League Notes
Duquesne ended Dayton’s 10-game win streak before the Rooney Field Faithful in Pittsburgh, PA. The Flyers had defeated one NEC member, a 42-21 victory over Albany at the 2007 Gridiron Classic, during that 10-game span. ... Central Connecticut State became the second NEC program to snap an opponent’s win streak when it downed defending MEAC champion Delaware State under the lights on Saturday night at DSU’s Alumni Stadium, becoming the first team to knock off the Hornets in DSU’s last ten home games. ... Defending NEC champion Albany fell in its final non-conference test this season, its game third against a nationally-ranked Top 25 program. Hoping to rebound from their 38-7 defeat at 2007 NCAA FCS Runner-up Delaware, the Great Danes open NEC play on the road at first-year league member Duquesne. ... Sacred Heart is off to a 4-and-0 season start for the first time since 2001 after handing Marist a 28-16 home loss. ... In what will be a conference match-up come 2012 when Bryant completes the NCAA-mandated D-I reclassification process, the future NEC core member Bulldogs upset Wagner on Grymes Hill, 24-14. The win was Bryant’s first over a DI FCS program in six tries. The Bulldogs had previously fallen to Central Connecticut State and Monmouth this season. ... With two Northeast Conference games already in the books, league play kicks off into full swing this Saturday (Oct. 4) with all eight conference members facing off against one another.
Great Danes Complete Great Challenge of Non-Conference Slate
Albany’s loss at No. 12/17 Delaware marked the end of the Great Danes’ extremely challenging non-conference schedule, one that did not contain a single home game. Under the direction of long-time head coach Bob Ford, who has never been afraid to challenge his program prior to the start of league play, the defending NEC champions visited four Colonial Athletic Association members (Massachusetts, Hofstra, New Hampshire, and Delaware). Three of the four (UMass, UNH, and UD) are ranked in the nation’s Top 25 and occupied spots in the Top 10 at some point this season. UA junior tailback David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) provided the most-memorable highlight of the tough non-league schedule when his seven-yard score in overtime completed a 22-16 victory over Hofstra on Sept. 13.
Hawks on Right Side of 200
Monmouth senior quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, NJ/Wall) and the Hawks’ pass defense both found themselves on the desirable side of the 200-yard mark for the first time this season in a 34-26 road win at NEC foe Robert Morris. Completing 16-of-27 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns, Burke, a 2007 first team all-NEC selection, threw for more than 200 yards for the first time since a 224-yard, three-TD day against Saint Francis (Nov. 3) last season. With senior defensive tackle Kevin Walsh (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) continuing to harass opposing signal callers, Monmouth’s defensive unit held the Colonials’ to 197 yards passing. RMU entered the day with the nation’s 26th-ranked passing attack.
Pioneer’s Premium Protection
For the fourth straight game, Sacred Heart’s offensive line has kept sophomore quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) from falling to the turf. The Pioneers remain the only Northeast Conference team to not allow a quarterback sack this season. The unit -- made up of senior left tackle Ryan Arroyo (Roebling, NJ/Florence Twp.), sophomore left guard Justin Smith (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton), freshman center Dylan Larson (Barnegat Light, NJ/Southern), sophomore right guard Dan Plunkett (Quincy, MA/Catholic Memorial), junior right tackle Abel Malae (Pacifica, CA/Terra Nova) -- has also paved the way for 174.5 yards rushing per game thus far this season.
Russ Revives RMU Rushing Attack
Robert Morris ranked last in rush offense amongst Northeast Conference last season, sophomore halfback Myles Russ (Boca Raton, FL/West Boca) is trying his best to change that this time around. Russ became the fourth Colonial to eclipse 200 yards rushing in a game by finishing with 205 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries against Monmouth (Sept. 27). His 25 attempts tied a career high. The sophomore’s performance marks the first time a Colonial has rushed for at least 200 yards in a game since the program’s all-time leading rusher Sam Dorsett (1999-2003) totaled 208 yards in a 38-18 victory at Central Connecticut State (Oct. 20, 2001), a span of 68 games. Russ joins Dorsett and former running backs Tim Hall (1994-95) and Donald Dorsey (1998-99) to achieve the feat. The sophomore ball carrier’s previous season high came in an opening day victory over Morehead State (Sept. 6) during which rushed 19 times for 132 yards, a 6.9 yards-per-carry average.
All-NEC Connection Heating Up
Off to a 4-and-0 season start, Sacred Heart has benefitted greatly from its all-NEC aerial connection. Sophomore quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic), a 2007 all-league second team member, and junior receiver Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills), a first team all-NEC pass-catcher last season, have hooked up 29 times for 355 yards and two touchdowns over the first four contests this season. The duo inflicted the most damage thus far in Saturday’s road win at Marist, connecting on seven occasions for 113 yards and a score.
Red Flash Receive Bad News About Star Receiver
Saint Francis (PA) received disappointing news last week when it learned all-NEC wide receiver Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) will not be able to return to the lineup this season thanks to an injury suffered at Marist (Sept. 13). Rivera, who led the NEC in receiving yards (885) last season when he made 48 catches, caught 11 balls for 202 yards and two TDs in two games this season.
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 on Sept. 20, 2008. 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. Enhancing the Blue Devils’ record day was a 35-23 victory over NC Central.
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 Sept. 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.
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.
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 earned its first victory over a Division I FCS program in six tries when it stunned Wagner, 24-14, in Staten Island, NY on Saturday (Sept. 27). Playing the third of six scheduled NEC opponents this season, Bryant returned a first-quarter punt for a touchdown and capitalized off an interception on Wagner’s ensuing possession to take a 14-7 lead. Bryant, which fell at home to five-time NEC champ Monmouth (30-17) last week (Sept. 20), is now 3-2 overall. 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 Five (5) By The Numbers
2001 was the last time Sacred Heart began its season by winning its first four games. The Pioneers’ 28-16 road win at Marist moved them to 4-and-0 for the third time in program history (2000, 2001, 2008), and the first occasion under fifth-year head coach Paul Gorham.
68.5 of Dale Fink’s passes safely wind up in a receiver’s hands. Sacred Heart’s sophomore QB leads the NEC in completion percentage (68.5) by connecting on 85 of his 124 passing attempts. The 2007 NEC Rookie of the Year is averaging 230.0 passing yards per game.
86 yards is the length of the second-longest touchdown reception in Saint Francis (PA) history. SFPA Rookie wideout Anthony Howze matched that mark when he hauled in a scoring pass from QB George Little.
18 career touchdown catches for Sacred Heart junior Steve Tedesco, who stands one shy of tying the program’s all-time mark owned by former NFL pro Deveren Johnson (2000-01). SHU’s preseason all-NEC receiver made his second TD grab this season at Marist.
4:36 remaining in the fourth quarter when Duquesne began its game-clinching drive in a 24-16 downing of 2007 PFL champ Dayton. Clinging to a 17-16 lead and regaining possession on Tyler Scruggs’ punt block, the Dukes moved 43 yards for to increase their advantage to eight.
Team-by-Team Notes
Albany (1-3, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: No. 12/17 Delaware, ALBANY 7 (Newark, DE - Delaware Stadium)
Next Game: October 4 at DUQUESNE, 1:00 pm (Pittsburgh, PA - Rooney Field)
• UAlbany begins conference play against league newcomer Duquesne on Oct. 4. The Great Danes, who have won seven of nine NEC openers since joining the league are 1999, is meeting Duquesne for the first time since the 2002 ECAC Classic. … UAlbany finished the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 38-7 loss to Delaware, ranked No. 17 by Sports Network and No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll. The Great Danes played before the second-largest crowd in the program's history (22,197). The Blue Hens, who exacted revenge for a 17-10 upset loss two years ago on this same field, scored on their opening four possessions of the second half to pull away. … Delaware was the fourth of four consecutive Colonial Athletic Association opponents to begin Albany's schedule. … The Great Danes are now 3-12 all-time against national top-25 teams. … UAlbany will play its eighth consecutive road game, the longest stretch in the program's history, against Duquesne, a round trip that stretches 4,504 miles. The Great Danes twice previously played four away contests in a row (1977-78 & 1994-95). UAlbany is the lone Division I FBS or FCS program to not have a home game before October. … Junior TB David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) had his school record nine-game, 100-yard rushing streak halted at Delaware. McCarty, who moved to eighth on the school's career rushing list with 1,981 yards, scored a touchdown for the 12th consecutive game, a one-yard blast to cap a 16-play drive in the second period. The junior tailback ranks 11th nationally in rushing at 120.0 yards per game. … Junior QB Vinny Esposito (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley) moved to No. 9 on the career total offense chart with 2,638 yards. Esposito's errant second-quarter pass at Delaware was returned 60 yards for a touchdown and snapped a 7-7 tie. The interception return for a TD was the first by an opponent since Sept. 10, 2005. … OLB Rich Duff (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) made a career-high 10 tackles last week. … ILB Mark Peretore (Apalachin, NY/Vestal) recorded his first career interception in the second quarter. Peretore, who fractured his thumb in the preseason, has 129 career tackles. … ILB Justin Brancaccio (Rockaway, NJ/Morris Knolls) added nine tackles and one pass break-up against the Blue Hens. … TB Justin Gannon (Sussex, NJ/Vernon Township) established the program's FCS record with 183 kickoff return yards at Delaware, breaking Ryan MacLean's mark of 155 against Robert Morris in 2001. Gannon accounted for a career-best 206 all-purpose yards.
Central Connecticut State (3-1, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE 28, Delaware State 10 (Dover, DE - Alumni Stadium)
Next Game: Octobert 4 vs. WAGNER, 1:00 pm (New Britain, CT - Arute Field)
• Central Connecticut State ended a nine-game home winning streak for defending MEAC champion Delaware State, which was receiving votes in both the FCS Coaches' poll and The Sports Network FCS poll, with a 28-10 victory on Saturday night. … The Blue Devils benefitted from junior running back James Mallory's (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) fourth 100-yard rushing performance of the season as part of a larger 262-yard team rushing effort. Mallory ran 36 times for 123 yards to become the 17th player in program history to total more than 1,000 career yards on the ground. Averaging 6.0 yards per carry with 664 yards in 110 attempts, Mallory is the nation's second-leading rusher this season. … The Blue Devils are averaging 236.75 yards per game on the ground. They are ranked first in the NEC and seventh in the nation in rushing offense. Since Jeff McInerney took over as head coach in 2006, the Blue Devils have posted 250+ yards rushing 17 times in 26 games. … Junior quarterback Hunter Wanket (Rancho Santa Fe, CA/Palomar JC) finished the game with a career-high 99 rushing yards on seven carries. He was also 6-of-7 through the air for 72 yards and a touchdown. … Seniors Ralph McKenley (Yonkers, NY/Roosevelt) and Ernie Greywacz (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) each made an interception in the Blue Devils' victory. … Sophomore defensive back Alondre Rush (Middletown, CT/Xavier) blocked Delaware State's punt attempt early on in the second quarter to set up a first-and-goal situation for CCSU's offense at DSU's one-yard line. It was the third time this season the Blue Devils snuffed out a punt. … Senior captain Josh Vargas (Los Angeles, CA/Santa Monica) and sophomore Eric Richardson (Trumbull, CT/Trumbull) each scored a touchdown in the win for the Blue Devils with the former scoring his directly following Rush's punt block. … Sophomore Jeff Marino (New Britain, CT/New Britain) made a team-high six tackles against the Hornets to lead CCSU in that category for the third consecutive week. … Since 2004, CCSU is 24-2 when scoring 25 or more points and 28-4 when scoring at least 20. … The Blue Devils are averaging 30.3 points per game during the Jeff McInerney era and have scored 20 or more 16 times and 30 or more on 12 occasions.
Duquesne (2-1, 1-0 NEC)
Last Game: DUQUESNE 24, Dayton 16 (Pittsburgh, PA - Rooney Field)
Next Game: October 4 vs. ALBANY, 1:00 pm (Pittsburgh, PA - Rooney Field)
• Duquesne's victory snapped Dayton's 10-game win streak, which was the longest current streak in the Football Championship Subdivision. … Dayton, which entered the game leading the nation with 4.7 sacks per game, was only able to reach Duquesne quarterback Connor Dixon (South Park, PA/South Park) once. The Duquesne offensive line, which entered the game ranked ninth nationally in fewest sacks allowed per game, has surrendered just two sacks on 105 pass attempts this season. ... Duquesne has now won the last two meetings with Dayton to tie the all-time series at 3-3. ... Junior tailback Cleodis Williams (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) posted his second consecutive 100-yard game with 103 yards on 25 carries. The last DU running back to run for 100 yards in back-to-back games was Mike Hilliard in 2003 (26-159 at Marist & 36-126 vs. Robert Morris). Williams had 129 yards on 23 carries in last week's win over Saint Francis (PA). ... 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 and 11 more in game two against Saint Francis, posted his third-straight double-digit tackle game with 10 stops. Totino is averaging a team-high 12.3 tackles per game. ... Senior placekicker Mark Troyan (Ford City, PA/Ford City), who made 12-of-13 field goals last season, including all seven attempts inside the 40, missed from 40 and 32 yards before connecting on a 31-yarder in the first half. ... Junior tight end Sean Bunevich (North Ridgeville, OH/North Ridgeville) caught three passes for a career-high 92 yards, becoming the third Duke in three games this year to set a receiving yardage high. ... Senior receiver Alex Roberson (Waynesboro, GA/Curtis Baptist) set career-bests for catches (11) and yards (154) in the opener at Bucknell and classmate Conrad Carter (Clinton, MD/Archbishop Carroll) caught four passes for a career-high 107 yards last week against Saint Francis (PA). ... Freshman linebacker Chidozie Oparanozie (Pittsburgh, PA/The Linsley School [WV]), who was named NEC Rookie of the Week after posting a pair of interceptions and six tackles last week vs. the Red Flash, finished with a season-high nine tackles (all solo). Fellow freshmen Wiley Brown (Waldorf, MD/Fork Union Military) and Aaron Fitzpatrick (Erie, PA/McDowell) added nine stops each. … Duquesne welcomes defending NEC champion Albany to town on Oct. 4 for the final of three consecutive home games. The first-year conference member Dukes won their maiden league contest last week at long-time intrastate rival Saint Francis (PA).
Monmouth (2-3, 1-0 NEC)
Last Game: MONMOUTH 34, ROBERT MORRIS 26 (Moon Township, PA - Joe Walton Stadium)
Next Game: October 4 vs. SAINT FRANCIS (PA), 1:00 pm (West Long Branch, NJ - Kessler Field)
• Monmouth notched its first Northeast Conference victory of the season going into Moon Township, PA and defeating Robert Morris by a score of 36-24. MU evened the series with RMU, with each team winning seven games apiece. … Monmouth churned out 456 yards of total offense against the Colonials. Senior quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, NJ/Wall) had his first 200+ yard game through the air. Wide receiver Troy Yudin (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William Hart) had a career-long TD catch of 46 yards en route to his three-catch, 71-yard performance. Nick Romeo (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) also had a career-long reception, catching a 44-yarder from Burke. Fifth-year senior tight end John Nalbone (Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) had a career-high six receptions for 42 yards and Monmouth's first touchdown of the conference season. Junior wide receiver Rodney Salomon (Marlboro, NJ/Marlboro (Maine) took his first career rush for 36 yards and a touchdown against Robert Morris. Senior tailback David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) ran for 147 yards on a career-high 33 carries with a touchdown. … Senior defensive lineman Kevin Walsh (Mt. Laurel, NJ/Lenape) had four tackles, including two sacks and a half tackle for a loss, against Robert Morris. Walsh now has four sacks on the season and 9.5 for his career, three more and he will crack Monmouth's all-time top-10. Safety Jose Gumbs (Queens, NY/Hebron Academy) led the Hawks in tackles for the fourth game this season, coming away with eight tackles and a pass breakup. … Freshman kicker Jake DelVento (Toms River, NJ/TR South) averaged 59 yards per kickoff in his first game. … Monmouth held Robert Morris to 197 yards passing. It marked the first time all season that the Hawks have held an opponent to under 200 yards through the air, which was impressive considering the Colonials entered the game 26th in the NCAA in passing yards per game. … Monmouth held the ball for almost an entire quarter more than Robert Morris, owning a 36:59-23:01 advantage in time of possession, including having the ball for 10:31 of the fourth quarter. … The Hawks went 3-4 on red zone chances against the Colonials, with their only failed attempt coming at the end of the game when MU took a knee. MU is now 13-of-15 inside opponent's 20. … In the last two weeks, Monmouth has almost as many yards (856) as they mustered in the three previous games (864). … The Hawks look for their second NEC victory when they host Saint Francis (PA) on Saturday (Oct. 4).
Robert Morris (1-3, 0-1 NEC)
Last Game: MONMOUTH 34, ROBERT MORRIS 26 (Moon Township, PA - Joe Walton Stadium)
Next Game: October 4 at SACRED HEART, 1:00 pm (Fairfield, CT - Campus Field)
• Robert Morris opened its 2008 Northeast Conference schedule by dropping a 34-26 decision to Monmouth at Joe Walton Stadium, its third straight defeat. … Robert Morris fell to 8-5 all-time in Northeast Conference openers, including a mark of 2-3 in such games against Monmouth. The Hawks tied the all-time series with RMU, 7-7, thanks to the win. ... The two teams combined for 851 yards of total offense, with Monmouth gaining 456 yards. ... Entering the game the Colonials had held their opponents to a 34 percent success rate on third down, but the Hawks converted 10 of their 15 (66.7 percent) opportunities. ... The Colonials were penalized eight times for 123 yards as the two clubs combined for 14 penalties (221 yards) on the afternoon. ... Monmouth owned a 36:59 to 23:01 edge in possession time on the game ... Senior quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, OH/Shadyside) rebounded from a poor performance at Dayton to go 11-for-23 passing for 197 yards and three touchdowns. Cwalinski had his streak of throwing for at least 200 yards in a game snapped at five. ... Offensively the afternoon belonged to sophomore halfback Myles Russ (Boca Raton, FL/West Boca), who became the fourth Colonial to eclipse 200 yards rushing in a game by finishing with 205 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. The 25 attempts for Russ tied a career high. His performance marks the first time a Colonial has rushed for at least 200 yards in a game since all-time leading rusher Sam Dorsett (1999-2003) posted 208 yards in a 38-18 victory @ Central Connecticut State (10/20/01), a span of 68 games. Russ joins Dorsett and former running backs Tim Hall (1994-95) and Donald Dorsey (1998-99) to achieve the feat. ... RMU's tight-end tandem of senior Regis Flowers (Irwin, PA/Norwin) and freshman Shadrae King (McKeesport, PA/McKeesport) combined for seven catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Hawks. Flowers tied a career high with four receptions, compiling 53 yards and a score, while King recorded three catches for 65 yards and a touchdown. ... Senior split end Sherrod Evers (Philadelphia, PA/Mastbaum Area) did not play, with senior Chris Kozak (Pittsburgh, PA/Baldwin) earning his first career start in the place of Evers. ... Sophomore punter Nick Schirtzinger (Hurricane, WV/Hurricane) averaged a career-high 46.8 yards on four punts, pinning two inside the Monmouth 20-yard line and posting a season-long 59-yard boot in the second half. ... Defensively, sophomore linebacker Alex DiMichele (Pittsburgh, PA/Sto-Rox) and sophomore safety Troy Cree (Waynesburg, PA/Waynesburg) each finished with 12 tackles, while junior safety Michael Landers (Springdale, PA/Springdale) posted 11 stops. The 12 tackles for Cree are a career high. ... Robert Morris continues NEC play Saturday (Oct. 4), when it travels to undefeated Sacred Heart.
Sacred Heart (4-0, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: SACRED HEART 28, Marist 16 (Poughkeepsie, NY - Tenney Stadium)
Next Game: October 4 vs. ROBERT MORRIS, 1:00 pm (Fairfield, CT - Campus Field)
• Sacred Heart won its fourth consecutive game, downing the Marist Red Foxes on the road, 28-16, at Tenney Stadium on Saturday. The Pioneers are off to a 4-and-0 season start for the third time in program history and the first under head coach Paul Gorham. SHU started 4-0 in 2000 and 2001. They finished 10-1 during the former and went a perfect 11-0 in 2001 on the way to NEC and ECAC Bowl titles as well as the #1 ranking in I-AA Mid-Major Poll. … The start of NEC play awaits the Pioneers next weekend as they host Robert Morris on Homecoming Weekend (Oct. 4). … The Pioneer defense picked up their 12th caused turnover on Saturday as sophomore safety Rashod Underwood (Baltimore, MD/Milford Mill) came up with his second interception of the season. … The turnover battle was even on Saturday at one a piece, keeping SHU at +5 on the season. … For the fourth straight game this season the Pioneer offensive line has kept all rushers away from sophomore quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic), not allowing a sack. The Pioneers are the only team in the Northeast Conference who has not allowed a sack on the season. The unit -- made up of senior left tackle Ryan Arroyo (Roebling, NJ/Florence Twp.), sophomore left guard Justin Smith (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton), freshman center Dylan Larson (Barnegat Light, NJ/Southern), sophomore right guard Dan Plunkett (Quincy, MA/Catholic Memorial), junior right tackle Abel Malae (Pacifica, CA/Terra Nova) -- has also paved the way for 174.5 yards rushing per game thus far this season. … Sacred Heart's offense piled up 414 yards, 21 first downs, and managed touchdowns on all four of their red-zone visits at Marist. On the year the Pioneer offense is averaging 405.0 yards per game and 33.8 points per contest while scoring on 87% of their red-zone chances (13-15). … Junior receiver Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) had his first 100-yard receiving game of 2008, and all of it came in the first half of Saturday's win. Tedesco pulled in seven catches for 113 yards and a five-yard TD. Tedesco moved into sole possession of second place on the career touchdown receptions list with 18, just one behind all-time leader DeVeren Johnson (2000-01). Tedesco is also eight receptions short of Corey Bundy's (2004-07) record 122. … Fink went 24-of-31 passing for a season-high 281 yards and three TDs at Marist. … On the season, Fink is completing 68.5% (85-for-125) of his passes on the season, leading to a passing efficiency rating of 146.89. … Senior tailback Evin Jones (Pennsauken, NJ/Roman Catholic [PA]) just missed out on his third 100-yard plus rushing day of the season, finishing with 99 yards and one TD on 17 carries. … Freshmen receivers Rich Rossi (Moosic, PA/Riverside) and Jared Kemp (Miami, FL/Miami Killian) made key catches against the Red Foxes. Rossi caught a touchdown for the second straight game, while Kemp made six grabs for 60 yards, the biggest for 28 yards on third-and-nine to set up the Pioneers' final touchdown. … The Pioneer defense posted three sacks on Saturday, raising their season total to 10. SHU had just 17 sacks all of last season.
Saint Francis (PA) (0-4, 0-1 NEC)
Last Game: Morehead State 36, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 21 (Morehead, KY - Jayne Stadium)
Next Game: October 4 at MONMOUTH, 1:00 pm (West Long Branch, NJ - Kessler Field)
• The Red Flash struggled offensively at Morehead State, falling for the fourth time this season. ... Saint Francis (PA) received disappointing news prior to gameday when it learned all-NEC wide receiver Antoine Rivera (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) will not be able to return to the lineup this season thanks to an injury suffered at Marist (Sept. 13). Rivera, who led the NEC in receiving yards (885) last season when he made 48 catches, caught 11 balls for 202 yards and two TDs in two games this season. ... With Rivera out, freshman Anthony Howze (Upper Marlboro, MD/Riverdale Baptist) stepped up to score a touchdown on an 86-yard pass from quarterback George Little (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne). In the process of notching his first career TD, Howze equaled the second-longest scoring reception in Saint Francis’ (PA) program history. Little threw two other touchdowns on the day, but managed only 177 yards through the air with one INT on 11-of-22 passing. ... Sophomore linebacker Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) forced his first career fumble at Morehead State where he also racked up a team-high 13 tackles (seven solo). ... The Red Flash look to rebound at Monmouth on Saturday (Oct. 4) in a NEC affair.
Wagner (2-2, 0-0 NEC)
Last Game: Bryant 24, WAGNER 14 (Staten Island, NY - Wagner Stadium)
Next Game: October 4 at CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE, 1:00 pm (New Britain, CT - Arute Field)
• Despite a defensive effort that limited Bryant to 245 yards of total offense, Wagner fell, 24-14, at home to the Bulldogs. … The Seahawks suffered from two key mistakes deep in their own territory that resulted in a pair of easy touchdowns for Bryant. A first-quarter blocked punt was scooped up and run in for a four-yard TD and a tipped interception on Wagner's ensuing possession led to a one-play, three-yard TD drive. These two plays led directly to 14 of Bryant's 24 points as the Bulldogs, who become full-fledged members of the NEC in 2012, recorded their first-ever win over an FCS foe in six tries. … Junior QB Adam Farnsworth (N. Ogden, UT/ Weber) connected with senior TE Peter Zagorski (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/Matawan) on an 80-yard TD connection that gave Wagner a short-lived 7-0 lead. The 80-yard pass was a career-long for Farnsworth and the 80-yard reception was a career long for Zagorski as well as his first career TD. … One of the bright spots for Wagner has been the emergence of sophomore DB Stefen Gage (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) who followed up a then career-high 10-tackle effort at Marist with a game-high 15 stops vs. Bryant. Of his 15 tackles, seven were of the solo variety. Gage now leads Wagner in tackles with 37. His latest performance marked the first time a Seahawk has registered 15 or more tackles in a game since LB Bryan Brand made 16 stops vs. Central Connecticut State on Oct. 20, 2007. … Wagner, which opens Northeast Conference play Saturday (Oct. 4) at Central Connecticut State, is riddled with injuries at various positions, most noticeably the offensive backfield. Already without freshman RB Prince Young (Neptune, NJ/ Fork Union), who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury suffered in a victory over Marist, workhorse junior RB Shane Smith (Susquehanna, PA/ Milford) aggravated a hamstring against Bryant and left the game for good in the first quarter. cAs a result of the rash of injuries at RB, freshman DB Ryan Middleton (Winter Garden, FL/West Orange), a two-way star in high school, switched to offense last week in practice and wound up as Wagner's leading rusher vs. Bryant with 21 yards on nine carries. In addition, starting left tackle Zach Johnson (Locust Grove, VA/ Fork Union) did not play due to a right knee injury while senior guard Matt Martin (Pennsauken, NJ/ Pennsauken) re-injured his left ankle in the third quarter and did not return.