5-6 (5-3 PFL)

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5-5 (4-3 PFL)

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - The Marist football team fell to the Jacksonville Dolphins 41-35 in the 2016 season finale. With the loss, the Red Foxes end the year at 5-6 (5-3 Pioneer Football League) while the win improves Jacksonville to 5-5 (4-3 PFL).

Mike White finished the afternoon going 18-31 for 223 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. Marcellus Calhoun finished with 15 rushes for 108 yards and Juston Christian finished with six receptions and 84 yards.

White also set the program single season record for completions (203) and passing yards (2931).

The Dolphins opened the game with the ball and progressed 45 yards down the field before Cam Gibson intercepted a pass at his own 20 yard line to end the drive.

After the Red Foxes went three and out, Jacksonville took over possession at their own 29 yard line. A hand full of plays gave them the ball in Marist terrority but the Red Foxes stood strong, forcing the Dolphins to settle for a 21 yard field goal and the early 3-0 lead.

On the next possession, Marist found some offensive momentum and moved the ball inside Jacksonville territory but Marist was forced to settle for a 40 yard field goal try that was no good.

Following a Dolphin empty possession, the Red Foxes took over their own 26 yard line and after several plays, a 47 yard completion from White to Christian put the ball inside Jacksonville territory. With the completion, White set the program's single season record for passing yards. Three plays later, Calhoun pounded it into the end zone for the 7-3 lead.

The Dolphins answered right back on their next possession as Rylan Wells completed a 50 yard pass to Mitchell Bailey to put that ball at the Marist 11 yard line. Two plays later, Wells found space on the right side and marched it into the end zone to regain the lead 10-7.

Four possessions later, Jacksonville was forced to punt deep in their own territory. Mike Marston was able to get through the line and blocked the punt to set up Marist at the Dolphin 11 yard line. Three plays later, White found Jonathan Boozer on the right side for Boozer's first career touchdown and the 14-10 lead.

Jacksonville answered right back with a 10 play 73 yard drive that was capped off by Wells' second rushing touchdown of the game and just like that the Dolphins regained the lead, 21-14 with 1:34 remaining in the first half.

Following a three and out by the Red Foxes, Jacksonville got the ball at their own 26 yard with 0:49 left. Five plays later, the Dolphins again found the end zone as Wells punched it in for his third touchdown of the game to extend the lead to 24-14 with seconds left in the half.

The second half opened with a turnover on downs by Marist and Jacksonville took over possession at their own 26 yard line. Ten plays later, the Dolphins connected on a 40 yard field goal to extend their lead to 27-14.

On their next possession, the Red Foxes answered back with two huge pass plays to Christian, the first a 34 yard juggling completion to set up Marist at the Jacksonville 28. Two plays later, White again found Christian this time for a 14 yard touchdown to trim the deficit to 27-21.

However for the third time in the game, the Dolphins answered a Marist touchdown with a touchdown of their own on the next possession as Wells found Irvin Riley on a pitch and Riley took it 55 yards for the touchdown and the 34-21 lead.

The Red Foxes answered immediately on their next possession as several plays moved the ball to their own 49 yard line before White connected with Anthony Olivencia on the left side for a 51 yard touchdown. The catch was the longest of Olivencia's career and with 4:44 left in the third quarter it was 34-28 Jacksonville.

Needing a big defensive stop, Marist was unable to keep the Dolphins off the board on their next possession as Jacksonville marched the ball down the field on a combination of runs and passes before Wells ran in his fourth touchdown of the game to regain the 13 point lead at 41-28.

Again the Red Foxes were not going to be denied as on their next possession they converted a 4^th and three with a pass to Joe Jordan and a second fourth down on a defensive holding call. Several plays later, facing a 2^nd and 20 at the Jacksonville 35 yard line White found Christian at the 20 and on the next play, eluded several rushers, including one that had him wrapped up and found Christian Keenan wide open in the back of the end zone to bring Marist within six at 41-35 with 11:30 left in the game.

For the first time in the second half, the Red Foxes got a huge defensive stop on the next Dolphin possession. After several first downs and the ball and midfield, an offensive holding call made it 1^st and 20 for Jacksonville. Marist's defense stepped up big forcing a run for a loss and incomplete pass and another run for a loss. On fourth and 22, Jacksonville lined up to punt and Chandler Foster came up with a huge punt block setting up the Red Foxes at the Jacksonville 40 yard line.

Looking to gain the lead with less than eight minutes to go, Marist faced a 3^rd and nine before Christian caught a nine yard pass to pick up the first down. However, several plays later Jacksonville answered with their own big defensive play, intercepting the ball deep in their own territory to give their offense the ball with 4:43 left and the 41-35 lead.

On their next possession, the Dolphins faced a third and three. Quinn McGinley was able to get to the Jacksonville quarterback Rylan Wells and had him wrapped up before Wells eluded the tackle and found the few yards for the first down. With the first down, the Red Foxes were forced to use their final timeouts and with no way to stop the clock, the Dolphins were able to run out the clock to emerge victorious 41-35.