League Notes
Central Connecticut State, Monmouth, Sacred Heart, and Wagner all won non-conference contests in Week Four, which was also home to the first Northeast Conference game of 2008. In its inaugural conference game, first-year member Duquesne defeated long-time intrastate rival Saint Francis (PA), 21-7, in front of a capacity crowd at Rooney Field in Pittsburgh, PA. ... CCSU surged out to a 35-10 lead before defeating North Carolina Central by a 35-23 final score in the inaugural Harmony Classic, which was played before a record crowd at Willow Brook Park in New Britain, CT. ... Sacred Heart moved to 3-0 for the first time since 2002 thanks to a 44-24 thumping of Iona. ... Monmouth snapped its three-game skid by winning, 30-17, at Bryant in what will be a conference match-up come 2012 when the Bulldogs gain full NEC membership. ... Wagner outlasted Marist under the lights Friday night in Poughkeepsie, NY for its second straight triumph. ... Albany played the second of three national top-10 programs it faces during the season’s opening weeks, jumping out to a 17-7 second-quarter lead before falling, 32-24, at No. 10 New Hampshire. The Great Danes take on No. 6 Delaware on the road Sept. 27. ... While defending NEC champ Albany visits UD, last year’s DI FCS runner-up, 2007 NEC second-place finisher CCSU also travels to the First State. The Blue Devils take on defending MEAC champion Delaware State. ... The Northeast Conference schedule continues with one league game this upcoming Saturday. Monmouth heads west to Robert Morris, seeking revenge for the Colonials’ 17-14, last-minute victory that spoiled MU’s 2007 home opener.
Harmony Classic Breaks NEC Attendance Record
Veterans Stadium in New Britain, CT’s Willow Brook Park played host to the most widely-attended home game in Northeast Conference history. Playing before a record crowd of 8,322 in the NAACP-sponsored event, Central Connecticut State and North Carolina Central played in front of more fans than the 8,136 that watched Stony Brook host St. John’s on September 14, 2002.
Esposito Especially Good
Albany junior quarterback Vinny Esposito (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley) continues his movement up the program’s all-time passing charts in his second season starting under center. Esposito set single-game career highs in passing yards (283) and total offense (305) in the Great Danes’ 32-24 setback at No. 10 New Hampshire. The junior signal caller went 21-of-31 passing to amass the sixth-highest single-game total in UA’s history, and highest output since October 12, 2002. Moving into sixth place on the program’s all-time passing list, Esposito hooked up with junior fullback Chris Kenneally (Harrington Park, NJ/Northern Valley) for a 19-yard scoring strike that put the Great Danes in front, 24-23, in the third quarter.
Roberson Not Alone
Duquesne’s main receiving threat Alex Roberson (Waynesboro, GA/Curtis Baptist) set career highs in catches (11) and yardage (159) during the Dukes’ season opener at Bucknell, and fellow senior Conrad Carter (Clinton, MD/Archbishop Carroll) followed with a career day of his own during a 21-7 victory over Saint Francis (PA) in the conference opener. Carter caught four passes for a career high 107 yards, including a 91-yard scoring strike from quarterback Connor Dixon (South Park, PA/South Park). Roberson, who has made a catch in each of his last 24 games, made three grabs for 51 yards in the victory.
Robert Morris Rookie Steps Up in Senior’s Absence
Robert Morris lost its top receiver Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, PA/Mastbaum Area) in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Dayton, and freshman James O’Quinn (Vandergrift, PA/Kiski Area) seized the opportunity to led the Colonials’ receiving corps with six catches for 137 yards. O’Quinn hauled in a 81-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, OH/Shadyside), the longest reception by a freshman in program history. The rookie has made 10 catches thus far this season, eight of which have either resulted in a first down or touchdown.
Senator McCarty Elected to Weekly NEC Post
Since bursting onto the scene last season, Albany junior tailback David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) has brought five weekly awards back to the Capital Region. His latest accolade came after scoring the winning touchdown in Albany’s overtime triumph at Hofstra on September 13. McCarty is averaging 144.3 yards per game this season against stiff competition (Massachusetts, Hofstra, and New Hampshire). McCarty’s first career outburst came early last season in a 23-20 win at 2007 Patriot League champ Fordham. The all-NEC tailback gained 143 yards against the Rams, but yielded the conference’s weekly offensive honor to teammate quarterback Vinny Esposito (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley). Rushing 15 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns in a rout of conference foe Saint Francis (PA) on October 20, 2007, McCarty grabbed his first-ever NEC weekly honor. He went on to win four of the last five NEC Offensive Player of the Week awards given during conference play, including the season’s final week when he used 247 yards on 19 carries to power the Great Danes to victory over Central Connecticut State in the NEC title game.
Third Colonial Evers
Prior to suffering a first-quarter injury this past Saturday at Dayton, senior receiver Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, PA/Mastbaum Area) was making a triumphant return from an injury that sidelined him during the 2007 season. With seven catches and 118 yards in RMU’s 17-14 setback to Bucknell, Evers became only the third person in program history to post back-to-back 100-yard receiving performances. In the Colonials’ season opener, a 27-13 RMU victory over Morehead State, the athletic receiver tied a single-game program record with 10 receptions and tallied 159 yards.
Red Flash’s Rivera Catches Century Mark
Saint Francis (PA) senior wide receiver Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) continued his climb up the Red Flash’s all-time receptions list with five catches for 115 yards in a 30-22 defeat to Marist on September 13. Entering the game tied for third all-time with 98 receptions, Rivera hauled in a 33-yard strike from quarterback George Little (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne) in the second quarter for his 100th career catch and first of two touchdowns on the day. The second team all-NEC pass-catcher has to more-than double his current career total to overtake all-time Red Flash leading receiver Michael Caputo (2003-06), whose 245 receptions also sit atop the Northeast Conference record book. Rivera did not play in Saturday’s conference opener at Duquesne.
No One in D-I Hits the Road Like Albany
Currently in the midst of arguably the toughest non-conference schedule any Northeast Conference team has ever undertaken, Albany is the only program in all of Division I (FBS or FCS) Football to not play a home game until the month of October. The Great Danes’ scheduled contest with Central Connecticut State, a re-match of last season’s NEC title game, on October 11 will be the Albany Faithful’s first chance to see the defending league champs perform at Alumni Field. Nebraska (DI FBS) is the starkest contrast to Albany’s built Bob Ford-tough schedule, playing its first five games at home. In addition to being away from home, Albany’s first four games are against members of the Colonial Athletic Association with three of them (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Delaware) all ranking in the nation’s top 10.
Sinisi Continues to Claw at Hawks’ Record Book
Monmouth senior tailback Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) began his 2008 campaign the same way he ended 2007 -- in record-breaking fashion. Sinisi’s 11-yard touchdown run in the second half of the season opener at Rhode Island made the preseason all-NEC selection the program’s career rushing touchdowns leader (31). The preseason all-NEC selection upped that touchdown mark by one during the home opener (Week Two) against Maine while also becoming the Hawks’ all-time rushing leader. The New Jersey native, who ran for 182 yards on 29 carries against Maine, now has more than 2,400 career rushing yards. Sinisi surpassed former Hawk Chris Reed’s former career marks in touchdowns and yardage the season after he shattered Reed’s single-season rushing record from 1998. Sinisi ran for 1,184 yards on 206 carries to become Monmouth’s all-time single-season leader.
Keeping Tabs on Bryant
Poised to begin Northeast Conference competition in 2012 when its completes the NCAA-mandated reclassification process, Bryant is currently in transition from Division II to core NEC membership. In becoming acclimated with its future league, Bryant is on the schedules of six of the eight current NEC football programs.
Bryant played the second of six scheduled NEC opponents when it hosted five-time league champion Monmouth this past week. Falling, 30-17, to the Hawks, Bryant dropped to 2-2 overall. Quarterback Jay Graber, who was under heavy pressure all day, threw for 261 yards and two TDs on 26-of-45 passing. After dropping a 42-35, season-opening decision at 2007 NEC runner-up Central Connecticut State, the Bulldogs rebounded with back-to-back victories over Merrimack and Southern Connecticut State prior to their date with Monmouth.
Week Four (4) By The Numbers
8,322 fans attended the inaugural Harmony Classic, allowing Central Connecticut State to break the NEC home attendance record. The Blue Devils surpassed Stony Brook’s mark of 8,136 from 2002 when the former league member opened its new stadium against rival St. John’s.
1958 (November 8) was the last time Albany head coach Bob Ford competed at New Hampshire’s Cowell Stadium prior to leading his Great Danes up against the nationally-ranked Wildcats on Saturday. Ford had contested a game there 50 years ago when he was the starting QB for Springfield College.
22 unanswered points turned a 17-12 deficit into a 34-17 second-half advantage for Sacred Heart in an eventual 44-24 triumph at Iona. SHU QB Dale Fink claimed responsibility for all 22 points by tossing three TDs over a 2:19 duration that bridged the second and third quarters.
91 -yard scoring hook-up between Duquesne QB Connor Dixon and WR Conrad Carter to give the Dukes a 21-7 lead over Saint Francis (PA). The pass play was the second-longest in Dukes’ history behind a 95-yard strike against Siena in 1998.
9 consecutives games of 100 or more rushing yards for Albany’s all-NEC tailback David McCarty. The junior rushed 39 times for 130 yards in the Great Danes’ setback at No. 10 UNH to notch his 11th career 100-yard performance. His streak began with a 170-yard output in a win over Saint Francis (PA) on October 20, 2007.
Team-by-Team Notes
Albany (1-2, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: No. 10 New Hampshire 32, ALBANY 24
Next Game: September 27 at Delaware, 6:00 pm
• UAlbany faced its second national top-10 opponent this season when the Great Danes fell to No. 10 New Hampshire, 32-24, on Sept. 20. … Great Danes' head coach Bob Ford returned to UNH's Cowell Stadium for the first time since Nov. 8, 1958 when he was Springfield College's starting quarterback. … QB Vinny Esposito (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley) recorded career-highs in passing yards (283) and total offense (305). Esposito's passing yardage was the sixth-highest single-game total in the program's history. Esposito turned a QB sneak into an 11-yard touchdown run that gave his team a surprising 17-7 margin in the second quarter. He also threw a 19-yard scoring pass to FB Chris Kenneally (Harrington Park, NJ/Northern Valley) that regained the lead, 24-23, in the third quarter. … UNH's R.J. Toman answered with four TD passes, including the go-ahead score, in the first-ever meeting between the programs. … TB David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) rushed for 130 yards as he reached the century mark for the ninth consecutive game. McCarty, who ranks fourth among the national FCS rushing leaders at 144.3 yards per game, moved into second on UAlbany's charts with his 11th career 100-yard rushing effort. The junior climbed past Chuck Priorie into ninth on the all-time rushing list with 1,934 yards. McCarty, who scored on a 19-yard run in the first half, set a single-game record with 39 rushing attempts. Gary Jones (Duquesne, 2002) and Tom DeBlois (Springfield, 1975) shared the previous standard with 36 carries. … WR Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) hauled in six passes for a career-best 109 yards. Bush became UAlbany's first 100-yard receiver since Nov. 5, 2005. … PK Herb Glass (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) booted a 47-yard field goal in the first quarter, tying the third-longest kick in school annals. … FS Dave Casale (Troy, NY/Troy) had six tackles and registered his third career interception vs. New Hampshire. Casale topped the 100-career mark in tackles (104). … OLB Rich Duff (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) and OLB Chris Blais (Troy, NY/LaSalle Institute) posted career-high in tackles with nine and eight, respectively. … CB Ross Bertrand (Stamford, CT/Stamford) blocked a fourth-quarter punt with 2:08 remaining, but UAlbany's offense stalled out in an effort to come up with the tying points. … The Great Danes are now 3-11 all-time against national top-25 teams, … UAlbany will be matched up against another ranked team on Sept. 27 at Delaware, last year's FCS national runner-up.
Central Connecticut State (2-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE 35, North Carolina Central 23 (Harmony Classic - New Britain, CT - Willow Brook Park)
Next Game: September 27 at Delaware State, 7:00 pm
• Playing in front of a record Northeast Conference home crowd of 8,322 people, Central Connecticut State defeated North Carolina Central, 35-23, in the inaugural NAACP Harmony Classic at Veterans Memorial Stadium in New Britain's Willow Brook Park. … CCSU totaled 399 yards of total offense, including 212 on the ground thanks to a big day from junior running back James Mallory (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West). Entering the week as the nation's leading rusher, Mallory ran for 169 yards and touchdown. Now with 100-yard rushing performances in each of the season's first three games, Mallory is averaging 7.3 yards per carry with 541 yards over 74 attempts. … Junior Nick Colagiovanni (Plainville, CT/Milford Academy) caught two of his threw receptions for touchdowns. With 48 yards against NC Central, the all-NEC receiver is 83 yards shy of the 1,000 career mark. Only 10 other players in CCSU history have achieved the feat. … Both of Colagiovanni's scoring catches came from junior quarterback Aubrey Norris (Staten Island, NY/Hargrave Military). Norris, who ran seven times for 42 yards, split time under center with junior quarterback Hunter Wanket (Rancho Santa Fe, CA/Palomar JC). Wanket (6-of-8, 131 yards) and Norris (5-of-8, 56 yards) combined to complete 11-of-16 passes for 187 yards and three touchdowns. … Norris continues to have a strong hold on the top spot on CCSU's all-time passing efficiency leaderboard. He has completed 134-of-232 passes with 17 touchdowns against two interceptions for a 143.1 rating. … Senior wide receiver Matt Gomes (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck) had his third career touchdown in the win over NCCU. Gomes' 55-yard reception hook-up with junior signal caller Hunter Wanket was his first score since Oct. 22, 2005, a 38-34 win at Wagner. … Returning to the field where he played his high school ball, sophomore linebacker Jeff Marino (New Britain, CT/New Britain) made a game-high 12 tackles, including one for loss. He also recorded his second career interception. …The crowd 8,322 at Veterans Stadium in New Britain's Willow Brook Park set a Northeast Conference home attendance record. The fans attending the inaugural Harmony Classic surpassed the 8,136 that witnessed Stony Brook host St. John's in a 2002 battle of former NEC members. … CCSU is now 19-3 in home games since 2004, outscoring opponents 663-352 in those games. CCSU is 11-0 when scoring first at home since 2004. … The Blue Devils are averaging 30.4 points per game during the Jeff McInerney era. CCSU has tallied 20 or more points 15 times and 30 or more on 12 occasions. … CCSU has 28 tackles for loss on the season. They were eighth in nation in that category entering the weekend. Senior captain Michael Bailey (Yonkers, NY/Gorton) leads the team with 5 for 25 yards loss. … The Blue Devils are averaging 228.3 yards per game on the ground. They entered the weekend ranked ninth in the nation in rushing offense.
Duquesne (1-1, 1-0 NEC)
Last Game: DUQUESNE 21, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 7 (Pittsburgh, PA - Rooney Field)
Next Game: September 27 at Dayton, 1:00 pm
• Duquesne won its inaugural Northeast Conference game, 21-7, over intrastate rival Saint Francis (PA), the Dukes' tenth consecutive win in their all-time series with the Red Flash. Prior to joining the NEC this season, the Dukes met the Flash 34 times. With Saturday's win, Duquesne increased its commanding series lead to 30-5. … Saint Francis (PA) had three red zone turnovers (all interceptions) in the first half. DU intercepted two passes at its own 12 and one at its own two yard line and followed the last two with scores. ... Neither team punted in the first half of the 35th all-time meeting between the two storied programs. The first punt of the game came at the 12:54 mark of the third quarter when a Saint Francis drive stalled. Duquesne's first punt came on the ensuing possession. The two teams combined for 437 yards in the first half and 181 in the second. ... Sophomore quarterback Connor Dixon (South Park, PA/South Park), who threw for 429 yards and a school record six touchdown passes in his first career collegiate start at Bucknell on Sept. 6, completed 13-of-25 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns. Dixon once again started slowly, completing 2-of-8 passes for four yards in the first quarter. The 6-4, 200-pounder was 5-of-5 for 150 yards in the second quarter alone. In two games this season, the first-year sophomore is 4-of-14 for 13 yards in first quarter play. ... Freshman linebacker Chidozie Oparanozie (Pittsburgh, PA/Linsly School (WV)) stopped a pair of SFU drives with interceptions at the DU 12 and two yard lines. The rookie returned the first pick 55 yards to set up one touchdown and his second interception was followed by a 91-yard Dixon-to-Conrad Carter touchdown pass. Oparanozie finished the game with six stops (four solo). ... Junior tailback Cleodis Williams (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) posted his first career 100-yard game with 129 yards on 23 carries. Williams rushed for 77 yards (on nine carries) in the first half. Senior receiver Conrad Carter (Clinton, MD/Archbishop Carroll) caught four passes for a career-high 107 yards. It was the first 100-yard game of his career. The Dixon-to-Carter 91-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds left in the first half was the second-longest pass play in school history, second only to a 95-yard Tony Zimmerman-to-Jeremy Conley connection at Siena in 1998. It was the longest pass play in Rooney Field (1993) history. Sophomore Nathan Totino (Pittsburgh, PA/Seton-La Salle), who had a game- and career-high 16 tackles (10 solo) in the season opener at Bucknell, made a game-high 11 stops for the Dukes. … Duquesne hosts 2007 Gridiron Classic champion Dayton on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Monmouth (1-3, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: MONMOUTH 30, Bryant 17 (Smithfield, RI - Bulldog Stadium)
Next Game: September 27 at ROBERT MORRIS, 1:00 pm
• Monmouth earned its first win of the season on Saturday, going on the road and defeating future Northeast Conference member Bryant by a score of 30-17. It was just the second time in 18 regular season games that Bryant was defeated at Bulldog stadium. … Monmouth running back David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) became the all-time leading scorer at Monmouth with his fourth quarter touchdown. Sinisi surpassed Dallas Cowboy Miles Austin for first, and now has 228 career points. Sinisi finished with 171 yards on 26 carries and two scores, including a 70-yard TD run. It marked the fourth straight game that the all-NEC tailback had over 20 carries this season. … MU defensive back Ken Amsel (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley) had a career-high 11 tackles against the Bulldogs. He also nabbed an interception, and now leads the team in tackles with 27 . … MU was positive in turnover margin for the first time all season, finishing +1. The Hawks are now -1 on the season. Senior defensive tackle Kevin Walsh (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) had his best game of the season against Bryant, finishing with six tackles (5 solo), two sacks for minus 12 yards, and five quarterback hurries. … Monmouth's defense held Bryant, who was averaging over 175 yards per game rushing, to just 56 yards. Bulldog running back Jerrell Smith had 444 yards on the ground in three games, finished with 29 yards on nine carries. … Fifth-year senior T.J. Cerezo (Stanhope, NJ/Lenape Valley) intercepted a ball in the endzone in the fourth quarter. … Monmouth's defense racked up four sacks in the game against Bryant, which is one more than the Hawks had in the three previous games combined. … Linebacker Jeff Brady (East Aurora, NY/St. Francis) had a season-high eight tackles, including seven solo stops and two tackles-for-a-loss. … Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan earned his 90th career win on Saturday. … Quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, NJ/Wall) after struggling the last two weeks had a solid outing for the Hawks, passing for 150 yards on 13-of-15 passing with one touchdown to tight end John Nalbone (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence). … Wideout Steve Dowens (Middletown, NJ/Middletown South) had two catches for 79 yards, including a 59 yard catch in the first quarter. … The Hawks open Northeast Conference play against the Colonials of Robert Morris in Moon Township, PA on Sept. 27.
Robert Morris (1-2, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: Dayton 31, ROBERT MORRIS 14 (Dayton, OH - Welcome Stadium)
Next Game: September 27 vs. MONMOUTH, 1:00 pm
• Robert Morris dropped its second straight game, this one being a 31-14 loss at Dayton in its first road game of the 2008 campaign. ... Senior quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, OH/Shadyside) finished 13-for-39 passing for 223 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions against the 2007 Gridiron Classic champion Flyers. Cwalinski was also sacked four times. Junior quarterback Camdin Crouse (Snow Shoe, PA/Bald Eagle) came on in relief of Cwalinski and finished 5-for-6 passing for 75 yards and a touchdown. ... Sophomore halfback Myles Russ (Boca Raton, FL/West Boca) finished with 68 yards rushing on 14 carries, an average of 4.9 yards per rush. ... Freshman flanker James O'Quinn (Vandergrift, PA/Kiski Area) paced the RMU receiving corps with six catches for 137 yards and a touchdown, including an 81-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. ... Senior Chris Kozak (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) finished with 141 all-purpose yards. ... Defensively against Dayton, the Colonials were paced by sophomore linebacker Alex DiMichele (Pittsburgh, PA/Sto-Rox), who recorded 11 tackles. ... Junior linebacker Adam Lawrence (Big Run, PA/Dubois Area) and sophomore cornerback Rolf Bathold (Naples, FL/Lely) each recorded seven takedowns, with Bathold adding three pass breakups. ... Junior safety Michael Landers (Springdale, PA/Springdale) recorded his second interception in as many games. ... The Colonials racked up 368 yards of total offense against the Flyers, while Dayton finished with 300 total yards. RMU was penalized nine times for 114 yards on the afternoon and on the season has been penalized 21 times for 225 yards. ... RMU opens Northeast Conference play by hosting Monmouth on Sept. 27 at Joe Walton Stadium.
Sacred Heart (3-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: SACRED HEART 44, Iona 24 (New Rochelle, NY - Mazzella Field)
Next Game: September 27 at Marist, 1:00 pm
• The Pioneers are 3-0 for the first time since 2003 thanks to a 44-24 win at Iona on Saturday afternoon. … SHU hit the 40-point mark for the second time this season in the win, piling up 464 yards on offense and 27 first downs. The Pioneers scored on four of five red zone opportunities and on seven of their first nine drives. … The Pioneers posted three takeaways on Saturday, an interception and two fumble recoveries, and twice turned those Iona miscues into points. On the season, Sacred Heart has five interceptions and six fumble recoveries as a team and overall are +5 overall in turnover ratio. Last season, SHU finished the year -14. … Junior cornerback Andre Isla (Brookhaven, NY/Bellport) came up with his second pick of the season on Saturday and also recovered a fumble in the win. On the year, Isla is fourth on the team with 15 tackles, one for a loss, while posting two INTs, a fumble recovery, and two pass break-ups. … The Pioneers blocked a punt on Iona's first possession Saturday as sophomore wide receiver Tony Patterson (Groton, CT/Fitch) got his hands on the kick and senior Anthony Mortali (Branford, CT/Branford) scooped it up and ran it in from five yards out. Later in the third quarter, head coach Paul Gorham called a fake punt on fourth-and-four at mid-field and Brian Friedman (Point Pleasant, NJ/Point Boro), who rushed six times for a career-high 52 yards, took a direct snap 10 yards for a first down to set up a 40-yard TD pass on the next play. … The Pioneers kick-off return team had five returns for 133 yards (26.6 avg) on Saturday thanks to freshmen Garry Coles (Southington, CT/Southington) and Jared Kemp (Miami, FL/Miami Killian). Coles had three returns for 82 yards (27.3) and Kemp has two touches for 51 yards (25.5). On the year, the Pioneers are averaging 24.0 yards per return as a team with Coles holding a 29.7 average per return. … Senior running back Evin Jones (Pennsauken, NJ/Roman Catholic) rumbled his way to another 100-yard plus afternoon as the Pioneers put up 208 yards on the ground against the Gaels. Jones carried the ball 20 times for 133 yards and a touchdown, Jones is averaging 6.5 yards per carry on the season with five touchdowns. … QB Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) completed 23-of-30 on the afternoon for 256 yards and three scores. He completed passes to seven different receivers in the win. On the season, Fink is completing 65.6% of his passes (61-93-4) through three games with six TDs. … Junior receiver Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) continues to be Fink's go-to-guy, catching seven balls for 88 yards and his first score of the season, a 40-yard strike. Tedesco has 22 catches for 242 yards (11.0 ypc) and is averaging 80.7 yards receiving per game. He is two TDs off Sacred Heart's all-time receiving record of 19 set by DeVeren Johnson (2000-01), pulling into a second-place tie with Corey Bundy (2004-07) with his 17th scoring catch at Iona. His 88 yards rocketed him up the career yardage list to third place (1,334) behind both Bundy (1,758) and Johnson (1,748). … The SHU offense has hit on all cylinders in the early going, heading into next week's match-up with Marist averaging 35.7 points, 188.3 yards rushing and 402.0 yard of total offense per game. The Pioneers are converting 82% (9-11) of their red-zone opportunities, settling for a field goal just once. SHU is converting 43% on third down.
Saint Francis (PA) (0-3, 0-1 NEC)
Last Game: DUQUESNE 21, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 7 (Pittsburgh, PA- Rooney Field)
Next Game: September 27 at Morehead State, 1:00 pm
• The Red Flash started conference play this week, falling to long-time intrastate rival Duquesne, 21-7. The Red Flash have now dropped three straight to start the season despite jumping out to a 7-0 lead in their NEC opener. … Running back Calvin Williams (Cleveland, OH/Cleveland South) stepped up as the Red Flash's most productive offensive threat in the absence of injured senior captain Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro). Williams led both receivers and running backs with 4 catches for 41 yards and 22 carries for 74 yards. … Freshman Daniel Conley (Burgettstown, PA/Burgettstown) also had a solid outing with 52 yards on six carries. … Sophomore linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCort), currently ranked 14th in the nation in total tackles, had six tackles, one hit for loss, and his first career interception. … Linebacker Ryan Shepard (Kittanning, PA/Kittanning) led the defense with nine total tackles. … In addition to being a major target for quarterback George Little (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne), sophomore Omar Winston (Cleveland, OH/Cleveland South) has established himself as a productive kick returner. Winston registered a 28-yard kick return and a 14-yard punt return against Duquesne. … The Red Flash were able to convert on 3-of-6 fourth-down situations, but fell victim to numerous missed scoring opportunities. Saint Francis (PA) entered the red zone on two consecutive second-quarter possessions, only to come away empty-handed from turning the ball over on both occasions. … The Red Flash dominated the possession game against Duquesne, holidng the ball for 38:02. ... Saint Francis (PA) tries to rebound against Pioneer League member Morehead State on Sept. 27. The MSU Eagles are 0-1 against NEC competition this season, falling at Robert Morris, 27-13, in the Colonials’ season opener.
Wagner (2-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: WAGNER 21, Marist 14 (Poughkeepsie, NY - Tenney Stadium)
Next Game: September 27 vs. Bryant, 1:00 pm
• Junior RB Shane Smith (Susquehanna, PA/ Milford Academy) ran for 131 yards on 30 carries, junior QB Adam Farnsworth (North Ogden, UT/ Univ. of Iowa) threw for 207 yards and two TDs and senior RB Rodney Davis (Neshaminy, PA/ Mansfield Univ.) scored on a seven-yard TD run with six seconds left in the game as Wagner posted a 21-14 come-from-behind win at Marist. … Wagner receivers Kyle Trueblood (Edison, NJ/ J.P. Stevens) and Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL/ J.P. Taravella) set career highs in the victory. Trueblood caught a career-high nine passes for 79 yards while Woods had a career-high eight receptions for 71 yards. … Farnsworth, a transfer from the University of Iowa, enjoyed his best start wearing the Green & White. The junior signal caller completed 25-of-32 passes for 207 yards. … Sophomore DB Stefen Gage(Syracuse, NY/ Henninger) and Senior LB Jeremy Spinks (Tampa, FL/ Chamberlain) paced Wagner defensively with 10 tackles apiece. … The game-winning touchdown marked Davis' return to the end zone after battling his way back from a torn ACL suffered in week 10 of the 2007 season. The senior running back carried a host of Marist defenders and the ball across the goal line in the game's waning seconds. … Shane Smith leads Wagner in rushing with 374 yards on 65 carries, a 5.8 yards-per-clip average, this season. Farnsworth has completed 54-of-78, a sensational 69.2%, passes for 442 yards and three TDs. Woods leads the team in receptions with 16 for 141 yards. … Three offensive starters left the game for Wagner on Friday night and did not return. Freshman RB Prince Young (Neptune, NJ/Brick Memorial) suffered a shoulder injury in the first quarter while left tackle Zach Johnson (Locust Grove, VA/ Fork Union) suffered a leg injury in the first quarter. In the third quarter, right guard Matt Martin (Pennsauken, NJ/ Pennsauken) suffered a leg injury. The severity of the injuries are not known at this time. … Wagner looks to made it three in a row when it hosts Bryant, a future NEC member, on Sept. 27 in Staten Island, NY.