SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Junior fullback back Jim Bower (South Paris, ME) ran for a game high 149 yards and three touchdowns, including two in the final quarter, as visiting Maine Maritime Academy gained its first win of the season with a 42-35 victory over Western New England College Saturday afternoon (Sept. 20) in a wild non-division New England Football Conference (NEFC) contest.

The Mariners, who lost their two previous outings by a total of five points, are now 1-2 while the Golden Bears remain winless at 0-3 following their Homecoming defeat.

Maine Maritime took 14-0 lead just 6:10 into the opening period on two long touchdowns by freshman running back Nick Bourassa (Jay, ME) (7 carries, 123 yards) who started the game with an 84-yard kickoff return. He then added an 86-yard run on the team's second series and fourth play of the game.

Western New England College got on the board when junior quarterback Justin Walz (Groton, CT) tossed a three-yard scoring pass to junior receiver Cliff Vaillant (Holliston, MA) (12 catches, 96 yards) to make the score 14-7 with 4:42 left in the first quarter.

Walz completed 43-of-62 passes for 438 yards (all school records) with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for a pair of scores in the final stanza.

The visitors took a 28-7 lead at half-time following a 35-yard pass from junior quarterback Tyler Angell (Leeds, ME) to junior receiver Alex Coulombe (Kennebunk, ME) on a fourth and eight play at the 4:22 mark of the second quarter, and a five-yard run by Bower just 1:39 left before the break.

Western New England College rallied in the second half pulling within 28-14 on a nice 29-yard run by senior running back Jordan Capitanio (Torrington, CT) (15 carries, 98 yards) who broke several tackles and cut right into the end zone. He moved into second place on the school's all-time rushing list with 2,607 yards.

The teams combined for 35 points in the final quarter, finishing with 1058 yards in total offense.

Walz scampered 10 yards to get the hosts within 28-21 before Bower rambled for a 36-yard score after breaking several tackles at the line of scrimmage. Walz answered with a six-yard scoring pass to sophomore receiver Evan Bartus (Tolland, CT) (5 receptions, 64 yards) with 4:11 left in the contest.

The Mariners recovered an onside kick and took only three plays (covering 50 seconds) to march 56 yards for what proved to be the winning score on a four-yard run by Bower with 3:21 remaining. Bower entered the game 11th nationally in rushing (165.5 avg.).

The Golden Bears didn't give up going 57 yards on 11 plays capped by a two-yard run by Walz with just 1:31 left.

Maine Maritime recovered another on-side kick and ran out the clock.

Western New England College compiled 555 yards while the Mariners' option attack totaled 503 yards, including 420 on the ground.

WNEC junior defensive back Nathan Capitanio (Torrington, CT) had two interceptions while sophomore linebacker Wade Mondroux (Berwick, CA) had a 64-yard interception that set-up Bower's first touchdown. Mondroux and junior linebacker Travis Fergola (Mexico, ME) each finished with 13 tackles.

Sophomore linebacker Dylan Chandler (Durham, ME) had a game-high 14 stops for the Golden Bears.