delay of game penalty pushed them back five yards, then a Maritime pass interference play put them at the 1-yard line and on the next try sophomore Brandon Washington (Citronelle, Ala.) was stood up at the line of scrimmage by the Privateer defense and denied the two points that would have tied the game.

The Bison defense was led by sophomore Zarek Nathanson (Manor, Texas) with 11 tackles (six solo) and senior Laron Thomas (Orlando, Fla.) with 10 tackles (six solo). Sophomore John Werner Jr. (Frederick, Md.) led the Bison with one sack for nine yards and two tackles for a loss of 13 yards. 

BISON TRACKS

• Gallaudet finished with 296 yards of offense (222 rushing yards)
• Washington led the Bison with 113 yards on the ground
• Harvey finished with four carries for 63 yards and two scores
• Both teams had the ball for 30 minutes

UP NEXT
Gallaudet will play host to Anna Maria College (3-3, 1-2 ECFC) next Saturday, Oct. 29, at noon on Senior Day.