Throggs Neck, N.Y. – Castleton didn't allow any passing yards for the second consecutive game but were victimized by a punishing SUNY Maritime rushing attack as the Spartans dropped a 38-6 decision on Saturday afternoon at Reinhart Field. 

The Privateers racked up 550 yards on the ground while averaging better than seven yards a rush as they improved to 3-4 on the year and 3-1 in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. Castleton, meanwhile, mustered just 202 yards of offense as the team fell to 1-6 overall and 0-4 in the ECFC. 

Two different Maritime runners went over 140 yards rushing, led by Ryan Helzman with 210 yards and three touchdowns on 28 carries. Kyle Gardner added 144 yards on 20 carriers while Dwayne Lacroix finished with 80 yards on two carries. 

For Castleton, freshman Doug Saffo impressed with 74 rushing yards on 18 carries and scored the team's lone touchdown. Tyler Higley was 15-for-23, but threw for 97 yards and was intercepted twice. Kevin Alberque led the receiving corps with 33 yards on seven catches and added 137 kickoff return yards on five attempts for 167 all-purpose yards. 

Maritime opened the scoring just 5:03 into the first quarter on a Frank Laino run, punctuating a game-opening ten-play drive. Castleton couldn't convert on its next possessions, but also held the Privateers without a score for the rest of the half. 

The Spartans got on the board with just 2:23 left in the second, when Doug Saffo capped off a 13-play 74-yard drive with a two-yard plunge into the endzone. Castleton's attempt at a two-point conversion failed and the went into the half trailing 7-6. 

Heizman extended the Maritime lead to 14-6 at 10:33 of the third quarter on an eight-year run, and less than four minutes later made it 21-6 on a 16-yard scamper. 

Just two plays into Castleton's next possession, Beau Warrington picked off a Higley pass and took it 25 yards to the endzone for the 28-6 advantage. The Privateers added a nine-yard rushing touchdown and a field goal in the fourth quarter for the 38-6 margin.

Defensively Mick Wong led the team with 15 total tackles including ten solo stops. Isiaih Jackson added a career-high seven tackles while Andrew Pursell has six stops and one interception. 

The Spartans return to the road next week when they face Anna Maria at 2 pm.