DANBURY, Conn. - The Western Connecticut State University Wolves scored five touchdowns, including four on passes by junior QB John Giller (Massapequa Park, N.Y.), but were beaten, 52-35, by the visiting United States Merchant Marine Academy Mariners in the football season opener for both schools this afternoon at Westside Athletic Complex.  Giller finished 21-for-33 through the air for 375 yards and connected with classmate Julian Ferguson (Enfield, Conn.) nine times for 132 yards and two scores.  The Wolves will host Westfield State in their next game on Friday, September 15 at 7 p.m.  Merchant Marine hosts Gallaudet next Saturday at 1 p.m.

WestConn raced to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, as Giller completed all 10 of his pass attempts in the opening stanza and connected with Ferguson for a 29-yard touchdown and senior Alexandre Gonzalez (Waterbury, Conn.) for a 41-yard score.  The Mariners cut their deficit in half on a 31-yard scoring toss from Gervy Alota to Talsen Smith and recovered a Wolves fumble at the WestConn nine-yard line moments later in the closing seconds before the first break. Merchant Marine RB Cole Simmons scampered in from four yards away to tie the score at 14-14 early in the second frame and the visitors took their first lead at 17-14 on a 29-yard field goal by Jackson Tinkis with 10:20 left before halftime.  Simmons scored again on the ground later in the second quarter to make the score, 24-14, at intermission.

The Mariners scored their fourth touchdown shortly after halftime, but WestConn pulled to within 10 points with 9:23 remaining in the third quarter on a 20-yard pass to paydirt from Giller to Ferguson.  Graduate student Nosa Uzamere (Hempstead, N.Y.) thwarted the next drive by Merchant Marine with a third-down sack, but Giller was intercepted by Ryan Vannini a couple of plays later.  The Mariners capitalized with a 39-yard touchdown run by Ceasar Gonzalez and added another score later in the third.  WestConn continued to battle and made the score, 45-28, on a one-yard scoring plunge into the end zone by RB Chad Blaszky (Selden, N.Y.) with 2:06 left before the final break. 

WestConn recovered a Gonzalez fumble early in the fourth stanza to give WestConn a chance to pull within one score and the Giller quickly found senior WR Skakespeare Rodriguez (Wallingford, Conn.) for a 39-yard pass to the Mariner six-yard line.  Merchant Marine's defense held though, however, keeping Ferguson just out of the end zone a 4th-down pass.  Each team scored once more down the stretch, including a 50-yard scoring strike from Giller to Zach Soriano (Middle Island, N.Y.) with 2:40 left on the clock.  The Wolves' defense held the Mariners to just two complete passes in seven attempts but both were touchdowns and the Mariners gained 439 yards on the ground.

Senior Nicholas Troy (Commack, N.Y.) joined Ferguson as a top target for Giller, catching five passes for 76 yards.  Gonzalez had 237 rushing yards and Simmons ran for 145 for the Mariners.  Senior DB Deshaun Hardy-Walker (Newark, N.J.) paced the Wolves defensively with 10 tackles, while Uzamere added nine to go with two tackles for loss, a sack, and a pass breakup.  Freshman Dae'Shawn Allen (White Plains, N.Y.) was stellar for the Wolves in the return game with 148 yards on five attempts.  Jack Temple had five tackles and a sack for the Mariner defense.