Cards Deliver Crushing Blow to Privateers

10/3/2008

WASHINGTON- Quarterback Keith Ricca (Poolesville, Md./St. John's Prospect Hall) completed four touchdown passes and threw for 296 yards as CUA obliterated SUNY Maritime by a score of 46-13 on Saturday afternoon. The football team improves to 4-1 on the year.

With the previous week's loss to Randolph-Macon still fresh in their minds, the Cardinals came out with an intensity that set the tone for the rest of the game. The team's first scoring play came off of Ricca's 60-yard pass to Andrew Buis (Gaithersburg, Md./Gaithersburg) just over a minute into the first quarter. Greg Brown's (Philadelphia, Pa./Malvern Prep) six yard run and a second field goal from Brendan Deluca (Gambrills, Md./St. Mary's) at the 8:31 mark then gave the Cardinals a 14-0 advantage. CUA gave up a 28-yard touchdown to the Privateers, but capped off the incredible first quarter with Ricca's 51-yard touchdown pass to Miles Sabrick (Douglassville, Pa./Reading Central Catholic).

The rampage continued throughout the remainder of the first half. Ricca connected with Buis on a 48-yard pass, increasing the Cardinal lead to 27-7. With about six minutes left, Deluca converted a 28-yard field goal, and Ryan McManus (Malvern, Pa./Malvern Prep) scored off of a pass from Ricca to end the second quarter.

The second half also witnessed the Card's defensive tenacity. After allowing the Privateers to score their second touchdown of hte afternoon, Dylan Knight (Dunwoody, Ga./St. Pius X) blocked the field goal attempt, and Nick Olivero (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) ran for the two point return.

CUA held Maritime for the remainder of the contest, and scored their final touchdown off of Matt Cantafio's (Wynnwood, Pa./Archbishop Carroll) pass to Alonzo Cooke (Clinton, Md./Bishop McNamara).

Defensively, the Cards were able to hold their opponent to 13 points and just ten passing yards. Bill Gross (Southampton, Pa./Archbishop Wood) and Olivero led CUA with three unassisted and 9 assisted tackles. The two also combined for three tackles for losses.

CUA looks to improve their record with a conference match- up against Washington and Lee. The October 11th Homecoming game is set for 1 p.m.