It was Mass. Maritime’s third game of the season, and freshman running back Kenny Pierce had broken his carry around right end. All that stood between him and his first career touchdown was a Worcester State safety, the lone defender between Pierce and the goal line in the Sept. 27 game.

Suddenly, hustling Buccaneers receiver Cody Stahmer appeared to provide the key block that allowed Pierce to scamper scot-free for the 62-yard TD.

“It was probably my biggest play of the year,” Stahmer said. “It was a (designed) dive play and Kenny broke it to the right side. . . . I caught up to the play and I hit the safety. Kenny did all the work.”

Stahmer’s block led to one of only two touchdowns the struggling Buccaneers (2-6) registered in that 48-14 loss. That’s notable enough, but what makes it more newsworthy is the fact that Stahmer is even on a football field. The Wareham native had to overcome testicular cancer in the past year. He had surgery at Children’s Hospital in Boston, then endured months of chemotherapy and post-surgery rehab.

Yet, the 6-foot-3 sophomore never flinched in the face of adversity, never missed any classroom time and never failed to meet his cadet obligations.

“It was a difficult freshman year. There is not much free time. You’re always following the (cadet) regiment and there’s a lot to do as far as football, too,” said Stahmer, a former all-conference selection at Wareham High. “But, I learned a lot, and I think it helped me out a lot.

“All in all, freshman year was good. It took a lot to get used to. You have to manage your time well.”

It was during that assimilation period that Stahmer began to notice something was amiss.

“It was around the middle of October and beginning of November that I began to notice I was having trouble breathing,” he said. “That worried me a little bit. I also felt a little pain. So I went to the doctor. At first, they thought I needed an inhaler. I tried it and I said, ‘No, this isn’t it.’ So I went back to the doctor’s and I ended up getting a medical ultrasound. That’s when they told me I had cancer.”

Stahmer persevered through it all, and didn’t even miss any classes because Mass. Maritime was in its sea term, a period between the two academic semesters in which cadets receive training at sea.

“It was really tough. It took a lot out of me,” Stahmer said of the surgery and therapy. “I went to work out every day to make sure I would get back. I had lost a lot of weight.”

Throughout the ordeal, Stahmer, 19, maintained a quiet, composed demeanor. He also received strong and constant family support from his parents, Joseph and Nicole, and four siblings, Joe, 24, Matt, 22, Madison, 18, and Austin, 16.

“My family, particularly my mom and sister, were probably the best support anybody could have,” he said. “All of them were really helpful. That was good. Most of the team didn’t even know about it until spring ball.”

Neither did his coach, initially.

“He actually kept it quiet,” Mass. Maritime coach Jeremy Cameron said. “I think he only told his closest friends. I didn’t know any thing about it until I found out when I heard that he wasn’t going on sea term. I called him in the office to find out why and that’s when he told me.”

Cameron said that Stahmer’s desire to play was keenly evident and that he kept working out with the goal of playing.

“He’s on our two-deep,” the coach said, “and he is playing behind his good friend, (senior) E.J. Bennett, and next year he will have the opportunity to compete to be a front-line player for us. . . . I think he can become a big-time downfield player.”

Bennett, Stahmer’s former Wareham teammate, is a great influence — on and off the field. He owns several MMA single-game, season and career records, and is ready to provide support to Stahmer.

“I feel great,” said Stahmer, who still undergoes regular checkups and CT scans to make sure the cancer remains at bay. “I think we’re going to pull out a win on Saturday (at Plymouth State). We’re definitely looking to go there and take out our frustration.

“Bridgewater State is next week and that’s always a crazy game. We’re going to push and grind out these last two games.”

That kind of attitude has carried Stahmer a long way. No one’s likely to doubt him or the Bucs now.