200820082008 FOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALL NN EWSEWS && NN OTESOTES 399 Campus Drive, First Floor, Somerset, NJ 08873 Football Contact: Ralph Ventre, Asst. Director of Communications Phone: 732-469-0440/Fax: 732-469-0744 • www.northeastconference.org E-Mail: [email protected] Albany • Central State • Monmouth • Robert Morris Sacred Heart • Saint Francis (PA) • Wagner NEC Football Football Facts & Figures (Week 8 - October 20, 2008)

Last Week’s Results School NEC Pct. Overall Pct. Streak Home Away Neutral Saturday, October 18 1. Albany 3-0 1.000 4-3 .571 W3 1-0 3-3 0-0 ALBANY 26, SACRED HEART 21 Monmouth 3-0 1.000 4-3 .571 W4 1-2 3-1 0-0 CENTRAL CONN. ST. 35, DUQUESNE 23 WAGNER 17, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 13 3. Sacred Heart 2-1 .667 6-1 .857 L1 3-1 3-0 0-0 Bryant 20, ROBERT MORRIS 7 Central Conn. St. 2-1 .667 5-2 .714 W1 4-0 1-2 0-0 5. Wagner 1-2 .333 3-4 .429 W1 1-2 2-2 0-0 Upcoming Schedule Robert Morris 1-2 .333 2-5 .286 L1 2-2 0-3 0-0 Saturday, October 25 7. Duquesne 1-3 .250 2-4 .333 L3 2-1 0-3 0-0 SACRED HEART at DUQUESNE 1:00 pm 8. Saint Francis (PA) 0-4 .000 0-7 .000 L7 0-3 0-4 0-0 ROBERT MORRIS at WAGNER 1:00 pm CENTRAL CONN. ST. at MONMOUTH 1:00 pm NEC Football Offensive Player of the Week SAINT FRANCIS (PA) at ALBANY 4:00 pm David McCarty, Albany NEC team in CAPS. Home Team underlined in results. Jr., TB, 6-0, 207, Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute McCarty, whose name has appeared in this post more frequently in the past two seasons than that of any current NEC Offensive Player of the Week NEC player, continued his dominant play against league competition. Eclipsing the 200-yard mark for the third Sep. 2 Evin Jones, Sacred Heart in his last nine games, McCarty tallied 207 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries in dealing Sacred Heart its first Sep. 9 Connor Dixon, Duquesne Sep. 15 David McCarty, Albany loss. His two-yard, third-quarter TD plunge erased a 14-10 halftime deficit and put the Great Danes out in front Sep. 22 James Mallory, Central Connecticut State for good. After Sacred Heart pulled within 26-21, McCarty made certain the Pioneers would not touch the ball Sep. 29 Dale Fink, Sacred Heart Oct. 6 David McCarty (Albany) and Dave Sinisi (Monmouth) again. Running eight times for 61 yards on Albany’s final possession, the preseason all-NEC selection ran the Oct. 13 Myles Russ, Robert Morris final 4:40 off the clock. He turned two third-and-short situations into first downs on the drive, including his Oct. 20 David McCarty, Albany game-sealing 35-yard sprint down to the one-yard line. The junior tailback also caught three passes for 31 NEC Defensive Player of the Week yards a week after his 72-yard touchdown off a screen pass provided the winning points at Central Connecticut. Sep. 2 Mike Cooke, Central Connecticut State NEC Football Defensive Player of the Week Sep. 9 Mike Mortali, Sacred Heart Sep. 15 Dave Casale, Albany Scott Lewis, Saint Francis (PA) Sep. 22 Kevin Walsh, Monmouth So., LB, 5-11, 200, South Fork, PA/Bishop McCort Sep. 29 Kevin Walsh, Monmouth Lewis made 23 tackles against Wagner in Saturday’s 17-13 setback to match the highest single-game total in Oct. 6 Nathan Totino, Duquesne Oct. 13 Justin Brancaccio, Albany Division I FCS this season. Matching the marks of Duquesne’s Nathan Totino and Nathan Williams of Murray Oct. 20 Scott Lewis, Saint Francis (PA) State, the sophomore linebacker was a key reason why Wagner managed only 45 yards rushing. Lewis limited NEC Special Teams Player of the Week the opposing ball carrier to one yard or less eight times on the afternoon. With 88 tackles thus far this season, Sep. 2 Ayo Falae, Monmouth the 2007 NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year has 214 career stops in less than two full seasons. Sep. 9 Nick Schirtzinger, Robert Morris NEC Football Special Teams Player of the Week Sep. 15 Raphael Nguti, Albany Sep. 22 Anthony Mortali, Sacred Heart Kyle Trueblood, Wagner Sep. 29 Alondre Rush, Central Connecticut State Oct. 6 Nick Romeo, Monmouth Sr., WR, 6-1, 185, Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens Oct. 13 Joe Schroeder, Sacred Heart Trueblood’s spark in the return game provided the Seahawks with prime field position in key spots during their Oct. 20 Kyle Trueblood, Wagner road victory over Saint Francis (PA). Trueblood returned two kickoffs for 89 yards (52, 37) and gained 44 NEC Rookie of the Week yards on five punt returns. The senior receiver brought the opening second-half kickoff back 37 yards to Saint Sep. 2 Garry Coles, Sacred Heart Francis’ (PA) 48-yard line where Wagner’s offense began its game-tying drive. His 11-yard fourth-quarter punt Sep. 9 Garry Coles, Sacred Heart return put the ball on the Red Flash’s 33-yard line to set the stage for Matt Abbey’s game-winning 33-yard TD Sep. 15 Prince Young, Wagner Sep. 22 Chidozie Oparanozie, Duquesne strike on the next play. After Saint Francis (PA) took a 7-0 lead on the game’s first touchdown, Trueblood swung Sep. 29 Chidozie Oparanozie, Duquesne the field position battle in Wagner’s favor by returning the ensuing kickoff 52 yards into Red Flash territory. Oct. 6 Marc Wargo, Albany Oct. 13 James O’Quinn, Robert Morris NEC Football Rookie of the Week Oct. 20 Eddie Delaney, Albany Eddie Delaney, Albany R-Fr., DE, 6-6, 235, Holtsville, NY/Sachem East For the latest scores, statistics Delaney, one of the more remarkable stories in Division I FCS, turned his second collegiate start into his first and notes, visit the NEC website NEC Rookie of the Week award. Despite playing without a left hand and wearing an insulin pump to control diabetes, the freshman defensive end made five tackles and broke up two passes in Albany’s road victory that at knocked Sacred Heart from the undefeated ranks. Three of Delaney’s five tackles held SHU tailback Evin Jones www.northeastconference.org to two yards or less, including his stop on the game’s first play from scrimmage. NEC Football Notes: WEEK EIGHT (8) General Notebook Defending NEC champion Albany knocked Sacred By The Numbers Heart from the ranks of the undefeated in Saturday’s first-place clash. The Great Danes erased a 14-10 half-time deficit with 16 unanswered points before 23x2 Saint Francis (PA) sophomore Sacred Heart’s fourth-quarter comeback push cut Scott Lewis became the second NEC player the final margin to 26-21. The win puts Albany in a first-place tie with Monmouth this season to make 23 tackles in a single as the league’s only 3-and-0 teams, while Sacred Heart falls a game back. ... game. Lewis, the 2007 NEC Defensive Rookie Wagner ended its slide by mounting a successful fourth-quarter comeback on the road at Saint Francis (PA). The Red Flash had won two of the previous three, but of the Year, joined fellow Pennsylvania na- squandered a six-point lead in the 17-13 defeat. ... Central Connecticut State tive Nathan Totino of Duquesne to accom- continues to reside near the top of the NEC standings. The Blue Devils sent plish the feat. The two NEC student-athletes Duquesne to a 35-23 defeat, its third straight. ... Robert Morris fell to future NEC along with Murray State’s Nathan Williams member Bryant (2012), 20-7. The host Bulldogs have now played four of their own the NCAA single-game high this season. future league rivals, winning twice (Robert Morris and Wagner). ... Idle this week, Prior to their performances, Monmouth’s Monmouth still managed to make a splash when the Hawks’ all-NEC tailback Aaron Edwards was the last NEC defender to Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) became the second NEC player as many tackles when he also made 23 in three years to make the Walter Payton Award (top offensive player in DI FCS) against Albany in 2001. Watch List. Following in the footsteps of 2006 Walter Payton Award Finalist Justise Hairston of Central Connecticut State, who finished sixth, Sinisi was one of three players added to the now-16-member list. The Sports Network will 60 yards on the ground for Wagner’s eventually narrow the list down and conduct a final vote on this year’s winner. Shane Smith in his return to the Gridiron on Saturday at Saint Francis (PA). Smith’s pres- Running With the Best in FCS ence was undoubtedly welcomed by head A year after four Northeast Conference teams produced 1,200-yard rushers that each ranked amongst the nation's top 20, five NEC running backs currently stand coach Walt Hameline who has seen his top amongst the top-eight rushers in Division I FCS this season. Monmouth junior three ball carriers succumb to injury. Smith Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove), Robert Morris sophomore (hamstring) had missed two games before Myles Russ (Boca Raton, FL/West Boca) Central Connecticut State junior returning. Meanwhile, Prince Young (left James Mallory (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West), Albany junior David McCarty arm) and Rodney Davis (right knee) may both (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute), and Sacred Heart senior Evin Jones be lost for the season. (Pennsauken, NJ/Roman Catholic [PA]) are all on pace for 1,000-yard seasons (Sinisi has already accomplished the feat) as their yards-per-game aver- ages place them in elite company. Sinisi (157.29 ypg) ranks second in all of D- 33 of Tyrone Collins’ career-high 112 re- I FCS, but his 1,101 total rushing yards are tops in the nation. McCarty ranks fifth ceiving yards against Saint Francis (PA) came overall (145.43 ypg), Mallory (139.14 ypg) sixth, Russ seventh (129.57 ypg), on game-winning hookup with Matt Abbey and Jones (122.57 ypg) eighth. mid-way through the final quarter. Wagner’s Below is a look at the five NEC rushers who rank amongst the junior receiver has 30 grabs for 331 yards. nation’s Top Eight. 220=50 Albany’s 26-21 victory at Player (School) Season Total (Avg./Game) Nat’l Rank Dave Sinisi (Monmouth) 178 car., 1101 yds. (157.29) 2nd Sacred Heart doubled as head coach Bob David McCarty (Albany) 209 car., 1018 yds. (145.43) 5th Ford’s 220th win in his current post and the James Mallory (CCSU) 196 car., 974 yds. (139.14) 6th program’s 50th win as a Northeast Confer- Myles Russ (Robert Morris) 141 car., 907 yds. (129.57) 7th ence member. Ford, who has a career record Evin Jones (Sacred Heart) 155 car., 858 yds. (122.57) t-8th of 229-166-1, has posted a 220-144 mark in 35-plus seasons in ’s Capital. The McInerney Presides Over Rushing Power Great Danes, who joined the NEC and DI FCS Central Connecticut State has been one of the nation’s most effective rushing teams in ranks in 1999, are 50-16 in league play. recent years, especially in the 29 games it has played under third-year head coach Jeff McInerney. The Blue Devils rolled up 286 yards on the ground during Saturday’s 35- 23 Homecoming victory over league foe Duquesne. The performance marked the 1 punt by Albany in its victory over Sacred 18th time in McInerney’s two-plus-year tenure that the Blue Devils single-game rushing Heart makes it two consecutive weeks that total exceeded 250 yards. Currently the tenth-ranked rushing team (233.71 ypg) in all a NEC team needed to punt only once in a of Division I FCS, Central Connecticut State is poised to finish amongst the nation’s game. Last week, Sacred Heart and Robert top-10 for the third consecutive season. The 2007 Blue Devils (257.64 ypg) finished 10th on the national leaderboard a year after ranking atop the entire country. In 2006, Morris both punted only once on their way the Blue Devils (284.91 ypg) rushed for a higher average than any DI FCS team thanks to league victories. The Pioneers, who to the efforts of NCAA Statistical Rushing Champion Justise Hairston (167.91 ypg). kicked the ball away three times against Al- bany, have punted on fewer occasions (24) than any other league member. 6-and-1 Pioneers Still Flawless in Protecting Fink Albany dealt Sacred Heart its first loss this season, but even the defending NEC Keeping Tabs on Bryant champion Great Danes couldn’t become the first team to register a sack against Sacred Heart. For the seventh straight game, Sacred Heart’s offensive line has kept sophomore quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) from Poised to begin Northeast Conference competition in 2012 when its completes the NCAA-mandated falling to the turf. . The unit -- made up of senior left tackle Ryan Arroyo reclassification process, Bryant is currently in (Roebling, NJ/Florence Twp.), sophomore left guard Justin Smith transition from Division II to core NEC membership. (Binghamton, NY/Binghamton), freshman center Dylan Larson (Barnegat In becoming acclimated with its future league, Light, NJ/Southern), sophomore right guard Dan Plunkett (Quincy, MA/ Bryant is on the schedules of six of the eight current Catholic Memorial), junior right tackle Abel Malae (Pacifica, CA/Terra NEC football programs. Nova) -- has also paved the way for 157.4 yards rushing per game thus far this season. Bryant rebounded nicely from a tough 34-7 loss at Marist two weeks ago, with an impressive 20-7 win over Robert Morris before 5,630 David vs. David: McCarty Sneaking Up on Sinisi at Bulldog Stadium last Saturday afternoon. The Bulldogs equaled a school record Albany junior tailback David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) is slowly with eight sacks on the day and limited Robert Morris to minus 20 yards rushing, moving toward matching the consecutive games touchdown streak that Monmouth’s mostly in part due to the eight sacks. After earning its first victory over a Division I Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) carried last season. Sinisi scored FCS program in six tries when it stunned Wagner, 24-14, in , NY on Sept. touchdowns in 20 consecutive games dating back to the 2006 season before none other 27, Bryant made it two in a row against NEC foes. At 4-3 overall, their only losses than the Great Danes became the first team in 21 games to keep Sinisi from reaching have come to DI FCS members (Monmouth, CCSU, Marist). After dropping a 42-35, paydirt (Nov. 10, 2007). McCarty’s two-yard third-quarter TD plunge that put the Great season-opening decision at 2007 NEC runner-up Central Connecticut State, the Bulldogs Danes out in front of Sacred Heart, 17-14, during Saturday’s victory made it 15 straight rebounded with back-to-back victories over Merrimack and Southern Connecticut contests during which the preseason all-NEC selection has reached the end zone. The State. Next up, a road date with No. 17 Massachusetts (Oct. 25). streak began at home on October 6, 2007 when McCarty scored twice in a 24-23 victory over Stony Brook. Monmouth’s Dave Sinisi Runs Onto Hawks and Blue Devils Amongst Region’s FCS Best Walter Payton Watch List Central Connecticut State and Monmouth have each won 34 times since 2004, a frequency that ranks the two teams amongst the top Division I FCS programs in the Monmouth junior tailback David Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) has re- cently been added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List. Becoming the second NEC region. The 34 victories are the fourth-most victories among New England, New York, player in three years to attain that status, Sinisi joins former Central Connecticut and New Jersey FCS schools. Only New Hampshire, UMass and Harvard have more State NEC all-star Justise Hairston (finished sixth in 2006 voting). than the two NEC programs. Both the Blue Devils and the Hawks each have two NEC crowns to their credit during that time span. The two teams split the 2004 NEC title The winner of the 22nd Walter Payton Award, symbolic of the top player in the before Central Connecticut State also earned a share of the 2005 crown with former Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) will be announced at the annual Sports conference member Stony Brook. Monmouth was the league's lone champion in 2006. Network Awards banquet on Dec. 18 in Chattanooga, TN at the Marriott Hotel. The Eddie Robinson Award, which goes to the top coach in FCS, and the Buck Buchanan Dukes’ Double-Digit Totino Stands as FCS Best Award, which is given to the top FCS defensive player, will also be awarded the night Duquesne sophomore linebacker Nathan Totino (Pittsburgh, PA/Seton-LaSalle) before the NCAA Division I football championship game. made a game-high 16 tackles (nine solo) at Central Connecticut State (Oct. 18) to extend his streak of double-digit (10 or more) tackle performances to six. The “Dave Sinisi is possibly the most complete football player that I have seen in my more than 30 years of college coaching,” said head coach Kevin Callahan. “Dave’s indi- sophomore has made a NEC-high 90 tackles (48 solo) over six games for the nation’s vidual performances over the last three seasons have contributed to our team’s top tackles-per-game average (15.00). Totino sits tied atop the national rankings with success more than any other factor.” Murray State’s Nathan Williams. Each of the two men have produced 23-tackle games this season, the top mark on the NCAA’s list of single-game season highs. Sinisi leads the nation in rushing yards with 1,101 yards, while averaging 157.29 yards per game, which is second among all FCS backs. The Cedar Grove, N.J., native Duquesne’s Defensive Youth Movement is second in FCS behind fellow Payton Award candidate Herb Donaldson (Western Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt must smile when he realizes that Nathan Totino Illinois) in total touchdowns with 13. He has recorded at least 100 yards rushing in (Pittsburgh, PA/Seton-LaSalle), the nation’s leading tackler, is only a sophomore. six of seven games this season, including his school record setting performance of On Saturday, Schmitt introduced a number of other talented underclassmen to the 247 yards in a win over Saint Francis. starting lineup when four Dukes - including three freshmen - made their first career start on defense: sophomore DE Tyler Scruggs (South Park, PA/South Park), Last season he set the FCS record for consecutive games with a touchdown, scoring in his first 20 games for the Blue & White. Sinisi has started every game for the freshman DT Mike Passodelis (Allison Park, PA/North Allegheny), freshman DT Hawks since his redshirt freshman year, scoring in 27 out of the 29 contests. In just Aldon Sutton (Brentwood, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt) and freshman LB Chris Oliver two-plus years, he owns every career rushing record at Monmouth, including rushing (Washington, D.C./Calvin Coolidge). Passodelis produced the best numbers of the touchdowns, rushing yards, 100-yard rushing performances, and surpassed current bunch, making seven tackles (three solo) against the Blue Devils. Dallas Cowboy Miles Austin for the top spot in scoring at Monmouth.

SHU Recipe: Score the Most, Give Up the Least Off the field, the junior has spent numerous hours serving in leadership roles for Now the 6-and-1 Pioneers, Sacred Heart has already won twice as many games as it did other student-athletes and volunteering for various community service initiatives. He a year ago thanks to owning the league’s top-ranked scoring offense (32.6 ppg) and was one of the co-authors of Monmouth’s Student-Athlete Code of Conduct, and defense (21.3). Although the Pioneers’ averages slid slightly in the negative direction currently serving as the Vice President for MU’s Peer Leadership Program. Sinisi has as a result of their first loss on Saturday to Albany, Sacred Heart still ranks atop the represented Monmouth two times at the NCAA’s Apple Conference, presenting Monmouth’s league in both categories (tied with idle Monmouth on the defensive end). The Code of Conduct project to three hundred peers including NCAA President Miles Brand. Pioneers have scored a league-high 31 touchdowns, 17 of which have come from the arm of quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) who leads the NEC in Sinisi, along with two other newcomers joins 13 other players, all holdovers from the that category. Conversely, the Pioneers have allowed a league-low 19 touchdowns original list announced in August, on the revised list. The Payton Award watch list will against, highlighted by a pass defense that has allowed only six scores through the air undergo one further revision in November, and the final ballot will be announced at to lead the conference. the end of the regular season. 2008 NEC Football Schedule/Results

Albany Central Connecticut State Duquesne Monmouth (4-3, 3-0 NEC) (5-2, 2-1 NEC) (2-4, 1-3 NEC) (4-3, 3-0 NEC)

Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time 8/30 at No. 5 Massachusetts L, 28-16 8/30 Bryant W, 42-35 9/6 at Bucknell L, 48-42 8/30 at Rhode Island L, 27-24 9/13 at Hofstra W, 22-16 (OT) 9/6 at North Dakota State L, 50-14 9/20 Saint Francis (PA) W, 21-7 9/6 Maine L, 21-17 9/20 at No. 10 New HampshireL, 32-24 9/20 North Carolina Central W, 35-23 9/27 Dayton W, 24-16 9/13 Coastal Carolina L, 26-7 9/27 at No. 12/17 Delaware L, 38-7 9/27 at Delaware State W, 28-10 10/4 Albany L, 33-23 9/20 at Bryant W, 30-17 10/4 at Duquesne W, 33-23 10/4 Wagner W, 35-10 10/11 at Robert Morris L, 34-27 9/27 at Robert Morris W, 34-26 10/11 Central Conn. St. W, 24-22 10/11 at Albany L, 24-22 10/18 at Central Conn. St. L, 35-23 10/4 Saint Francis (PA) W, 42-15 10/18 at Sacred Heart W, 26-21 10/18 Duquesne W, 35-23 10/25 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 10/11 at Wagner W, 31-17 10/25 Saint Francis (PA) 4:00 pm 10/25 at Monmouth 1:00 pm 11/1 at Bryant 12:00 pm 10/25 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm 11/1 Monmouth 1:00 pm 11/1 at Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/8 at Wagner 1:00 pm 11/1 at Albany 1:00 pm 11/8 at Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/8 Saint Francis (PA) 12:00 pm 11/15 Monmouth 1:00 pm 11/8 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 11/15 Wagner 1:00 pm 11/15 at Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 11/15 at Duquesne 1:00 pm

NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold

Robert Morris Sacred Heart Saint Francis (PA) Wagner (2-5, 1-2 NEC) (6-1, 2-1 NEC) (0-7, 0-4 NEC) (3-4, 1-2 NEC)

Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time 9/6 Morehead State W, 27-13 8/30 Assumption W, 42-21 9/6 at Virginia Military L, 49-0 9/5 at Stonehill L, 14-13 9/13 Bucknell L, 17-14 9/6 Bentley W, 21-10 9/13 Marist L, 30-22 9/13 Iona W, 45-28 9/20 at Dayton L, 31-14 9/20 at Iona W, 44-24 9/20 at Duquesne W, 21-7 9/19 at Marist W, 21-14 9/27 Monmouth L, 34-26 9/27 at Marist W, 28-16 9/27 at Morehead State L, 36-21 9/27 Bryant L, 24-14 10/4 at Sacred Heart L, 31-28 10/4 Robert Morris W, 31-28 10/4 at Monmouth L, 42-15 10/4 at Central Conn. St. L, 35-10 10/11 Duquesne W, 34-27 10/11 at Saint Francis (PA) W, 41-24 10/11 Sacred Heart L, 41-24 10/11 Monmouth L, 30-17 10/18 at Bryant L, 20-7 10/18 Albany L, 26-21 10/18 Wagner L, 17-13 10/18 at Saint Francis (PA) W, 17-13 10/25 at Wagner 1:00 pm 10/25 at Duquesne 1:00 pm 10/25 at Albany 4:00 pm 10/25 Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/1 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm 11/1 Wagner 1:00 pm 11/8 at Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm 11/1 at Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 11/8 Albany 1:00 pm 11/8 at Monmouth 1:00 pm 11/15 Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/8 Duquesne 1:00 pm 11/15 at Saint Francis (PA) 1:00 pm 11/15 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm 11/22 Bryant 1:00 pm 11/15 at Albany 1:00 pm

NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold Albany (4-3, 3-0 NEC) Last Game: ALBANY 26, SACRED HEART 21 (Fairfield, CT- ) Next Game: October 25 vs. SAINT FRANCIS (PA), 4:00 pm (Albany, NY - Alumni Field)

• Albany moved into a tie for first place in the conference standings by knocking Sacred Heart from the unbeaten ranks in a 26-21 decision on Oct. 18. … The Great Danes played an undefeated opponent in the second half of the season for the first time in five years to the day. … Date Opponent Result UAlbany reversed a 14-10 halftime deficit with 16 unanswered points, as the Great Danes won when trailing at the intermission in an NEC 8/30 at Massachusetts L, 28-16 contest for the fifth time since joining the league in 1999. … The Great Danes have posted nine wins in a row in conference play and won 9/13 at Hofstra W, 22-16 (OT) 13 of their last 14. … UAlbany controlled the clock for nearly 20 minutes in the final half and ate up the final 4:40 of the game behind its 9/20 at New Hampshire L, 32-24 9/27 at Delaware L, 38-7 big offensive line. … Head coach Bob Ford recorded his 220th career win at the school. … UAlbany also registered its 50th victory in 10/4 at Duquesne W, 33-23 conference play and is 50-16 all-time. … TB David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) rushed for 207 yards, his third time above 10/11 Central Conn. St. W, 24-22 the 200-mark, and put his team ahead, 17-14, with a two-yard blast in the third quarter. He extended his touchdown streak to 15 consecutive 10/18 at Sacred Heart W, 26-21 games. McCarty, who has run for 100-plus yards in 12 of his last 13 starts, has toppled the 1,000-yard plateau (1,018) for the second straight 10/25 Saint Francis (PA) 4:00 pm 11/1 Monmouth 1:00 pm year. The junior became the fourth UAlbany player to surpass 3,000 career all-purpose yards (3,068). ... QB Vinny Esposito (Demarest, 11/8 at Robert Morris 1:00 pm NJ/Northern Valley) passed for 184 yards and ran for a career-best 65 at Sacred Heart. Esposito, who scored on an 18-yard option run in 11/15 Wagner 1:00 pm the fourth quarter, moved to No. 4 in career passing yards (2,964) and No. 5 in total offense (3,217) on the school's all-time charts. … WR Tim Bush (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) had five receptions for 47 yards, but possibly made the game's biggest play when he NEC Games in Bold stripped ILB Rich Marrone on an interception return and caused a touchback as the ball rolled out of the end zone. … UAlbany's offense accounted for season-high in total yards (504) and rushing yards (320) and reached the 500-figure in total yards for eighth time as a Division I FCS program. … DT Tom Pandolf (Holbrook, NY/ Sachem) made a team-high eight tackles as the UA defense held Sacred Heart to season-lows by an opponent with 298 total yards and 51 net rushing yards. SHU featured the NEC's top offense coming into the contest at 34.5 points and 393.5 yards per game. … DE Eddie Delaney (Holtsville, NY/Sachem East) had a career game with five tackles and two PBUs in his second start as a collegian. … FS Dave Casale (Troy, NY/Troy) picked off his fifth career pass and made six tackles. … PK Herb Glass (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) booted a career-best two field goals (22, 34) last week. … UAlbany hosts Saint Francis (PA) on Homecoming & Family Weekend (Oct. 24-26). UAlbany will induct five former athletes into the Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday evening. Central Connecticut State (5-2, 2-1 NEC) Last Game: CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE 35, DUQUESNE 23 (New Britain, CT - ) Next Game: Octobert 25 at MONMOUTH, 1:00 pm (West Long Branch, NJ - Kessler Field)

• Central Connecticut State ran for 286 yards against Duquesne. It was the 18th time in 29 games under head coach Jeff McInerney that a Blue Devil team has gone over 250 yards on the ground. … Junior James Mallory (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) led the Blue Devil rushing attack with 126 yards and personal-best three touchdowns on 37 career-high carries. Mallory has rushed for 100 yards on six occasions this

Date Opponent Time season and is still the sixth-leading rusher in all of FCS. He is averaging 5.0 yards per carry with 974 yards in 196 attempts. The Buffalo, 8/30 Bryant W, 42-35 NY native has already become the 17th CCSU player to reach 1,000 career rushing yards. He is on pace to become just the seventh to reach 9/6 at North Dakota State L, 50-14 1,000 in a single season. … Quarterback Hunter Wanket (Rancho Santa Fe, CA/Palomar JC) added 76 rushing yards, 72 of which came 9/20 North Carolina Central W, 35-23 on a fourth-quarter, career-long touchdown run. … Junior quarterback Aubrey Norris (Staten Island, NY/Hargrave Military) contrib- 9/27 at Delaware State W, 28-10 10/4 Wagner W, 35-10 uted 53 yards in the ground game to become the 18th Blue Devils with 1,000 career rushing yards. … Josh Vargas (Los Angeles, CA/Santa 10/11 at Albany L, 24-22 Monica) had just two carries for five yards, but the senior captain, who had two career touchdowns prior to the season's start, scored his 10/18 Duquesne W, 35-23 fifth touchdown of the season on one of the carries. … Sophomore Joe Izzo (Southington, CT/Southington) made all five of his point after 10/25 at Monmouth 1:00 pm attempts. He is a perfect 28-of-28 on the season and 29-of-29 for his career. … The QB tandem of Wanket and Norris combined to go 11- 11/1 at Robert Morris 1:00 pm of-16 passing for 106 yards. Neither has been intercepted since the season-opener when Wanket suffered a pick, while Norris has not thrown 11/8 Saint Francis (PA) 12:00 pm 11/15 at Sacred Heart 1:00 pm a pick in 10 games. … Wanket leads the NEC in yards per play, averaging 7.5 yards. … Norris leads the conference in pass efficiency (167.7) and yards per pass attempt (8.2). His pass efficiency is over 20 points better than the next best - Sacred Heart's Dale Fink is at NEC Games in Bold 147.3. … CCSU has 55 tackles for loss on the season. The Blue Devils lead the NEC and are 12th in the nation in that category. Senior captain Mike Cooke (Brooklyn, NY/Lackawanna JC) leads the team with eight for 31 yards loss. … Central Connecticut has a NEC-best 18 sacks. The Blue Devils rank 24th in the nation with 2.57 sacks per game. … Sophomore Jeff Marino (New Britain, CT/New Britain) continues to lead the Blue Devils in tackles. He had five against Duquesne, putting him at 54 for the season. Marino has three games with 10 or more tackles this season. … The Blue Devils are averaging 30.4 points per game during the Jeff McInerney era. The Blue Devils have scored 20 or more 19 times and 30 or more 14 times. The Blue Devils are 26-2 since 2004 when scoring 25 or more points. … With the win over the Dukes, CCSU is now 21-3 at home since 2004. While at home, the Blue Devils are 13-0 when scoring first, 14-1 when leading after the first quarter, and 17-0 when leading both at the half and after the third quarter. Duquesne (2-4, 1-3 NEC) Last Game: Central CONNECTICUT STATE 35, DUQUESNE 23 (New Britatin, CT - Arute Field) Next Game: October 25 vs. SACRED HEART, 1:00 pm (Pittsburgh, PA - Rooney Field)

Date Opponent Result 9/6 at Bucknell L, 48-42 • Duquesne fell, 35-23, in a road contest during which Central Connecticut State scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. The 9/20 Saint Francis (PA) W, 21-7 victorious Blue Devils did not punt until the 55-second mark of the second quarter, ... The DU defense rallied to force three punts and a 9/27 Dayton W, 24-16 turnover(fumble) in the second half. ... CCSU, which entered the game ranked 10th nationally in rushing yards per game (225.0), finished 10/4 Albany L, 33-23 with 286 yards on the ground ... the Blue Devils' James Mallory, who finished the game with 126 yards on 37 carries, went over the 100-yard 10/11 at Robert Morris L, 34-27 10/18 at Central Conn. St. L, 35-23 mark with seven minutes left in the third quarter. ... CCSU converted 3-of-3 fourth downs. ... Four Dukes - including three freshmen - made 10/25 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm their first career start on defense: sophomore DE Tyler Scruggs (South Park, PA/South Park), freshman DT Mike Passodelis (Allison 11/1 at Bryant 12:00 pm Park, PA/North Allegheny), freshman DT Aldon Sutton (Brentwood, MD/Eleanor Roosevelt) and freshman LB Chris Oliver (Wash- 11/8 at Wagner 1:00 pm ington, D.C./Calvin Coolidge). ... Starting QB Connor Dixon (South Park, PA/South Park) completed 19-of-31 passes for 198 yards and 11/15 Monmouth 1:00 pm three touchdowns (5, 14 and 3 yards). The sophomore has thrown 16 touchdown passes in six games, including two or more scores in five NEC Games in Bold of six games. ... Junior tailback Cleodis Williams (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) rushed 20 times for a game-and-career-high 139 yards (6.9 ypc). Duquesne Cont. It was Williams' third 100-yard game of the season. His previous career high was 129 yards against Saint Francis on Sept. 20. ... Sophomore linebacker Nathan Totino (Pittsburgh, PA/Seton-La Salle), extended his double-digit tackles streak to six games with a game-high 16 stops (nine solo) and also forced a fumble at CCSU. Totino is averaging 15.0 tackles per game. ... freshman defensive lineman Mike Passodelis (Allison Park, PA/North Allegheny) had seven tackles (three solo) in his first career start.

Monmouth (4-3, 3-0 NEC) Last Game: MONMOUTH 31, WAGNER 17 (Staten Island, NY - Stadium) Next Game: October 25 vs. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE, 1:00 pm (West Long Branch, NJ - Kessler Field)

• Monmouth was idle this past week, but still managed to make some of the biggest news around the Northeast Conference. The Hawks received news that junior tailback Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) has been added to the Walter Payton Award (Top Offensive Player in DI FCS) Watch List. One of 16 vying for the most-coveted individual prize in Division I FCS, leads the nation in rushing Date Opponent Result yards with 1,101 yards, while averaging 157.29 yards per game, which is second among all FCS backs. The Cedar Grove, NJ, native is second 8/30 at Rhode Island L, 27-24 9/6 Maine L, 21-17 in FCS behind fellow Payton Award candidate Herb Donaldson (Western Illinois) in total touchdowns with 13. He has recorded at least 100 9/13 Coastal Carolina L, 26-7 yards rushing in six of seven games this season, including his school record setting performance of 247 yards in a win over Saint Francis. 9/20 at Bryant W, 30-17 … Monmouth has won its first three league games to sit in a tie atop the NEC standings with defending champion Albany. The Hawks look 9/27 at Robert Morris W, 34-26 to make it four in a row when they host rival Central Connecticut State (Oct. 25). 10/4 Saint FRancis (PA) W, 42-15 10/11 at Wagner W, 31-17 10/25 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm 11/1 at Albany 1:00 pm 11/8 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 11/15 at Duquesne 1:00 pm

NEC Games in Bold

Robert Morris (2-5, 1-2 NEC) Last Game: Bryant 20, ROBERT MORRIS 7 (Smithfield, RI - Bulldog Stadium) Next Game: October 25 at WAGNER, 1:00 pm (Staten Island, NY - )

• Robert Morris concluded its 2008 non-conference schedule with a 20-7 defeat at Bryant in the inaugural meeting between the two Date Opponent Result programs. ... The Colonials moved the chains just once in the first half and 11 times total in accumulating 141 yards of total offense, their 9/6 Morehead State W, 27-13 9/13 Bucknell L, 17-14 lowest output of the season. ... Senior quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, OH/Shadyside) was sacked eight times on the 9/20 at Dayton L, 31-14 afternoon, which helped Bryant hold RMU to -20 yards of rushing in the game. Cwalinski finished 11-for-25 passing for 161 yards and an 9/27 Monmouth L, 34-26 interception. ... Sophomore halfback Myles Russ (Boca Raton, FL/West Boca) had trouble all afternoon, carrying 16 times for just 37 10/4 at Sacred Heart L, 31-28 yards and fumbling once. ... Senior tight end Regis Flowers (Irwin, PA/Norwin) led the receiving corps with four catches for 59 yards. 10/11 Duquesne W, 34-27 ... Sophomore punter Nick Schirtzinger (Hurricane, WV/Hurricane) punted seven times for 252 yards, an average of 36 yards per punt. 10/18 at Bryant L, 20-7 10/25 at Wagner 1:00 pm ... Robert Morris was led defensively by sophomore linebacker Alex DiMichele (Pittsburgh, PA/Sto-Rox), who recorded a game-high 13 11/1 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm tackles, including a pair for losses that totaled nine yards and a sack. Junior safety Michael Landers (Springdale, PA/Springdale) 11/8 Albany 1:00 pm finished with eight tackles and recorded his league-leading fourth interception of the season. Junior linebacker Adam Lawrence (Big 11/15 at Saint Francis (PA) 1:00 pm Run, PA/Dubois Area) also finished with eight stops, while sophomore cornerback James Snider (Newark, DE/Valley Forge Military NEC Games in Bold Academy) posted seven tackles, all unassisted. A total of 48 of RMU's 68 takedowns against the Bulldogs were of the solo variety. ... Robert Morris posted a season-high seven quarterback hurries, including a pair each by junior defensive lineman Andy Walton (New Waterford, OH/Crestview) and sophomore safety Troy Cree (Waynesburg, PA/Waynesburg Central). ... The Colonials return to league play Saturday, Oct. 25, by closing out a two-game road swing against Wagner at Wagner College Stadium in Staten Island, NY.

Sacred Heart (6-1, 2-1 NEC) Last Game: ALBANY 26, SACRED HEART 21 (Fairfield, CT - Campus Field) Next Game: October 25 at DUQUESNE, 1:00 pm (Pittsburgh, PA - Rooney Field)

• The Pioneers saw their six-game winning streak snapped on Saturday falling to fellow NEC unbeaten UAlbany 26-21 at home. The loss was the Pioneers seventh-straight to the Great Danes dating back to 2002. Albany leads the series 9-2. … The Pioneers held a 14-10 lead late Date Opponent Result 8/30 Assumption W, 42-21 in the second quarter thanks to touchdowns by Evin Jones (Pennsauken, NJ/Roman Catholic [PA]), his ninth on the year, and freshman 9/6 Bentley W, 21-10 Jared Kemp (Miami, FL/Miami Killian), his first career score. … The Pioneers appeared to come up with the play of the day on the 9/20 at Iona W, 44-24 Albany's first play from scrimmage following Kemp's score. Vinny Esposito's pass over the middle slipped through the receiver's hands and 9/27 at Marist W, 28-16 into the arms of SHU linebacker Rich Marrone (Brooklyn, NY/Poly Prep) at the 25-yard line. Marrone headed for the left pylon and 10/4 Robert Morris W, 31-28 the score but just before he could dive for the end zone Great Dane wide receiver Tim Bush chopped the ball out of his hands from behind, 10/11 at Saint Francis (PA) W, 41-24 forcing a fumble that went across the goal line and out of bounds resulting in a touchback to give UAlbany back the ball on their 20-yard 10/18 Albany L, 26-21 line with no harm done. Neither team scored on their final drives of the half, which ended with ahead 14-10, but the Pioneers missed 10/25 at Duquesne 1:00 pm 11/1 Wagner 1:00 pm opportunity eventually came back to haunt them. … Second-year starting quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) threw 11/8 at Monmouth 1:00 pm for 247 yards by completing 25 of 34 passes for two touchdowns and an interception in the loss. … Junior receiver Steve Tedesco (Mission 11/15 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) had his first 100-yard receiving day of the season, hauling in eight balls for 101 yards and a touchdown, his NEC Games in Bold seventh of the season. … SHU will make its first trip to Duquesne to face the Dukes as members of the NEC this coming weekend. Duquesne has won the only two previous meetings between the two schools. Saint Francis (PA) (0-6, 0-3 NEC) Last Game: WAGNER 17, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 13 (Loretto, PA - DeGol Field) Next Game: October 25 at ALBANY, 1:00 pm (Albany, NY - Alumni Field)

• The Red Flash were unable to break into the win column against Wagner, suffering a heart-breaking 17-13 defeat. Saint Francis (PA) took a 13-7 lead into the fourth quarter, but Wagner capitalized off prime field position (Red Flash 33) to score the go-ahead touchdown mid- way through the final frame. The Flash had won two of the prior three meetings between the two. … Sophomore target Ryan Zarnich Date Opponent Result (Rochester, PA/Rochester Area) led the receiving corps with three catches for 49 yards. The sophomore's 19-yard touchdown catch 9/6 at Virginia Military L, 49-0 9/13 Marist L, 30-22 put the Flash in front, 13-7, in the third quarter. … Sophomore receiver Omar Winston (Cleveland, OH/Cleveland South) had the 9/20 at Duquesne L, 21-7 Flash's first touchdown on his way to three catches for 30 yards. … The day was filled with missed opportunities for the offense, as a slew 9/27 at Morehead State L, 36-21 of good passes were dropped. … Junior running back Calvin Williams (Cleveland, OH/Cleveland South) led the rushing attack with 10/4 at Monmouth L, 42-15 12 carries for 43 yards. … The defense fared better than the offense, sacking Seahawks' quarterback Matt Abbey three times. Sophomore 10/11 Sacred Heart L, 41-24 linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/ Bishop McCort) led the defense with 23 tackles, while Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/ 10/18 Wagner L, 17-13 10/25 at Albany 4:00 pm Blackhawk) made 11 stops to go with a pass break-up, a sack, and two QB hurries. … The Red Flash take their swing at becoming the 11/8 at Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm first NEC team to knock off defending champion Albany in 10 games when they visit New York's Capital Region this Saturday (Oct. 25). 11/15 Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/22 Bryant 1:00 pm NEC Games in Bold

Wagner (3-4, 1-2 NEC) Last Game: WAGNER 17, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 13 (Loretto, PA - DeGol Field) Next Game: October 25 vs. ROBERT MORRIS, 1:00 pm (Staten Island, NY - Wagner College Stadium)

• Wagner staged a fourth-quarter comeback to defeat league rival Saint Francis (PA), 17-13, on the road. Following senior Eric Ortiz's (Oceanside, CA/Vista) 38-yard field goal, which cut the deficit to three, Wagner senior QB Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA/St. Francis) Date Opponent Result hooked up with junior Tyrone Collins (Geneva, NY/Geneva) for the game-winning 33-yard TD pass mid-way through the fourth quarter. 9/5 at Stonehill L, 14-13 9/13 Iona W, 45-28 … Abbey went 15-of-35 passing for 229 yards. In recording the sixth 200-yard plus passing game of his career, Abbey continues his march 9/19 at Marist W, 21-14 through the Wagner all-time career lists. He became just the third QB in Wagner history to surpass the 300-completion mark. With 311 9/27 Bryant L, 24-14 career completions, he needs three to pass Terry O'Hare (313, 1991-92) for second place on the Seahawk all-time list. Abbey also stands 10/4 at Central Conn. St. L, 35-10 sixth on the all-time career passing yardage list with 3821 yards. … Collins grabbed six passes for a career-high 112 yards in the win over 10/11 Monmouth L, 31-17 Saint Francis (PA). … Junior WR Lon Woods (St. Petersburg, FL/J.P. Taravella) had six catches for 57 yards vs. Saint Francis (PA) and 10/18 at Saint Francis (PA) W, 17-13 10/25 Robert Morris 1:00 pm now has 85 career receptions, which leaves him 12 away from cracking the program's all-time top 10. … Senior WR Kyle Trueblood 11/1 at Sacred Heart 1:00 pm (Edison, NJ/J.P. Stevens) had a stellar game returning kickoffs and punts. He brought two kickoffs back for 89 yards (45.5 yard 11/8 Duquesne 1:00 pm average), including a 52-yarder and another for 37 yards. He also retuned five punts for 44 yards (8.8 yard average), highlighted by a long 11/15 at Albany 1:00 pm of 17 yards. … Wagner welcomed RB Shane Smith (Susquehanna, PA/Milford Academy) back to the lineup after sitting out the last NEC Games in Bold two games with a leg injury. The 6-2, 230-pound Smith was Wagner's workhorse, gaining 60 hard-fought yards on 25 carries as the Red Flash were stout against the run. … The Seahawk defense held Saint Francis (PA) to 149 total yards, 87 in the passing department and 62 rushing yards. … Sophomore DB Frantz Placide (Miami, FL/Archbishop Curley) and senior LB Jason Haskins (Cliffwood Beach, NJ/Matawan) paced Wagner defensively with seven tackles apiece. Sophomore DB Stefen Gage (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) registered six tackles, including three solo stops, forced a fumble and recorded his first career interception. Junior DE Patrick Abdul (Brooklyn, NY/ Bay Shore) added six stops. … In the fourth quarter, with Saint Francis (PA) clinging to a 13-10 lead and facing a third-and-15 from its own 27-yard line, freshman DE Julian Stanford (Bloomfield, CT/Bloomfield) turned in the defensive play of the game for Wagner by sacking QB George Little for a loss of 20 yards back to the Red Flash seven-yard line. Following the ensuing Red Flash punt, Wagner took the lead for good on the Abbey to Collins connection on the very next play from scrimmage. … Wagner was without senior LB and captain Jeremy Spinks (Tampa, FL/Chamberlain), who missed his second straight game with a leg injury. Freshman Justin McKillop (Saugus, CA/Saugus) gained the first start of his career in place of Spinks and recorded four tackles. … The Seahawks will look to climb back to the .500 mark on Saturday (Oct. 25) when they play host to NEC rival Robert Morris.