The Maritime Charter Commodores walked into Karl Hoeppner Field for their first time as a Class B school and took down the Marauders, 20-6, Friday night, in a Class B2 high school football game in Dunkirk.

The wind played a large factor at on Friday night, limiting both teams to a combined five passing attempts in the first half, all of them coming from Maritime. While the Marauders were able to throw the ball more efficiently in the fourth quarter, the wind limited their offense early on.

“It affected both teams, but we wanted to do more of that passing stuff in the first quarter, but the wind was in our faces and there was no way we could,” said Dunkirk coach Mike Sarratori.

The lack of passing required the pace of play to be driven by the run, meaning time flew off the clock, with the first drive of the game lasting 8:30 for Maritime, ending in 1-yard touchdown run by Mekhi Bridgers, who was electric for the Commodores in the first half, having 125 yards rushing at half time, on 12 carries.

OBSERVER Photo by Ron Szot Dunkirk quarterback Phil Messina looks to pass during Friday’s Class B2 football game between Dunkirk and WNY Maritime, at Dunkirk High School.

One of the few mistakes the Marauders did make, following an explosive first offensive play featuring running back Christian Ortiz taking a 20-yard carry across the 50, quarterback Phil Messina fumbled the ball running for a first down, squashing Dunkirk’s best first half scoring drive where it stood.

The second quarter, though scoreless, featured several chances, most of which had by the Commodores. Bridgers broke off a 52-yard carry to bring the ball down inside the 10 yard line, but the Marauder defense held strong.

“That was without a few of our starters on the line too because of injuries. Those kids never quit,” Sarratori said.

Another Marauders starter ended up going down in the second quarter as well, just adding to the injuries the Marauders are facing.

With a fourth and goal at the four, Ortiz charged in the backfield and brough down the Maritime quarterback, but was called for a questionable horse collar tackle. Fortunatley, a second try for the Commodores bore the same results.

Commodores had another chance with a minute to go in the half, still holdiing their 6-0 lead, as Dunkirk turned it over an an incomplete pass on 4th and 15 at thwir own 33, giving Maritime one last chance before half time.

The Marauders stood tall again.

Maritime quarterback Jion Washington, facing a 4th and 19 for Maritime despite the excellent starting field position, dropped back to pass after throwing an incompletion on third down, elected to use his legs, carrying it 26 yards to set up one last chance. The wind took over again, as Washington airmailed the ball into the end zone, sending the Marauders into the half with a 6-0 deficit.

The second half featured more offense on both sides, but some sloppier play as well. Maritime, after receiving excellent starting field position thanks to a four-and-out at their own 33 yard line, when Maritime then fumbled the ball on the very next snap.

There was no more scoring in the third, although a holding penalty called back a different touchdown run for Maritime, and Maritime starting the fourth quarter deep in Marauder territory after a 4-yard punt into the wind. The Commodores’ Addison Copeland doubled their lead, putting them up 12-0.

The momentum swing of the game came on the next possession, as Dunkirk looked to be right back in the game after Messina found Earl Stewart for a 46-yard bomb that looked to break the then-shutout, but it was called back on a holding penalty. With the wind now at their back, the Marauder passing attack opened up, but they couldn’t quite eclipse the hill. Stewart, also aided by the wind, nearly pinned the Commodores at their own 2-yard line, but the ball squeaked just inside the end zone.

Mekhi Bridgers took over once again.

On the first carry of their new drive, still up 12-0, Bridgers took the ball on a 64-yard carry, from his own 20, to the Marauder 16, then punching in the touchdown and two-point conversion a couple plays later, giving them a 20-0 lead with eight minutes to go in the game. Bridgers would finish with over 200 yards on the ground for the game.

The Marauders gave it their best effort, as on the ensuing drive Phil Messina found Angel Rios for a 42-yard completion down to the Maritime three yard line, then punched it in, putting the Marauders on the board, now down 20-6 with still five minutes to go on the clock.

Just when it looked like Maritime was going to run out the clock, the Commodores’ Marvin Royster put the ball on the ground for Maritime again, giving the Marauders one last hope. Unfortunately, they would come up just short.

On the next play, Messina rolled to his right, and on the same play that was called back for a touchdown earlier, Messina found Stewart again, but this time, Stewart couldn’t quite handle the pass, and the ball hit the ground. The Marauders would turn the ball over on downs, their chances in the game effectively coming to an end there.

Despite the loss, Sarratori knows his team played hard, and if his team is healthy, they’ll be fine.

“Don’t forget we have five, six, or seven sophomores on the field for us. We’re looking okay,” Sarratori said.

The Marauders (1-1) will be in action again next Friday night, when Lakeshore comes to town for another 7:30 p.m. start time at Dunkirk High School.