Five NEC Teams On TSN I-AA Mid Major Top-10 Poll; San Diego Holds No. 1 Mid-Major Ranking
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - In a matchup of the top two teams in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10, No. 1 San Diego took care of business on the road by thumping Drake, 37-0, to improve to 7-0 for the season and win for the 15th time in a row overall. With the win, the Toreros maintain their status as the unanimous No. 1 team with all 25 first-place votes in this week’s poll. They are at No. 1 for the ninth time this season and 15th consecutive poll over the past two seasons. San Diego tries to stay perfect when it hosts Morehead State on Saturday.
Monmouth also notched a crucial victory over the weekend, as the Hawks won at Robert Morris, 16-7, in a battle of last week’s third and fourth-ranked teams. Monmouth moves up to No. 2 with the win and Drake’s loss, and the 7-1 Hawks will play another key game this weekend when they host No. 3 Central Connecticut State. The Blue Devils moved up two places to No. 3 after beating Wagner, 27-6. Drake slipped two positions to No. 4, and Albany is up a spot to No. 5.
Duquesne is at No. 6, with Robert Morris at No. 7, Stony Brook at No. 8, Davidson at No. 9 and Jacksonville at No. 10. No teams dropped out from last week’s rankings.
Every team in the top 10 is in action this week, with two big games in the Northeast Conference. In addition to the contest between Monmouth and Central Connecticut State, No. 7 Robert Morris is at conference leader and No. 8 Stony Brook.
NEC Football Review: Stony Brook Alone At The Top
Stony Brook (4-4, 4-0 NEC) and Robert Morris (5-3, 3-1 NEC) entered this week's action unbeaten in the NEC, but only the Seawolves made it out unscaved. Stony Brook used a balanced offensive attack to defeat Sacred Heart (2-6, 1-3 NEC), 38-21, on Saturday afternoon in front of over 3,000 fans at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. The win moves Stony Brook into sole possession of first place in the NEC. Quarterback Josh Dudash finished the game 16-26 for 140 yards and two touchdowns while tailback Conte Cuttino carried the ball 20 times for 129 yards and one score. Robert Morris fell 16-7 to Monmouth (7-1, 3-1 NEC), which won its third straight. The Hawks scored 10 fourth-quarter points to upend the Colonials. MU quarterback Brian Boland threw for 223 yards and a touchdown. At New Britain, CT, Central Connecticut State (6-2, 2-2 NEC) made easy work of Wagner (4-4, 0-4 NEC), toppling the Seahawks, 27-6. The Blue Devils allowed only 167 total yards. CCSU quarterback Ryan Holmes completed 10-of-10 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. In the loss, Wagner placekicker Piotr Czech drilled his second 54-yard field of the season. At New York's state capital, Albany (5-3, 3-1 NEC) blanked Saint Francis (PA) (1-7, 0-4 NEC), 48-0. Quarterback Daniel Bocanegra rushed for two touchdowns and Mike Wall returned the second-half kickoff for another score to lead the Albany attack.
NEC, Pioneer Football League Announce Changes To Gridiron Classic
The Northeast Conference and Pioneer Football League have changed the selection procedures regarding participating teams and the date of the Gridiron Classic, the respective offices announced on Thursday.
The Gridiron Classic, an exempted postseason football game that will match the champions of the two I-AA football conferences, originally was scheduled to be played November 18 at the Northeast Conference champion. However, the date of the 2006 game has been moved to December 2 to provide an opportunity for either league’s regular-season champion to participate in the NCAA I-AA Football Championship if selected as an at-large participant.
In the event the regular season champion of either conference is selected to participate in the NCAA I-AA Football Championship, the two leagues agreed the second-place team from that conference will participate in the Gridiron Classic.
Wagner Kicker Piotr Czech Kicks Another 54-Yard Field Goal
On Saturday, Wagner kicker Piotr Czech tied his career high with a 54-yard field against Central Connecticut State. The mark matched the longest field goal in Northeast Conference history. At Sacred Heart on Sept. 30, Czech walloped his first 54-yarder as time expired in the first half of play. The previous conference record of 50 yards was also set by a Seahawk - Blake Abbot in 2001. Czech’s 54-yarders are the second longest in I-AA football this season. Czech is also one of only two players in I-AA football this season to hit two or more 50-yard field goals (Brett Bergstrom, Eastern Washington).
Gensler - Playing Behind The Line
Robert Morris defensive lineman Ray Gensler, a second-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American last year, is playing behind his opponents’ line of scrimmage more than anyone in the NEC this season. Gensler ranks fifth in I-AA football in tackles-for-loss per game (1.69) and second in sacks per game (1.19). Currently, the senior has 52 tackles, 13.5 TFL and 9.5 sacks on the season. On Oct. 14, in a 23-17 overtime win versus nationally-ranked Central Connecticut State, Gensler played outstandingly, collecting 15 tackles (5 solo) and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. In 2005, Gensler totalled 6.5 TFL and a half sack.
Giddings Sets NCAA Fumbles Record
Stony Brook defensive back Cory Giddings etched his name in the record books, becoming the first player in recorded college football history to return three fumbles in a game and first since Alvin Nnabuife of SMU in 2004 to return two for touchdowns. After a scoreless first quarter versus Albany on Oct. 9, Giddings put the homecoming crowd into a frenzy, picking up a fumble and racing seven yards for a touchdown with 10:52 left in the first half. Giddings struck again with 3:50 left in the half, scooping up a fumble and delighting the crowd of 6,688 with a terrific return down the sideline for a score. Late in the fourth quarter, the Ocean, NJ product halted the Great Danes’ attempt at a comeback, recovering another fumble in Albany territory.
Hairston Gears Up For Record Setting Season
Central Connecticut State tailback Justise Hairston, a transfer from Rutgers, is compiling perhaps the greatest single-season individual performance in NEC history. Currently, Hairston leads I-AA football in all-purpose yards per game (216.5), rushing (174.75) and ranks fourth in scoring (90 points). The senior is averaging 7.0 yards per rush and needs only 127 yards in the next three games to break Albany running back Gary Jones’ NEC record for yards in a season. Hairston has 1,398 yards through eight games, which ranks fifth all-time. Jones rushed for 1,524 yards in 2002. Hairston is also within striking distance of the single-season rushing touchdowns mark of 22 also set by Jones in 2001. Hairston enters his final four games with 15 scores on the season. In the last two games alone, the New Britain, CT native is averaging 246.3 yards per game. Versus Saint Francis (PA) on Oct. 7, Hairston gained an NEC single-game record 332 yards and tied the mark for touchdowns with five.
Palko, Caputo Set I-AA Receiving Record
Red Flash senior wide receivers Michael Caputo and Luke Palko broke the NCAA Division I-AA record for "most career passes caught by two players on the same team." Caputo had five catches and Palko caught one on Oct. 2 versus Robert which brought their combined career total 426, breaking a 20-year-old record formerly held by Texas Southern’s Darrell Colbert and Donald Narcisse, who combined for 420 catches during their careers. Through the games of Oct. 21, Caputo and Palko have combined for 454 catches. Palko, who has missed the last three games due to an ankle sprain, was surpassed by his teammate for the NEC all-time lead in receptions. Caputo enters this Saturday game with 231, followed by Palko with 223.
Quick Notes
• On Saturday, Oct. 28, the Central Connecticut State at Monmouth game will be televised live on Fox Sports New York at 12:00 pm as part of the NEC’s television package.
• Monmouth wide receiver Adam San Miguel, who leads the NEC with 56 catches, is third in I-AA in receptions per game this season (7.00).
• Monmouth, which leads the NEC in scoring defense this season (11.5 ppg), has allowed only 14 points total in the last three games, including a shutout versus Sacred Heart and seven points allowed against Wagner and Robert Morris. Five of MU’s eight games, the Hawks have allowed single digit points.
• Saint Francis (PA) receiver Michael Caputo is the NEC’s all-time career leader in receiving yards. Caputo, who now has 3,229 yards.
• For the first time in league history, the NEC beat an Atlantic 10 opponent as Albany knocked off Delaware, 17-10, on September 16.
• Sacred Heart returner Evin Jones ranks fourth in I-AA in kickoff return average (28.92).
• The NEC finished the non-conference season with a 3-3 record versus Patriot League teams. Albany topped Lehigh on Sept. 2, while Monmouth beat Fordham on Sept. 2 and Colgate on Sept. 23.
• With 226 yards in a win over Saint Peter’s on September 16, Monmouth’s Brian Boland became the fourth quarterback in league history to throw for 6,000 career yards. Boland now stands in third with 6,976 yards behind RMU’s Tim Levcik (7,222) and SFPA’s Anthony Doria (7,907).
• Saint Francis (PA) tailback Todd Harris now ranks fifth on the all-time career NEC rushing list with 2,881 yards. Harris gained 107 yards versus Stony Brook on Oct. 14, the twelfth 100-yard performance of his career. Harris stands behind Albany’s Gary Jones (2002-03), who gained 3,033 yards.
• With eight catches versus CCSU on Oct. 21, Wagner senior wide receiver Chris Turner became the the third player in NEC history to reach 200 for his career. Turner also ranks third on the NEC list for career receptions and yards (2,724) and is the active NEC leader with 32 touchdowns.
Albany (5-3, 3-1 NEC)
Last Game: Albany 48, Saint Francis (PA) 0
Next Game: Oct. 28 vs. Wagner, 4:00 pm
• Albany moved into a tie for second place in the NEC standings with a 48-0 victory against Saint Francis on Oct. 21 before a Homecoming crowd of 5,964 ... the Great Danes, who posted their largest win margin against a conference opponent, are now 23-11 in homecoming games ... Albany recorded its third-ever shutout against an NEC opponent by holding the Red Flash to 161 total yards, including 25 on the ground ... the Great Danes have limited three teams to less than 50 net rushing yards this season ... CB Ryan Chrobak (Clinton, N.Y. / Clinton Central) made a season-high nine tackles, including six unassisted, and broke up two passes to lead the defense ... Chrobak moved into 26th place on the school’s all-time tackles list with 179 ... Albany is ranked 12th nationally in total defense (260.13 ypg), 13th in rushing yards allowed (98.5 pg) and is tied for 14th in points allowed (14.75 ppg) ... FL Mike Wall (Syracuse, N.Y. / Solvay) ran back the second-half kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown ... Wall, who also blocked a punt that led to a third-quarter field goal, became the first Albany player to score on a kickoff return since Nov. 5, 1988 ... PK Jason Fralicker (North Tonawanda, N.Y. / North Tonawanda) booted a 46-yard field goal with 8:19 left in the third quarter. The kick was longest by a Great Dane since Nov. 16, 1991 and the sixth longest in school history ... Albany rushed for 300-plus yards for the second straight week, the first time that has happened in nearly two years ... TB Omar Johnson (Edgewater Park, N.J. / Burlington City) ran 13 times for 62 yards and one touchdown. Johnson is tied for ninth on the school’s all-time chart with 15 career rushing TDs ... Dieuseul Joseph (Brooklyn, N.Y. / South Shore) and Justin Gannon (Sussex, N.J. / Vernon Township) added career-highs with 61 and 60 rushing yards, respectively ... Joseph scored for the first time as a collegian on a one-yard run in the fourth quarter ... Daniel Bocanegra (Daly City, Calif. / Junipero Serra) scored on a pair of 6-yard runs in the first half ... Bocanegra is the first Albany quarterback to rush for two or more TDs since Oct. 30, 2004 ... FB Dan Beigel (Clinton, N.Y. / Clinton Central) reached the end zone for the fourth time in his career on a four-yard blast in the third period ... ILB Justin Brancaccio (Rockaway, N.J. / Morris Knolls) had a career-high five tackles ... Albany scored 40-plus points for the 16th time as a I-AA program.
Central Connecticut State (6-2, 2-2 NEC)
Last Game: Central Connecticut State 27, Wagner 6
Next Game: Oct. 28 at Monmouth, 12:00 pm (televised live on Fox Sports New York)
• Central Connecticut improved to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in NEC play with a convincing, 27-6 victory over visiting Wagner on Saturday afternoon at New Britain. The win is the sixth straight at home for the Blue Devils, and their 12th in their last 13 home games since the start of the 2004 season. CCSU has won 10 straight home games versus NEC opponents including two this season ... CCSU has one home game remaining, the regular season finale against Stony Brook on Nov. 11 ... CCSU outgained Wagner 465-to-167 on the day, the third time in the last four games the Blue Devils have had at least 465 offensive yards ... CCSU also has 292 yards on the ground, just below their average of 292.9 yards per game which leads the country ... It was the fourth straight game and the sixth time this season the Blue Devils have rushed for at least 288 yards in a game ... CCSU has 2,343 rushing yards this season in 411 attempts, good for an average of 5.7 yards per rush ... Senior Justise Hairston (New Britain, CT/New Britain) had another impressive outing rushing 34 times for 151 yards and a touchdown. It was his sixth 100 yard rushing performance of the season and gave him 1,398 yards on the season. He is 15 yards shy of matching the school single season rushing record held by Stan House (1997 - 1,413 yards). Hairston is also 126 yards shy of matching the NEC record of 1,524 yards held by Albany’s Gary Jones. His 1,398 yards is the fifth best rushing performance in NEC history and also places him 12th on the all-time CCSU rushing list in only eight games played ... Junior quarterback Ryan Holmes (Union, NJ/Lackawanna JC) had his best performance of the season. Holmes was a perfect 10-for-10 for 173 yards and a touchdown in the victory as CCSU scored 27 straight points after trailing 6-0 at the end of the first quarter ... Holmes led the CCSU offense to a pair of scores in the second quarter including a 46-yard scoring strike on the final play of the half ... Making his fifth consecutive start, the 6-3 junior didn’t miss a pass attempt in the game and also rushed for 40 yards on 11 carries ... Senior Stefon Benson (Hyde Park, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) led all CCSU tacklers with eight stops on Saturday as the stubborn Blue Devil defense allowed only 167 total yards and a pair of first quarter field goals ... Wagner managed only 110 yards in the air and 57 on the ground in the game and averaged only 3.0 yards per play. Benson added a pair of key pass break-ups for the Blue Devils who had a total of nine on the day and an interception ... Seahawk quarterbacks were only 17-of-37 on the day as the Blue Devils did not allow a touchdown for the first time this season ... Freshman wide receiver Nick Colagiovanni (New Britain, CT/Milford Academy) caught a pair of passes for 58 yards and his first collegiate touchdown ... Colagiovanni caught the biggest pass of the day for the Blue Devils hauling in a 46-yard scoring strike on the final play of the first half giving Central Connecticut it’s first lead of the game ... With under five seconds to play, Colagiovanni streaked down the right sideline and dove in the right corner of the end zone to give CCSU the lead on the scoring play. On the second Colagiovanni is tied for the team lead with 10 catches for 196 yards and a score.
Monmouth (7-1, 3-1 NEC)
Last Game: Monmouth 16, Robert Morris 7
Next Game: Oct. 28 vs. Central Connecticut State, 12:00 pm (televised live on Fox Sports New York)
• Monmouth snapped Robert Morris’ five-game win streak with a 16-7 win on Saturday ... The win marked the third-straight for the Hawks, and the fourth-straight victory over Robert Morris ... MU’s 16 points marked the first time all season that Monmouth has not scored at least 17 points ... Monmouth was one play away from posting a shutout, after a MU turnover the RMU offense ran a perfect flea flicker that went for a 39-yard touchdown ... Cornerback Ayo Falae (Newark, NJ/Barringer) had a career-high eight tackles in the game, including six solo ... Monmouth redshirt freshman David Sinisi’s (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) three-yard fourth quarter touchdown run extended his streak to eight consecutive games with a score. Sinisi needs to score next week against CCSU to tie Chris Reed’s school record ... Matt Hill’s (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong) fourth quarter interception was his ninth of his career, moving him into solo position of third on MU’s career INT list (behind current Hawk David Jiles (12) and Vinnie Sasso (11) ... Monmouth’s defense held RMU to 69 rushing yards ... One reason for that is the fact that MU tossed the Colonial backs for 42 negative yards, including three sacks for –21 yards ... The Hawk defense stepped up in their own redzone late in the game when senior Jamaal McClintock (Plainfield, NJ/Plainfield) picked off a ball at the MU one-yard line and returning it to the 15 ... The Hawks held a slight time of possession advantage (31:45-28:15), marking the eighth time this season that MU has held an advantage in T.O.P ... Monmouth’s offense was 7-of-17 on third down, RMU was 3-of-13 ... The Hawks lead the lead in third down offense, converting 44 percent of the time ... Monmouth’s homecoming game against Central Connecticut next week will be televised on Fox Sports New York ... Sean Dennis (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) punted six times for 266 total yards and an average of 44.3 yards per punt. In a game that was a field position battle for all of the first half and much of the second half, Dennis pinned the Colonials inside their own 20 two times, with the ball getting downed on the 10 yard line both times. Dennis long punt of the day was a 54 yarder that came in the first quarter.
Robert Morris (5-3, 3-1 NEC)
Last Game: Monmouth 16, Robert Morris 7
Next Game: Oct. 28 at Stony Brook 1:00 pm
• Robert Morris had its five-game winning streak snapped with a 16-7 loss to Monmouth at Joe Walton Stadium ... Turnovers were the key in the game, as RMU suffered three in the fourth quarter, allowing Monmouth to score nine points and pull out the win ... Sophomore quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, Ohio / Shaydside) was 14-for-30 passing for 189 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions ... Junior flanker Mario Hines (Ecorse, Mich. / Ecorse) led te RMU receiving corps with four catches for 63 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that tied the game, 7-7 ... Senior halfback Moises Hernandez (Miami, Fla. / LaSalle) paced the Colonial ground game, rushing 11 times for 56 yards, an average of 5.1 yards per carry ... Senior split end Michael Rogers (Duarte, Calif. / Citrus J.C.) added four catches for 36 yards ... Junior linebacker Chad Wengert (Kempton, Pa. / Kutztown) paced the Colonial defense with 12 tackles, while senior safety Brian Pruitt (Steubenville, Ohio / Steubenville), junior safety James Kazil (Georgetown, Pa. / South Side) and junior linebacker Jordan Howard (Uniontown, Ohio / Lake) each had 10 stops ... Senior defensive lineman Ray Gensler (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Keystone Oaks) teamed up with junior defensive lineman Kelvern Grant (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / Hallendale) to sack Boland in the first quarter, helping Gensler establish a new RMU career record for sacks with 17.5 ... Robert Morris takes to the road for its next contest, traveling to Stony Brook, Oct. 28, for another key 1:00 p.m. NEC tilt.
Sacred Heart (2-6, 1-3 NEC)
Last Game: Stony Brook 38, Sacred Heart 21
Next Game: Oct. 28 at Saint Francis (PA), 1:00 pm
• For the third consecutive week the Pioneer running attack was held in check as Sacred Heart fell to Albany, 38-21 ... SHU ran for just 20 yards against Stony Brook ... Senior QB Tyler Arciaga (Bonita, CA) set two new school records against Stony Brook for pass attempts (47) and completions (30) ... The game was his third career 300-yard passing game (311). At the conclusion of the game Arciaga also moved into first place all-time in completions (345) and attempts (591) - both records had been held by Justin Holtfreter (2000-01) ... Arciaga needs just 31 yards to become just the second SHU quarterback to pass for 4,000 career yards. Holtfreter is the other and Arciaga needs to average 158 yards passing in the next three games to pass Holtfreter's all-time mark (4,441 yards) ... Junior receiver Joey Henley (Kent, WA/Kentridge) caught his first touchdown of the season on Saturday, enroute to catching a season-high six passes ... The Pioneers had two receivers record over 100 yards, Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) (102) and Corey Bundy (Selden, NY/Newfield) (107) for the first time since 10/14/2000 when Doug Geoffry(120) and Dev Johnson (114) did it against Stony Brook ... Bundy caught his six TD pass of the season Saturday and 14th of his career, moving him into a tie on SHU's all-time list with Marlon Ward (2001-03) ... Sophomore punter Derek Marks (East Lyme, CT/East Lyme) twice pinned Stony Brook at its own one-yard line with kicks.
Saint Francis (PA) (1-7, 0-4 NEC)
Last Game: Albany 48, Saint Francis (PA) 0
Next Game: Oct. 28 vs. Sacred Heart, 1:00 pm
• Saint Franis (PA) dropped its seventh game in a row with a 48-0 shutout versus Albany last Saturday. It marks the first shutout for the Red Flash this season and first since Oct. 9, 2004 versus the Great Danes ... Saint Francis senior wide receiver Michael Caputo (Bethel Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle) passed teammate Luke Palko (Imperial, Pa./West Allegheny) as the Northeast Conference’s all-time leader in receptions ... Caputo had nine catches for 99 yards at Albany ... He now has 231 career catches for 3,229 yards ... He is the school and NEC all-time leaders in both categories ... Senior tailback Todd Harris (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne) was held to just 11 yards on sevenn carries after averaging 112.8 yards per game heading into the contest against Albany ... Palko has missed the past three games as a wideout and has only duties have come as a holder on PATs.
Stony Brook (4-4, 4-0 NEC)
Last Game: Stony Brook 38, Sacred Heart 21
Next Game: Oct. 28 vs. Robert Morris, 1:00 pm
• The Seawolves won their fourth straight conference game to move to 4-0 in conference play for the first time since joining the NEC ... Freshman running back Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, NY/Uniondale) totaled 129 yards on 20 carries as part of a rushing attack that piled up 257 yards on the ground ... Josh Dudash (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) was 16-of-26 for 140 yards and two TDs through the air. His interception in the first quarter was the first of the season ... Lynell Suggs (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman) and Kevin Halonski (Budd Lake, N.J./New Haven) each caught a touchdown pass ... Mike Cosentino's (Staten Island, NY/St. Peter’s) 23-yard end-around in the fourth quarter sealed the win ... Von Bryant's (Turnersville, N.J./Penn) nine-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter broke a 21-all tie and sparked Stony Brook to 17 unanswered points ... Hasan Stewart (Hempstead, N.Y./Uniondale) led the way for SB on defense with 12 tackles ... Cory Giddings (Ocean, NJ/Ocean Township) continued his remarkable run of big plays by blocking a field goal at the end of the first half and intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter to end a Pioneers drive ... Milo Otis (Los Angeles, Calif./L.A.Southwest J.C.) picked off a Sacred Heart pass in the fourth quarter which led to a Matt Week's (Hampton Bays, N.Y./Hampton Bays) field goal to put the Seawolves up 31-21 ... Mack Graham (Staten Island, N.Y./Curtis) totaled 1.5 sacks on the afternoon ... The Seawolves go for five in a row, which would match the longest in-season win streak in program history, next Saturday against Robert Morris.
Wagner (4-4, 0-4 NEC)
Last Game: Central Connecticut State 27, Wagner 6
Next Game: Oct. 28 at Albany, 4:00 pm
• The Wagner losing skid reached four games as the team was dealt a 27-6 loss at CCSU ... Junior kicker Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ / Keyport) was the story again accounting for all six points on two field goals ... Czech’s first field goal tied his own NEC record of 54 yards and was the second longest in I-AA this season. He then added another three-pointer from 25 yards out later in the quarter. On the season the third year specialist is 8-for-11 (.727) kicking field goals, including 3-for-4 from beyond 40 yards (53-yard miss) ... Czech is one of two kickers in I-AA to make two field goals longer than 53 yards ... Freshman LB Chris Jaeger (Sterling, VA / Potamac Falls) led everyone with 14 tackles (4 solo) while senior free safety Ian Flack (Deltona, FL / Suitland (MD)) totaled 13 stops, including eight solo ... Senior WR Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) caught eight passes, bringing his Wagner school record to 200 ... Wagner has not lost four straight games since the tail end of the 1990 season ... The last time the Seahawks failed to score a touchdown was a 24-0 loss at Monmouth in 2003 ... Wagner has outscored opponents 33-0 in the first quarter this season.