Former Oregon Ducks quarterback Darron Thomas threw six touchdown passes Saturday night to wide receiver Bones Baguante, to lead the Massachusetts Pirates to a 52-37 National Arena League win over the Maine Mammoths at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland.
The Mammoths (1-6), trailed 7-0 after the opening quarter and 23-14 at the half, before the Pirates extended to a 42-14 third quarter lead. Maine wouldn’t quit though, as quarterback Jonathan Bane hooked up with receiver Robert Brown Jr. for a score and also tossed a pair of touchdowns to Edgar Poe Jr. to cut the lead to 45-37 with just 55 seconds left to play. Massachusetts (6-3) responded though when Thomas found Baguante for the final score of the night, giving the Pirates their third victory this season over the Mammoths.
Keiron Jones helped the defense for the Mammoths with an interception. Bane threw for three touchdowns, and also rushed for one. Kicker Henry Nell made two field goals and also converted a deuce on a kickoff for two points. Thomas was 23-3 as a starter for the Pac-12 Ducks in college, leading them to a 2011 National Title game appearance against Cam Newton and Auburn. Thomas also led Oregon to a 2012 Rose Bowl win over Russell Wilson and Wisconsin.
Maine heads to Columbus, Georgia to face the Columbus Lions next Saturday at 7 pm.
