The Oystermen outlast Lake Charles State, the Shiners overwhelm Coronado, and the stage is set for the Battle for Maine.
By Grant Ashworth | CAC Network
Week 5 delivered two very different kinds of conference victories.
York Tech needed every last point to survive a 79-point shootout against Lake Charles State. Carolina State left considerably less doubt, scoring 25 unanswered points across the second and third quarters during a dominant win over Coronado Maritime.
Elsewhere, Philadelphia Tech survived a furious Territorial State comeback, while Blue Ridge State and Acadia State fell short against nonconference opponents.
York Tech and Lake Charles State entered halftime tied at 21 before the Oystermen seized control with a 17-point third quarter.
The surge gave York a 38–24 advantage entering the fourth, but the Trawlers were not finished. Lake Charles scored 14 points in the final period, but York found the three additional points it needed to escape with a 41–38 victory.
Lake Charles outgained York 441–388, but three Trawlers turnovers erased much of that advantage. The Oystermen committed only one turnover.
York quarterback Spencer Clemente completed 15 of 22 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. He added 42 rushing yards and two more scores, accounting for four total touchdowns.
Devin Hicks gave the Oystermen balance with 110 rushing yards and a touchdown. Jeremiah Grason caught five passes for 82 yards and both of Clemente’s passing touchdowns.
York’s defense made its greatest impact behind the line of scrimmage. Right end Cameron Albeck turned five total tackles into four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. Free safety Colin Lafell added nine tackles, an interception and a pass breakup, while Hunter Cook recorded eight tackles and another interception.
Lake Charles quarterback Mike Walter completed 14 of 20 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, but threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. Jordan Kinoi carried 15 times for 96 yards and two scores. Nathan O’Grady caught five passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Alan de Imperio recorded two tackles for loss and a sack, while free safety Clifton Parker intercepted Clemente.
The Trawlers moved the ball well enough to win. York simply made more of the afternoon’s decisive plays.
Blue Ridge State’s fourth-quarter comeback ended in heartbreaking fashion against East Carolina.
The Wayfinders trailed 24–13 at halftime before producing 15 fourth-quarter points and getting the ball back with an opportunity to tie or take the lead. Already inside field-goal range during the two-minute drill, quarterback Terry Fowler threw an interception that East Carolina returned for a touchdown to seal the game.
East Carolina out gained Blue Ridge 431–383. The Wayfinders committed three turnovers, while East Carolina finished with two.
Fowler completed 23 of 34 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, but his two interceptions and lost fumble proved costly. He was also sacked six times.
Freshman receiver Zach McCune delivered the best performance of his young career, catching nine passes for 101 yards and a touchdown. Sam Osgood added 77 receiving yards and another score.
Despite the loss, Josh McQuade authored one of Week 5’s finest individual performances. McQuade finished with six tackles, an interception returned for a touchdown, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
Defensive tackle Everett Paul added three tackles for loss and a sack, while Tyler Spears recorded two tackles for loss.
Blue Ridge nearly completed the comeback, but its final turnover transformed a potential game-tying possession into East Carolina’s clinching touchdown.
Acadia State remained within striking distance for a half before UTSA pulled away in the third quarter.
The Mainiacs trailed 17–14 at halftime, but UTSA added 14 points in the third to establish control. The Roadrunners finished with a 441–380 advantage in total offense.
Quarterback John McCourt completed 19 of 31 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Kuberski rushed for 98 yards and a touchdown, while tight end George Baum caught six passes for 77 yards and both of McCourt’s scoring throws.
Gordon Arnoux led the Acadia defense with 16 total tackles and a pass breakup. Right edge Nick Hoffman added two tackles for loss.
Acadia had enough offensive production to remain competitive, but UTSA’s third-quarter surge created a deficit the Mainiacs could not overcome.
Carolina State delivered the week’s most emphatic statement.
The Shiners led Coronado 24–14 at halftime, shut out the Admirals in the third quarter and added 11 points to take a 35–14 advantage into the fourth.
Carolina State finished with 529 yards of offense against a Coronado attack that produced 435. Neither team committed a turnover.
Brian Best completed 31 of 45 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Colin Farwell powered the ground game with 134 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, including a 65-yard scoring run.
Sam Nixon caught 10 passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. Tight end John Colangelo added 102 yards and a score.
Mike Schumacher and Robert Attic led Carolina State with 10 tackles apiece. Defensive tackle Kane McGregor recorded a tackle for loss and a sack.
Coronado quarterback Alex McQuiston completed 25 of 42 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown. He also led the Admirals with 72 rushing yards and another score, highlighted by a 67-yard touchdown run.
Scott Glennon caught nine passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Evan Hosman led Coronado with 13 tackles, while Barry Calcaterra recorded 10 tackles and a pass breakup. Defensive tackle Ross MacArthur finished with two sacks.
Coronado generated yardage and protected the football, but Carolina State consistently finished its possessions. Best controlled the game through the air, and Farwell closed drives with three rushing touchdowns.
Philadelphia Tech built a substantial first-half lead and then held on for dear life.
The Iron Horses led Territorial State 28–10 at halftime, but the Dealers responded with 15 unanswered points in the third quarter. Philadelphia Tech was shut out throughout the second half, yet its defense blanked Territorial State in the fourth to preserve the victory.
The Iron Horses outgained the Dealers 427–331. Neither team committed a turnover.
Kevin Wells completed 23 of 31 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 69 yards and a score.
With Kevin Ness injured, Jimmy Crick and John Sampson helped carry the Philadelphia Tech backfield. Crick rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown, while Sampson added 59 yards and another score.
Walker Steitz led the receiving effort with seven catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
Ben Soliday paced the Iron Horses’ defense with six tackles, one tackle for loss and a sack. Strong safety Eric Potts recorded six tackles and broke up two passes.
Territorial State quarterback Erik Stevens completed 18 of 29 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor Schuening rushed for 78 yards, while Johnny Eds caught four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Sam linebacker Tim Hyde led the Dealers with eight tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack.
Philadelphia Tech’s offense did all of its scoring before halftime. Its defense made that production stand when the Dealers threatened to steal the game late.
Farwell rushed 18 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns in Carolina State’s 49–21 victory over Coronado Maritime. His performance included a 65-yard touchdown run and helped the Shiners turn a competitive first half into a convincing win.
McQuade filled the stat sheet with six tackles, an interception returned for a touchdown, a pass breakup and a forced fumble against East Carolina. Blue Ridge did not complete the comeback, but McQuade gave the Wayfinders every opportunity to do so.
Projected lines are editorial projections and not sportsbook odds.
Projected line: Acadia State -2.5
Projected total: 60.5
This is not merely a matchup between two teams near the top of the standings. It is the Battle for Maine, with the right to wear the Maine Pride uniforms at stake.
York arrives at 4–2 after surviving Lake Charles State and has already played five conference games. Acadia remains unbeaten within the CAC and will be back home after its nonconference loss to UTSA.
The Oystermen have the offensive firepower to turn this into another shootout, but Acadia has more at stake than protecting first place. The Mainiacs are protecting Maine.
Grant’s Guess: Acadia State 34, York Tech 31
Projected line: Daytona Beach Tech -5.5
Projected total: 61.5
Blue Ridge showed fight during its comeback against East Carolina, but three turnovers and six allowed sacks prevented the Wayfinders from finishing it.
Daytona Beach Tech enters rested and owns a 3–2 record. Blue Ridge has the receiving talent to keep pace, but the Wayfinders must protect Fowler and avoid the turnover that changes the game.
Grant’s Guess: Daytona Beach Tech 35, Blue Ridge State 27
Projected line: Carolina State -4.5
Projected total: 63.5
Territorial State nearly erased an 18-point deficit against Philadelphia Tech. Carolina State just produced 529 yards and 49 points against Coronado without committing a turnover.
Brian Best and Colin Farwell give the Shiners multiple ways to attack a defense. If Carolina State carries its Week 5 efficiency into this matchup, Territorial State may struggle to keep pace.
Grant’s Guess: Carolina State 38, Territorial State 31
Projected line: Coronado Maritime -2.5
Projected total: 55.5
High Plains Tech enters conference play at 3–1 after its Week 5 bye. Coronado returns home looking to respond to its most decisive loss of the season.
The Admirals still produced 435 yards against Carolina State and did not commit a turnover. That offensive performance was obscured by how efficiently the Shiners finished drives.
High Plains has the better overall record, but Grant expects Coronado to respond at home.
Grant’s Guess: Coronado Maritime 31, High Plains Tech 27
Projected line: Keweenaw Tech -7.5
Projected total: 56.5
The Owls and Berserkers renew their rivalry after both spent Week 5 on bye.
Keweenaw Tech enters at 3–1 overall but is still searching for its first CAC win. Lake Superior State is 1–4 and has dropped its first two conference games.
Records rarely tell the whole story in a rivalry, but the Owls have been the more consistent team through the opening portion of the season.
Grant’s Guess: Keweenaw Tech 34, Lake Superior State 24
Projected line: Philadelphia Tech -2.5
Projected total: 59.5
Lake Charles produced 441 yards and 38 points against York Tech but lost because of three turnovers. Philadelphia Tech scored all 28 of its points against Territorial State before halftime and needed its defense to preserve the win.
The Trawlers have enough offense to punish a Philadelphia team that goes quiet for extended stretches. The Iron Horses, however, have shown they can win close games in several different ways.
Grant’s Guess: Philadelphia Tech 31, Lake Charles State 28
The Oystermen are coming. The Mainiacs are waiting. Maine Pride belongs to the winner.