Five NEC Teams Remain On TSN I-AA Mid Major Top-10 Poll; San Diego Unanimous at No. 1
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - After a close first half where it led by only three points, San Diego took charge in the second half for a 44-21 victory over Morehead State and the Toreros once again pull in a unanimous No. 1 ranking in The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10. The Toreros are at 8-0 for the season and have 16 wins in a row overall, and are at No. 1 for the 10th time this season and 16th consecutive poll over the past two seasons. The Toreros picked up all 25 first-place votes and 250 points to earn the No. 1 spot. They are on the road at No. 10 Jacksonville in a Pioneer Football League contest this week.
Monmouth earned the No. 2 position on every ballot after coming back in the fourth quarter for a 19-13 victory over last week’s No. 3 team, Central Connecticut State. The Hawks are at 8-1 overall, and pulled into a four-way tie for first place in the Northeast Conference with Albany, Robert Morris and Stony Brook. Drake and Albany moved up one spot each to No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, after winning on Saturday. Robert Morris is up two places to No. 5 after a 21-6 win at Stony Brook.
Central Connecticut State is at No. 6, with Davidson at No. 7, Duquesne at No. 8, Stony Brook at No. 9 and Jacksonville at No. 10. The Dukes lost a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference game for the first time since 1999 when they fell to Iona, 17-13. No teams entered this week’s rankings.
Three matchups between teams in the top 10 highlight a weekend where every ranked team is in action. No. 1 San Diego is at No. 10 Jacksonville and No. 3 Drake hosts No. 7 Davidson in PFL action, while No. 4 Albany travels to No. 5 Robert Morris with at least a share of first-place in the NEC on the line.
NEC Football Review: Four Teams Sit Atop NEC Standings
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.
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.
Saint Francis (PA)'s Luke Palko Garners Prestigious National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award
Saint Francis University senior wide receiver Luke Palko has been selected to be among "the best and the brightest from the college gridiron," as he was named as one of 17 collegiate football players from across all levels of NCAA and NAIA as a 2006 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete.
Palko will be honored at the 49th annual NFF Awards Dinner on December 5 at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City. He will receive an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship, and is a finalist to be the recipient of the 2006 Draddy Trophy, which recognizes an individual as the absolute best scholar-athlete in the nation. Established to honor former NFF Chairman Vincent DePaul Draddy, a Manhattan College quarterback who developed the Izod and Lacoste brands, the award comes with a stunning 24-inch, 25-pound bronze trophy and increases the winner’s scholarship to a total of $25,000.
Palko, whose brother Tyler was one of the semifinalists for the same award, will be the recipient of the Jefferson Walker Kirby National Scholar-Athlete Award at the dinner. Palko will receive his award at the same dinner in which legendary head football coaches Joe Paterno (Penn State), Bobby Bowden (Florida State) and John Gagliardi (St. John’s Minnesota) will become the first three active coaches or players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.The black tie event will be held December 5 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
"I feel honored to be awarded this prestigious award," said Palko. "To me, this award represents a combination of my entire career, and not just my accomplishments on the field. It’s a testament to how I’ve been raised by my parents that athletics can only take you so far. And It’s a testament to the university and the high academic standards they have. It shows people that if you can do well in school, it doesn’t matter that you are at a school with just 1,200 undergraduate students in the middle of the mountains in Pennsylvania. You can still achieve a lot at a school such as Saint Francis University."
The Foundation’s National Scholar-Athlete Awards are awarded on an annual basis to a select group of student-athletes who are seniors or graduate students in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.
One of the finest student-athletes in the history of Saint Francis University, Palko will be the school’s first-ever recipient of the National Scholar-Athlete Award. In 2005, he became the school’s third football player to garner ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American First Team selection.
An Accounting major, Palko is second on the Saint Francis, and Northeast Conference, all-time receptions list with 222, and is second in school history with 2,001 receiving yards. He set a single-season school and conference mark with 82 catches in 2004, before besting that with 85 catches in 2005 when he was named the Northeast Conference’s Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. In addition, Palko was selected as a Division I-AA Athletics Director’s Association Academic All-Star and is a two-time recipient of the NEC Academic Honor Roll award.
In addition to his standout career on the gridiron, and his academic achievements, Palko is highly community-minded. He serves as the President of Saint Francis’ Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and attended the NCAA National Leadership Conference. A breakfast server at Loretto’s St. Michael’s Church, he helped generate donations to purchase a new mascot on campus and volunteers his time with the Special Olympics and Relay for Life.
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 (200.8), rushing (162.4) and ranks sixth in scoring (90 points). The senior is averaging 6.7 yards per rush and needs only 63 yards in the next twogames to break Albany running back Gary Jones’ NEC record for yards in a season. Hairston has 1,462 yards through ninegames, which ranks fifth all-time. Jones rushed for 1,524 yards in 2002. Versus Saint Francis (PA) on Oct. 7, Hairston gained an NEC single-game record 332 yards and tied the mark for touchdowns with five.
Quick Notes
• Monmouth wide receiver Adam San Miguel, who leads the NEC with 61 catches, is fifth in I-AA in receptions per game this season (6.70).
• Monmouth, which leads the NEC in scoring defense this season (11.67 ppg), has allowed only 27 points total in the last four games, including a shutout versus Sacred Heart , seven points allowed against Wagner and Robert Morris and 13 against CCSU. Five of MU’s nine 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 3,278 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.
• 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.
• Saint Francis (PA) tailback Todd Harris now ranks fifth on the all-time career NEC rushing list with 3,000 yards. Harris stands behind Albany’s Gary Jones (2002-03), who gained 3,033 yards and ranks fourth on the all-time list.
• 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 (2,734) and is the active NEC leader with 32 touchdowns.
Albany (6-3, 4-1 NEC)
Last Game: Albany 34, Wagner 0
Next Game: Nov. 4 at Robert Morris, 1:00 pm
• Albany recorded its third straight win with a 34-0 shutout victory against Wagner on Oct. 28 ... The Great Danes, who held the visitors to 140 total yards, have posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1998 … Wagner quarterbacks completed just 5-of-19 attempts for 21 passing yards, the lowest total by an opponent in Albany’s Division I-AA history … the Great Danes, who moved into a tie for first place in the NEC standings, forced a season-high four turnovers … Albany’s defense is ranked eighth in points allowed (13.1 pg) and ninth in total yards (246.8 ypg) among national leaders … the rushing attack has averaged 296.3 yards per game during the current three-game win streak … Albany has toppled the 250-rush mark in three consecutive weeks for the first time since 2004 … TB Omar Johnson (Edgewater Park, N.J. / Burlington City) ran for 65 yards and two touchdowns … Johnson, who scored two or more TDs for the sixth time in his career, climbed to eighth on the school’s career list with 17 rushing touchdowns … TB Marcus Allen (Fayetteville, N.C. / Seventy-First) had a team-leading 72 yards on the ground and scored on a 7-yard run in the second quarter … OL Jacob Anderson (West Seneca, N.Y. / West Seneca West) made his first career start at right guard due to injuries on the line … Anderson, a consensus preseason mid-major All-American, has blocked for a unit that is 20th among I-AA teams at 190.2 rushing yards per game … PK Jason Fralicker (North Tonawanda, N.Y. / North Tonawanda) booted a pair of field goals of 31 and 39 yards to establish the program’s Division I-AA record with his 10th field goal this season … Fralicker is second behind single-season leader Scott Reagan, who made 12 in 1985 ... Albany posted its 40th victory in NEC play since joining the league in 1999 … the Great Danes, who have won at least four conference games in all eight seasons as an NEC member, are 40-15 overall for a .727 percentage … ILB Colin Disch (North Plainfield, N.J. / North Plainfield) had a team-high nine tackles vs. Wagner … OLB Trevor DuPont (Victor, N.Y. / Victor Central) scored on a 22-yard interception return in the fourth quarter, the third TD by a Albany defender this season … FL Mike Wall (Syracuse, N.Y. / Solvay) is 10th nationally with a 26.1 kickoff return average … TB Justin Gannon (Sussex, N.J. / Vernon Township) rushed for 46 yards vs. Wagner … the freshman has 60-plus all-purpose yards in three of four games played this year … QB Daniel Bocanegra (Daly City, Calif. / Junipero Serra) accounted for 148 total yards, including a career-high 50 on the ground, last Saturday.
Central Connecticut State (6-3, 2-3 NEC)
Last Game: Monmouth 19, Central Connecticut State 13
Next Game: Nov. 4 at Sacred Heart, 12:30 pm
• Central Connecticut dropped to 6-3 overall and 2-3 in Northeast Conference play with a 19-13 loss on the road at Monmouth on Saturday. The Blue Devils have two games remaining this season, this Saturday at Sacred Heart and then the regular season finale at home vs. Stony Brook on Nov. 11. The Blue Devils are looking for their seventh win of the season which would give them at least seven wins for the third straight season for the first time since the 1965-67 seasons. Since starting 3-0, the Blue Devils are 3-3 in their last six games including a 2-3 mark in NEC play. Senior running back Justise Hairston (New Britain, CT/New Britain) was held to 64 yards on the ground on Saturday, his lowest total of the season, but he still managed to set a new single season rushing mark for the Blue Devils. Through nine games the senior from New Britain, CT, has rushed for 1,462 yards, a new school record eclipsing the 1,413 yard mark set by Stan House during the 1997 season. Hairston leads the nation in rushing at 162.4 yards per game and also lead in yards per carry at 6.7. He has scored 15 touchdowns on the year. He is now 62 yards shy of matching the NEC record for yards in a season, held by Gary Jones of Albany and set during the 2003 season. His 1,462 yards is the fourth best single season performance in NEC history. Senior defensive back Stefon Benson (Hyde Park, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) had an eventful day in the loss to Monmouth on Saturday. He blocked a pair of field goal attempts and helped lead a Blue Devil defense that kept CCSU in the game with the Hawks. Benson blocked two field goals, one in the first half and one in the second, and helped lead a defense that forced three first half Monmouth turnovers and kept the game scoreless at the break. Junior running back Josh Vargas (Los Angeles, CA/St. Monica) scored his second touchdowns in as many seasons on Saturday on a 44-yard pass from junior quarterback Ryan Holmes (Union, NJ/Lackawanna JC). The score gave the Blue Devils their first lead of the game.
Monmouth (8-1, 4-1 NEC)
Last Game: Monmouth 19, Central Connecticut State 13
Next Game: Nov. 4 vs. Saint Francis (PA), 1:00 pm
• Monmouth improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in the NEC with a 19-13 win over Central Connecticut State on Homecoming Saturday … Trailing by four going into the fourth quarter, MU scored 16 unanswered points in the final frame to move into a four-way tie for first in the eight-team conference … The Hawk offense racked up 460 yards of total offense, including 233 yards on the ground against the Blue Devils … Monmouth’s defense held Justice Hairston, the nation’s leading rusher, to just 67 yards on 19 carries as Central Connecticut had 212 yards of total offense … Senior wide receiver Adam San Miguel (North Bergen, NJ/Saint Peter’s Prep) tied the school record for receptions in a single season with five catches, giving him 61 on the year …. San Miguel had 92 yards receiving in the game, including a 38 yard strike that led deep into CCSU territory … senior tailback Leonard Brice (Phillipsburg, NJ/Phillipsburg) had a career-high 98 yards on 10 carries, including a 39-yard scamper in the first half … Monmouth had two out of four field goal attempts blocked in the game, both were at the hands of CCSU’s Stefon Benson … going into Saturday’s game, Monmouth senior safety Matt Hill (Hopatcong, NJ/Hopatcong) needed just four tackles to move into sixth place on MU’s career tackles list. Hill finished the game second on the team with eight tackles, giving him 242 career tackles, just two behin Joe Little who is fifth all-time … senior linebacker Anthony Addonizio (Holmdel, NJ/Holmdel) led the Hawks in tackles Saturday, making nine tackles including six solo. Addonizio is tied with Mike Castellano (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) for second on the team in tackles with 53 this season … for the ninth time this season Monmouth led in time of possession, controlling the ball for 34:53 compared to CCSU’s 24:11 … thanks to special teams and defense, the Blue & White once again held a better average starting position than their opponents, starting from their own 42 yard line with the Blue Devils starting from their own 21. Castellano finished third on the team in tackles with seven tackles, including six solo stops. The senior had a tackle for a loss and forced a Hairston fumble on the CCSU 38 which was recovered by Monmouth. The ensuing drive led to a Monmouth field goal, giving the Hawks a 3-0 lead in the third quarter. The senior captain headed up a defense that the nation’s top rusher (Justice Hairston) to 64 yards on 19 carries. The Hawk defense allowed just 115 yards on the ground and 97 passing yards for a total of 212. Central managed just seven first downs and was 3-of-13 on third down against the Hawk defense. Not only did Sean Dennis (Westampton, NJ/Holy Cross) punt well in a wind-filled game but he also picked up place kicking duties in Monmouth’s win over Central Connecticut. Dennis punted three times for a 125 yards (41.7 avg) with a long of 47 yards and had one punt downed inside the 20. After Monmouth place kicker Fred Weingart (New Egypt, NJ/New Egypt) was injured on his second blocked field goal of the day, Dennis stepped in a presumed place kicking duties as well. In the fourth quarter, with Monmouth trailing 7-6, Dennis hit a 32-yard field goal, his second of his career, to cut the Blue Devil lead to one. Dennis was also 1-for-1 in extra point duties. The Westampton, N.J., native handled the kickoff duties for MU, blasting one of his five kickoffs for a touchback.
Robert Morris (6-3, 4-1 NEC)
Last Game: Robert Morris 21, Stony Brook 6
Next Game: Nov. 4 vs. Albany, 1:00 pm
• Robert Morris ran its winning streak on the road to four games and in the process moved into a four-way tie for first play in the NEC with a 21-6 victory at Stony Brook ... The win helped RMU clinch its 10th winning season in the first 13 years the University has fielded an intercollegiate football program ... The Colonials had one of their most effective games running the ball against the Seawolves, finishing with 132 yards on the ground on 42 carries ... Freshman halfback Brian Harden (Sunrise, Fla. / Stranahan) scored his first collegiate touchdown with a 20-yard scamper in the first quarter that gave RMU a 7-0 lead ... Harden finished the day with 60 yards on 12 carries, an average of 5.0 yards per rush ... Senior fullback Vince Magnone (Weirton, W.Va. / Weir) carried 10 times for 41 yards and scored his first collegiate rushing touchdown with a one-yard plunge in the second quarter that gave RMU a 14-6 advantage ... Sophomore quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, Ohio / Shadyside) completed 12 of his 18 passing attempts for 128 yards but for the just the second time this season did not throw a touchdown pass ... Robert Morris entered the game with five rushing touchdowns on the season, only three of which came from its running backs, but received three in its win over the Seawolves ... The top receiver for the Colonials was senior tight end Jarvis Powers (Stafford, Va. / Brooke Point), who notched four receptions for 43 yards ... The defense was led by junior linebacker Chad Wengert (Kempton, Pa. / Kutztown), who finished with nine tackles, including five solo ... After posting just three sacks in its first four conference tilts, the Colonials tallied four of Dudash, as leading the way was senior defensive lineman Colyn Haugh (Murrysville, Pa. / Franklin Regional), who had one and-a-half ... Haugh ranks second on the club in sacks with five ... The four sacks also pushed RMU's season total to 26, seven off the school record of 33 set in 1996 ... RMU returns home to Joe Walton Stadium for its final home game of the 2006 regular season Saturday, Nov. 4, when it welcomes Albany for Senior Day at 1:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart (2-7, 1-4 NEC)
Last Game: Saint Francis (PA) 21, Sacred Heart 14
Next Game: Nov. 4 vs. Central Connecticut State, 12:30 pm
• Sacred Heart dropped its fourth straight game with a 21-14 loss to Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday at Loretto, PA ... Tailback Evin Jones had a solid game despite the loss with 126 yards on just 12 carries. The Pioneers gained 144 yards as a team ... Quarterback Tyler Arciaga (Bonita, CA) was 17-for-32 for 173 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions. With the 173 yards, Arciaga moves into 10th place on the NEC’s all-time passing yards list with 4,142 career yards in just two seasons. Former Sacred Heart quarterback Justin Holtfreter (2000-01) stands in ninth place overall with 4,430 yards, just 288 yards ahead of Arciaga ... Arciaga’s two touchdown passes were to freshman Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) for 25 yards and to Joey Henley (Kent, WA/Kentridge) for five yards ... Henley led the Pioneers with five catches for 44 yards, while Tedesco contributed four catches for 58 yards ... Defensively the Pioneers were again led by Rolando Garcia (Bronx, NY/Avon Old Farms (CT)), who leads the league with 90 tackles on the season. Garcia collected 12 tackles on Saturday with 1.5 tackles for loss ... Jon Wilson (Bloomfield, CT/Bloomfield) was solid as well, adding 11 stops. The Pioneers look to get off their losing streak as they face Central Connecticut State at home on Nov. 4 at 12:30 pm.
Saint Francis (PA) (2-7, 1-4 NEC)
Last Game: Saint Francis (PA) 21, Sacred Heart 14
Next Game: Nov. 4 at Monmouth, 1:00 pm
• The Red Flash defense held Sacred Heart to five total yards on its last five offensive possessions, which included four 3-and-outs. Overall, the Pioneers mustered just 77 yards of total offense in the second half, most of which came on a 68-yard drive to open the half. Senior QB Anthony Doria (Pittsburgh, Pa./Seton LaSalle) became the first player in conference history to throw for 8,000 career yards when he connected with Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) on a 33-yard touchdown strike in the second quarter. Doria threw three TDs to give him 56 career touchdown passes. Senior RB Todd Harris (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne) became the fifth running back in NEC history to eclipse the 3,000-yard rushing mark. He carried 7 times for 37 yards to help the Red Flash run the final 4 minutes, 29 seconds off the clock. He reached 3,000 yards on his second-to-last carry, a 4-yard run. He had another 2-yard run to end the game. Prior to holding Sacred Heart scoreless in the second half, the Saint Francis defense had surrendered at least 7 points in all but one quarter in the last 19 it had played. Rivera had four receptions for a career-tying 91 yards, a season high. Senior WR Michael Caputo (Bethel Park, Pa./Seton LaSalle) scored the 30th touchdown of his career, 29 of which have come on receptions. Saint Francis sacked SHU’s Tyler Arciaga four times in the ballgame.
Stony Brook (4-5, 4-1 NEC)
Last Game: Robert Morris 21, Stony Brook 6
Next Game: Nov. 4 at Wagner, 1:00 pm
• Stony Brook had its four-game winning streak stopped by Robert Morris, 21-6, on Saturday . . . the Seawolves committed four turnovers in the loss . . . Conte Cuttino led Stony Brook on the ground with 69 yards on 16 carries . . . Josh Dudash (Beachwood, NJ/Toms River South) was 18 of 36 for 190 yards and 1 TD . . . Lynell Suggs (Bronx, N.Y./Lehman) scored on a 48-yard TD catch-and-run in the second quarter. He finished with 110 yards receiving . . . Chris Tomasky (Ronkonkoma, N.Y./Nassau CC) made a team-high 13 tackles . . . Milo Otis (Los Angeles, Calif./L.A.Southwest J.C.) had nine tackles and an interception . . . the game marked the final regular season home game of 2006 for the Seawolves as 17 seniors were honored before the game . . . the Seawolves were held scoreless in the second half.
Wagner (4-5, 0-5 NEC)
Last Game: Albany 34, Wagner 0
Next Game: Nov. 4 vs. Stony Brook, 1:00 pm
• The Seahawks lost their fifth-straight game for the first time since 1978 when they dropped their final six games of the year … The Green & White also were shutout for the first time since October 11, 2003 in a 24-0 loss at Monmouth … Thus far in NEC play the Seahawks are averaging a paltry 8.0 points per game and have scored just 13 points in their last three … Junior tailback Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) had another big game rushing a career-high 22 times for a game-high 98 yards … The stifling win for all intents and purposes shut down both teams’ passing games as sophomore Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA / St. Francis) only threw for 21 yards … Senior Chris Turner (Syracuse, NY / Henninger) wound up with two catches for 10 yards … Senior Thomas Larsen (Brooklyn, NY / Fort Hamilton) had 10 total tackles (eight solo) to go along with one forced fumble while classmate Azim Ross (Washington, DC / Gonzaga) had 9.5 tackles (seven solo) with an interception and one forced fumble to lead the Seahawk defense… Junior kicker Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ / Keyport) punted eight times, averaging 31.1 yard per punt despite kicking into a stiff wind all Day … He also missed a 52-yard field goal that had the leg but was wide left … Albany’s touchdown in the first quarter was the first points the defense had given up in the first frame all season … Prior to that score Wagner had outscored opponents 33-0 in the first stanza.