Marist Defeats PFL Preseason Favorite

By Mike Ferraro

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Marist University football team earned a 19-14 home victory over San Diego before a Family Weekend crowd of 4,183 at Tenney Stadium on Saturday.

San Diego scored first on a 31-yard touchdown pass from Dom Nankil to Josh Heverly at the 7:11 mark of the first quarter.

With 41 seconds left in the first, Sonny Mannino found Lance Martinez for a 67-yard touchdown pass. San Diego led 7-6 after 15 minutes, and took a one-point lead to the locker room as there was no scoring in the second quarter.

On a fourth and three from the San Diego 35, Mannino completed a 35-yard touchdown to Martinez, which put Marist up 12-7 with 33 seconds left in the third quarter.

Mannino’s one-yard rushing touchdown gave Marist a 19-7 advantage with 4:43 to go. It followed a 32-yard run by Tristan Shannon the previous play on third-and-one, and capped an eight-play, 80-yard drive.

Nankil threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Cole Monach with 2:37 left to bring San Diego within five at 19-14.

Marist went three-and-out on its ensuing drive, and San Diego’s final drive reached the Marist 36. However, Marist ended the drive with three consecutive sacks – one by Kade Werner, then back-to-back ones by Nate Furrow.

Marist plays its final non-league game of the season on Friday, Oct. 10 at Penn.