New London — Coast Guard Academy pulled within four points in the third quarter of Saturday afternoon's marquee event, a rivalry game against Merchant Marine.

The Bears even had all-time receiving leader Al Thompson, a 1998 graduate, who stopped by the press box to say hello to a few people right at that moment, pulling for them while muttering under his breath at the Merchant Marine defensive backs. “You can't stop him in single coverage” and “you might want to slide the safety over this time.”

Then, just as things were going along happily for the Bears, with touchdown passes to Darius Adams and Justin Moffatt on back-to-back series, things came crashing to a halt just as quickly.

Merchant Marine ran back the ensuing kickoff 56 yards and capitalized on four fourth-quarter turnovers to score three straight touchdowns and beat Coast Guard 48-23 for the Secretaries' Cup before 5,077 fans at Cadet Memorial Field. The game was livestreamed on ESPN3.

Coast Guard fumbled on two straight plays in the fourth quarter, one on a kickoff and one on the first play from scrimmage after that. The Bears turned the ball over on all four possessions in the quarter after going the first three quarters with none.

“The ball didn't bounce our way a couple times,” Coast Guard coach Bill George said. “You can't make mistakes in football or life. The guys played hard. They didn't quit. I don't want to dwell on the forces of nature.

“… Of course, it's the Merchant Marine game. It's a painful loss. It's a painful loss for all of us.”

The outcome spoiled a career-best day for sophomore quarterback Ryan Jones, who finished 24-for-36 passing for 311 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions. The Bears, following a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Ethan Goldcamp, had established their running game recently behind Jones.

Adams, a senior who missed five games this season due to injury, caught eight passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns and Moffatt, a freshman, had two catches for 110 and one touchdown. Adams had a leaping 72-yard touchdown catch called back on a holding penalty in the first quarter.

Merchant Marine quarterback Brice Moore rushed 40 times for 207 yards for the Mariners (5-4 overall, 4-3 in the New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference).

Coast Guard finished the season 3-7 overall, 1-6 in the NEWMAC with six straight losses after the injury to Goldcamp.

Jones certainly gave it his best effort Saturday.

“Ryan was balling,” Adams said. “He was getting it out for us. Justin or me, they weren't sure which one to guard.”

Coast Guard scored on its opening possession, getting a 20-yard field goal from Cole Austin after a 6-minute, 44-second drive that went 72 yards.

Merchant Marine, though, only took 2:21 to take the lead for good, recovering an onsides kick attempt by Coast Guard and racing the 46 yards to the end zone in seven plays. And on the Mariners went with speed and precision, leading 21-10 at halftime and 27-10 with 7:18 to play in the third quarter.

Coast Guard wasn't willing to give Merchant Marine all the acclaim on offense, apparently.

Adams caught a 23-yard touchdown with 3:25 left in the third quarter and the Bears got a stop as defensive tackle Jack Brandt stonewalled Moore for no gain on fourth-and-one, giving Coast Guard the ball back.

The Bears scored in two plays, getting a 68-yard touchdown catch by Moffatt balancing on the right sideline. Austin's extra point pulled Coast Guard within 27-23. (Moffatt would also make a 42-yard catch later on that bounced off his back before he made a one-handed grab.)

Merchant Marine then used an 83-yard kickoff return by Joe Vitelli to spur one scoring drive. A 3-yard touchdown run by Moore made it 34-23.

After that Coast Guard fumbled the kickoff.

The Bears forced Merchant Marine into a field goal attempt, which was no good, but on the very next play Coast Guard fumbled again on what seemed to be an incomplete pass but was ruled otherwise. Defensive back Brooks Cannell returned it 26 yards for a touchdown, pushing the score to 41-23 just 3:02 after the Bears had gotten themselves back in the game.

“The fact that we were within four points and they just blew us out of the water … it was rough,” Adams said.

Merchant Marine outgained Coast Guard 456-419.

Brandt led Coast Guard with 11 tackles.

v.fulkerson@theday.com