Conference

After Saturday's action was completed, four teams are now tied for first place in the NEC standings with a 4-1 league mark - Monmouth, Albany, Robert Morris and Stony Brook. The Seawolves (4-5, 4-1 NEC) held the top spot alone prior to this week's play, but three rushing touchdowns by Robert Morris (6-3, 4-1 NEC) and the Colonials' tough defensive play toppled SBU, 21-6, on Long Island. At West Long Branch, NJ, Monmouth (8-1, 4-1 NEC) scored 16 unanswered fourth-quarter points en route to defeating rival Central Connecticut State (6-3, 2-3 NEC), 19-13. The Monmouth defense held CCSU's Justice Hairston, who came into the game as the leading rusher in all of Division I-AA football, to just 67 yards on 19 carries. Albany (6-3, 4-1 NEC) improved in the standings with a convincing, 34-0 win over Wagner. UA's Omar Johnson rushed for two first-half touchdowns and Trevor DuPont returned an interception 22 yards for another score in the win. At Loretto, Saint Francis (PA)'s (2-7, 1-4 NEC) defense held Sacred Heart (2-7, 1-4 NEC) to five total yards of offense on its final five offensive series, and the Red Flash offense scored 14 unanswered points, to snap a seven-game losing streak with a 21-14 victory. Overall, the Pioneers mustered just 77 yards of total offense in the second half.