20072007 FOOTBALLFOOTBALLFOOTBALL NN EWSEWS && NN OTESOTES 200 Cottontail Lane, Vantage Court North, 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 Connecticut State • Monmouth • Robert Morris Sacred Heart • Saint Francis (PA) • Wagner NEC Football Football Facts & Figures (Week 7 - October 15, 2007)

Last Week’s Results School NEC Pct. Overall Pct. Streak Home Away Neutral Saturday October 13 1. Wagner 3-0 1.000 5-1 .833 W4 2-0 3-1 0-0 CENTRAL CONN. ST. 16, ROBERT MORRIS 10 Central Conn. St. 2-0 1.000 4-2 .667 W2 3-0 1-2 0-0 WAGNER 45, MONMOUTH 16 Albany 1-0 1.000 3-3 .500 W2 2-1 1-2 0-0 Duquesne 24, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 17 4. Robert Morris 2-2 .500 3-4 .429 L3 1-3 2-1 0-0 ALBANY 38, SACRED HEART 7 5. Monmouth 1-2 .333 1-5 .167 L1 0-2 1-3 0-0 NEC team in CAPS. Home Team underlined 6. Saint Francis (PA) 0-2 .000 0-5 .000 L5 0-3 0-2 0-0 Sacred Heart 0-3 .000 2-5 .286 L5 1-2 1-3 0-0 This Week’s Schedule Saturday October 20 NEC Football Offensive Player of the Week ALBANY at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 1:00 pm Jason Butler, Wagner CENTRAL CONN. ST. at WAGNER 1:00 pm Sr., RB, 6-1, 180, Syracuse, NY/Henninger ROBERT MORRIS at Duquesne 1:00 pm Butler posted the highest single-day rushing total in the NEC thus far this season, running the ball 31 Marist at SACRED HEART 1:00 pm times for 201 yards and four touchdowns. The senior running back’s sixth straight 100-yard game NEC team in CAPS propelled Wagner to a 45-16 rout at defending league champion Monmouth. Butler has been the conference’s most productive back by far this year, amassing 860 yards (143.3 yds/g) during the season’s NEC Offensive Player of the Week first six games to rank sixth amongst all DI FCS players. His phenomenal senior season has Wagner atop Sep. 4 Jason Butler, Wagner the NEC standings at 3-0. Sep. 10 Vinny Esposito, Albany Sep. 17 Jo Jo Freeman, Central Conn. St. Sep. 24 Alvin Hill, Robert Morris NEC Football Defensive Player of the Week Oct. 1 Jason Butler, Wagner Oct. 8 Dave Sinisi, Monmouth Ernie Greywacz, Central Connecticut State Oct. 15 Jason Butler, Wagner Jr., DE, 6-3, 215, New Canaan, CT/New Canaan Greywacz single-handedly killed two late Robert Morris drives with a sack and an interception, allowing NEC Defensive Player of the Week CCSU to hang on for a 16-10 NEC victory. With RMU facing a third down and seven and under five Sep. 4 Mark Sheehan, Albany minutes remaining in the game, the junior defensive end dropped quarterback Erik Cwalinski for a 13- Sep. 10 Dave Casale, Albany Sep. 17 Chad Wengert, Robert Morris yard loss. The RMU offense received another chance with 2:01 left to play, but Greywacz quickly stifled Sep. 24 John Wilson, Sacred Heart the Colonials’ two-minute drill by intercepting a pass on the drive’s first play. Greywacz made a total of Oct. 1 John Wilson, Sacred Heart Oct. 8 Robert Brown, Wagner eight tackles, five solo, to help CCSU extend the nation’s sixth-longest home winning streak to 11 games. Oct. 15 Ernie Greywacz, Central Conn. St. NEC Football Special Teams Player of the Week NEC Special Teams Player of the Week Sep. 4 Piotr Czech, Wagner Piotr Czech, Wagner Sep. 10 Michael Walser, Robert Morris Sr., K/P, 6-5, 215, Keyport, NJ/Keyport Sep. 17 Piotr Czech, Wagner Sep. 24 Mike Wall, Albany Czech tallied nine points in Wagner’s rout at Monmouth, connecting on his lone field goal attempt (39 Oct. 1 Piotr Czech, Wagner yards) and all six PATs. The preseason all-NEC selection also handled the kickoff and punting duties. He Oct. 8 Al Phillips, Wagner Oct. 15 Piotr Czech, Wagner dropped one of his four punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, which marked the 16th occasion he has done that this season. He also averaged 64.1 yards on eight kickoffs.

NEC Rookie of the Week NEC Football Rookie of the Week Sep. 4 Dale Fink, Sacred Heart Sep. 10 Dale Fink, Sacred Heart Scott Lewis, Saint Francis (PA) Sep. 17 Myles Russ, Robert Morris Fr., LB, 5-11, 200, South Fork, PA/Bishop McCort Sep. 24 Nick Schirtzinger, Robert Morris Lewis spearheaded a solid Saint Francis (PA) defensive effort by making 15 tackles in Saturday’s 24-17 Oct. 1 Ryan Shepard, Saint Francis (PA) Oct. 8 Bobby Giles, Monmouth loss to Duquesne. The Red Flash severely limited Duquesne to 28 yards on the ground. Not only has Oct. 15 Scott Lewis, Saint Francis (PA) Lewis led SFPA in tackles during each of the past three weeks, but the freshman linebacker now leads the entire nation (DI FBS and FCS) with 13.00 stops per game. He also assisted on one tackle for a loss this week. NEC Football Notes: WEEK SEVEN (7) (through games of Oct. 15)

NEC Notebook By The Numbers Two streaks were kept alive this past Saturday... Central Connecticut State extending the nation’s fifth longest 143.33 rushing yards per game active home winning streak to 11... the Blue Devils have won 17 of their last 18 home games... Monmouth tailback Dave Sinisi (Cedar for Wagner’s Jason Butler. The senior Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) has now scored a touchdown in 18 straight games, account- back sits sixth in DI FCS with that mark. ing for the longest active streak in all of Division I... Sinisi scored TDs on an eight-yard On Saturday, the NEC Offensive Player pass and a one-yard run in MU’s loss to Wagner... ending at the expense of CCSU’s home of the Week ran 31 times for 201 yards winning streak was Robert Morris’ road win streak of seven... Two kickers became their program’s career field goal leaders on Saturday... all-NEC preseason selection and four TDs. It was the best single- senior Jason Fralicker (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) of Albany nailed game performance of any runner in the a 39-yarder to surpass Bryan Bagstad’s total of 22... Saint Francis (PA) senior kicker conference thus far this season, eclips- Adam Sciulli (, PA/Central Catholic) hit a 28-yarder to top the Red Flash ing the 200-yard effort of Monmouth’s record book with 22 career makes... Wagner benefitted from two 100-yard rushing performances in its trouncing of Monmouth... in addition to Jason Butler amassing the Dave Sinisi. highest single-day rushing total of any NEC back this season with 201, junior Rodney Davis (Bristol, PA/ Neshaminy) ran 10 times for 117 yards and two TDs... the NEC is home to three of the nation’s top-10 punting teams... Wagner (sixth), Robert Morris 0 fumbles lost by Albany in their 38-7 (seventh), and Albany (ninth) represent the conference amongst the leaders in net punting yardage... Wagner and Albany also have two nationally-ranked field goal kick- triumph over Sacred Heart as well as ers... the Seahawks’ Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) is tied for fourth in DI FCS the entire season. The Great Danes and with 1.83 field goals per game (11-12 total), while Fralicker is tied for ninth at 1.67/ Northeastern are the only two teams in gm (10-15 total)... Wagner senior cornerback and preseason all-NEC pick Al Phillips the nation yet to lose a fumble. (Hialeah, FL/American) made to interceptions against Monmouth to move up the Seahawks’ all-time ranks... now with 15 career picks, Phillips moved past Tom Masella (1978-81) into third place all-time... Masella later resurfaced in the NEC as CCSU’s head coach, leading the Blue Devils to back-to-back NEC titles in 2004 and 2005 before 130 total yards gained on two scor- moving onto take the reigns at Fordham... two of the three unbeaten teams in league play meet this week... CCSU (2-0 NEC) travels to Wagner (3-0 NEC)... the other un- ing plays by Wagner junior Rodney beaten Albany (1-0 NEC) plays at Saint Francis (PA). Davis. The running back took a sec- ond-quarter screen pass 55 yards to the NEC Week Seven Review: The Butler Did It Again as Wagner house. In the third quarter, he pro- Rolls to 3-0 in League; Albany and CCSU Also Perfect duced a 75-yard TD run. Wagner continued its impressive start to conference play, upping its first-place record to 3-0 with a 45-16 rout of defending NEC Champion Monmouth. Albany cruised in its NEC opener, rolling past Sacred Heart 38-7 on Homecoming at Alumni Field. Central Connecticut State is right on Wagner's heels after extending the nation's sixth-longest 524 yards of total offense for Al- current home winning streak with a 16-10 decision over Robert Morris. The Blue Devils are now 2-0 in league competition. Future NEC member Duquesne outlasted bany in its 38-7 league win over Sa- Saint Francis (PA), 24-17, at De Gol Field in Loretto, PA. cred Heart. The total was the highest of any NEC team this past week. Wagner Wagner (5-1, 3-0 NEC) ran all over the defending champion Hawks (1-5, 1-2 NEC) was not far off, amassing 518 yards in thanks to senior running back Jason Butler's (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) sixth straight 100-yard day. Butler rushed 31 times for 201 yards and four touchdowns, its rout of Monmouth. amassing the largest single day rushing total in the NEC thus far this season.

Albany (3-3, 1-0 NEC) received a nice passing effort from sophomore quarterback times this season Wagner’s Piotr Vinny Esposito (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley) in a big victory over Sacred 16 Heart (2-5, 0-3 NEC). Freshman quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catho- Czech has pinned an opponent inside lic) returned to the Pioneers' line-up after missing the previous three weeks with an its own 20-yard line of a punt. The NEC injury. The two-time NEC Rookie of the Week was 17-of-24 for 107 yards and a touchdown through the air. Special Teams Player of the Week was not heavily needed this past week, but CCSU (4-2, 2-0 NEC) is now 17-1 in its last 18 home games after the Blue Devils rushed he did manage to drop one of his four a program record 75 times for 344 yards against Robert Morris (3-4, 2-2 NEC). Blue attempts inside Monmouth’s 20. Devils junior defensive end Ernie Greywacz (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) stopped two late RMU drives with a sack and an interception to seal the victory.

SFPA (0-5, 0-2 NEC) pulled within seven points late when sophomore quarterback 23 career field goals are a new Al- George Little (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne) tossed a short TD pass with 3:44 to play, but the Red Flash could not get any closer. Duquesne will begin competition in the bany record established by Jason NEC when the 2008 season commences. The ten-time MAAC champions are 4-2 Fralicker. On Saturday, the senior broke overall. Bryan Bagstad’s mark with a 39-yarder. SFPA Freshman Linebacker Leads the Entire Nation NEC Football Notes: Saint Francis (PA) freshman linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, PA/Bishop McCort) (through games of Oct. 15) leads all of Division I Football (FBS and FCS) in tackling. The rookie sensation is averaging 13.00 stops per game.

Four NEC Teams Ranked in Sports Network In Saturday’s 24-17 loss to Duquesne, Lewis led the Red Flash in tackles for the third Mid-Major Top 10 Poll; Wagner, CCSU, straight week by making 15. Albany Move up Fortunately for the Red Flash, Lewis is one of three talented rookie linebackers. Ryan Northeast Conference members Central Connecticut State, Wagner, Albany, and Robert Shepard (Kittanning, PA/Kittanning) already has one NEC Rookie of the Week award Morris all appear in the latest edition of Sports Network Mid-Major Top 10 Poll. All to his credit and has 40 tackles in five games. Matthew Parker (Darlington, PA/ four were in last week’s poll, but only RMU remained in the same position. Blackhawk) has 41 takedowns in his first five collegiate games.

CCSU moved up two slots, earning the highest ranking of an NEC team at third. Wagner had the largest leap of any NEC team, jumping up three spots to fifth. Albany is right behind in sixth, while Robert Morris rounds out the poll in tenth. NEC in the NCAA (Rankings)

Posed to join the NEC as a football member in 2008, the moved up to Ind. Category Rank Player Statistics the number seven slot. Rushing 6 Jason Butler, WC 143..33 yds/g T-21 Dave Sinisi, MU 103.50 yds/g Receiving Yards (Average) 17 Antoine Rivera, SFPA 88.60 yds/g Defending NEC champion Monmouth did not crack the Top 10, but received votes. All-Purpose Yards 5 Jason Butler, WC 196.50 yds/g 20 Dave Sinisi, MU 167.00 yds/g The poll’s No. 1 team is the undefeated (6-0) San Diego Toreros. Fellow Pioneer Passing (Completions) 19 Brett Burke, MU 19.83/g League member Dayton sits second. Scoring T-10 Dave Sinisi, MU 10.0 pts/g Field Goals T-4 Piotr Czech, WC 1.83/g (11 total) T-5 Jason Fralicker, UA 1.67/g (10 total) Punting 15 Nick Schirtzinger, RMU 42.44 yds/punt NEC Football Punt Returns 6 Mario Hines, RMU 13.87 yds/return I-FCS Polls Tackles 1 Scott Lewis, SFPA 13.00 tackles/g 21 Chad Wengert, RMU 10.14 tackles/g T-22 John Wilson, SHU 10.00 tackles/g Sacks T-4 Robert Brown, WC 1.33/g (8 total) The Sports Network I-FCS Mid-Major Poll (Week of 10/15) T-6 Mark Sheehan, UA 1.10/g (5.5 total) School (First Place Votes) Record Points Prev. 16 Mark Szymanski, RMU 0.83/g (5 total) 1. San Diego Toreros (30) 6-0 300 1 Tackles for loss 8 Robert Brown, WC 1.92/g (11.5 total) 2. Dayton Fliers 6-1 246 3 Interceptions T-2 Al Phillips, WC 0.83/g (5 total) Passes Defended 2 Al Phillips, WC 2.17/g (13 total) 3. Central Conn State Blue Devils 4-2 206 5 8 Mike Niklos, RMU 1.57/g (11 total) 4. 5-2 205 2 5. Wagner Seahawks 5-1 177 8 6. Albany Great Danes 3-3 147 7 Team Category Rank School Statistics Rushing Offense 4 Central Conn. St. 295.17 yds/g 7. Duquesne Dukes 4-2 107 9 Rushing Defense 9 Wagner 89.7 yds/g 8. 5-2 100 6 19 Central Conn. St. 111.2 yds/g 9. Morehead State Eagles 4-2 91 4 Passing Defense 2 Robert Morris 125.51 yds/g 10. Robert Morris Colonials 3-4 17 10 T-9 Monmouth 146.33 yds/g 23 Central Conn. St. 172.30 yds/g Total Defense 9 Central Conn. St. 283.50 yds/g Others receiving votes (in order of points): Jacksonville 14, Valparaiso 12 Wagner 289.33 yds/g 12, Butler 11, Davidson 8, Monmouth 5, Stony Brook 4. Scoring Defense 5 Wagner 13.7 pts/g 25 Robert Morris 19.7 pts/g Net Punting 6 Wagner 38.12 yds/punt 7 Robert Morris 38.06 yds/punt The Duquesne Watch 9 Albany 37.68 yds/punt Punt Returns 2 Sacred Heart 22.50 yds/return 10 Robert Morris 13.87 yds/return The ten-time MAAC champion Duquesne Dukes Kick Returns 23 Wagner 23.38 yds/return are set to begin competition in the NEC when Turnover Margin T-14 Albany +1.17/g the 2008 season commences. Below is a look at T-19 Wagner +1.00/g Fumbles Recovered T-4 Robert Morris 10 how DU is faring in their final MAAC season. T-13 Albany 8 T-25 Central Conn. St. 7 Passes Intercepted T-25 Wagner 9 Fumbles Lost T-1 Albany 0 Overall Record: 4-2 T-13 Monmouth 3 MAAC Standing: T-1st (1-0) Sacks T-3 Albany 3.50/g (21 total) T-22 Wagner 2.67/g (16 total) Mid-Major Ranking: 7th Tackles for loss T-19 Albany 7.83/g (47 total) Latest Result: W, 24-17 at Saint Francis (PA) on 10/13 21 Saint Francis (PA) 7.80/g (39 total) Sacks Allowed T-12 Central Conn. St. 1.00/g (6 total) Up Next: 10/20 vs. Robert Morris 3rd Down Conversions T-21 Sacred Heart 43.5% (40-92) 4th Down Conversions 2 Central Conn. St. 82.6% (19-23) T-20 Albany 61.5% (8-13) NEC Football Notes: chance to officially prove myself. This is an opportunity that I will take full advantage of, without a doubt.” (through games of Oct. 15) Barksdale joined the UAlbany program as a walk-on in August 2006 after playing on the Great NEC To Televise Two Football Games Danes’ squad. He immediately worked his way into the starting cornerback position With the Northeast Conference beginning its 12th football after not competing in football since high school. A native of Hudson, N.Y., Barksdale accounted season, the league announced plans to televise a pair of games on Northeast regional outlets. for 37 tackles, three interceptions and three pass break-ups, and played a major role in the program’s upset wins over Lehigh and Delaware. The first game airs on October 27th when defending NEC champion Monmouth travels to Central Connecticut State. FSN-New York will broadcast the contest live at 11:00 am. On November 3rd, NEC Coleman, a 6-foot-3, 274-pound defensive end from Buffalo, N.Y., was named to The Sports preseason favorite Albany will play host to Robert Morris for a 1:00 pm kickoff to air on FSN- Network and Football Gazette Mid-Major All-America first-team units. He was chosen first-team Pittsburgh and Time Warner Albany (TW3). These games will reach over 12 million households in the Northeast, plus those satellite subscribers nationally with multi-sport packages. All-Northeast Conference for the second straight year as a senior, when he totaled 42 tackles, 13.0 hits for a loss and 6.0 sacks. He spearheaded a defense that ranked fourth nationally among The 2007 season marks the fifth straight that the NEC has aired football games as part of its extensive Division I FCS teams in points allowed (13.0 ppg) and total defense (240.8 ypg). regional sports package. This coming winter, the league will air over 20 men’s and women’s games. Four NEC Teams Start Season with TSN I-FCS Mid-Major Top-10 “We’re happy to be able to feature four of our top football programs in this year’s package,” said Ranking Four Northeast Conference football teams found their name in a familiar place on Wednesday - Brenda Weare, NEC Commissioner. “Both Monmouth and Central Connecticut State were both The Division I FCS Mid-Major Top 10. The Sports Network released the preseason edition of its ranked nationally last year and should be in the NEC title hunt once again in 2007. Albany topped weekly mid-major poll one day before the NEC kicks off its 12th season on the gridiron. the NEC preseason coaches’ poll, while Robert Morris is expected to be a strong contender.” Paul Dottino enters his fifth season as the play-by-play voice of NEC football. He is also a member of Defending conference champion Monmouth, preseason favorite Albany, Robert Morris , and the NEC basketball broadcast team and the New York Giants beat reporter for 1050 ESPN Radio in Central Connecticut State were all amongst the ranked teams, and all four were included in the final New York and for Sirius' NFL Radio Channel. Steve Jackson - Hofstra’s all-time leading receiver - will poll of 2006. provide color analysis. Eric Singer is the Producer of NEC football telecasts. Both Monmouth and Albany earned one first place vote, but it was the Great Danes owning the league's highest ranking with the No. 3 spot. Monmouth was right behind in fourth. Both teams NEC Football On Television kick off the 2007 campaign on Saturday with Albany traveling to Colgate and the Hawks visiting Maine. Monmouth at Set to open its season Thursday night at Towson, Central Connecticut State was sixth in the poll Central Connecticut State followed by Robert Morris in seventh. The Colonials play host to No. 9 Dayton this Saturday October 27, 11:00 am afternoon. Fox Sports New York and FCS Atlantic Sitting atop the rankings is San Diego, the champion of inaugural Gridiron Classic. The Toreros defeated Monmouth last December to claim the crown. Robert Morris at Albany Ready to begin NEC play when the 2008 season commences, Duquesne found itself ranked fifth. November 3, 1:00 pm Fox Sports Pittsburgh and Time Warner 3 Former SHU Linebacker Jon Corto Signs to Buffalo Bills Practice Squad Former Sacred Heart University linebacker Jon Corto has been signed to the Buffalo Bills practice Albany’s Rashad Barksdale and Andre Coleman Join List of NEC squad for the upcoming 2007 season announced Sunday on the team's website. Corto, an Orchard Player in NFL Park, NY native, signed with the Bill's as an undrafted free agent after attending the team's rookie Former Albany defensive back Rashad Barksdale has been claimed off waivers by the National minicamp in May. Football League’s Kansas City Chiefs and has joined the team’s 53-man roster for this Sunday’s NFL opener against the Houston Texans, while former Great Danes' defensive end Andre Coleman has He played three games for the Bills during the preseason before being cut on Tuesday when the team needed to get their roster down to 75 players. been signed to the San Diego Chargers’ practice squad. Corto played for the Pioneers from 2003-06 and finished as the program's second all-time Barksdale becomes the second NEC player in as many years to earn his way onto an NFL opening leading tackler with 300 stops. He finished his senior season earning Division I-AA Mid-Major day roster. Former Monmouth standout receiver Miles Austin made the final cut for the Dallas All-American honors after recording a team leading 104 tackles (54 solo). Cowboys last September en route to a solid rookie campaign. The former three-time all-NEC player return 29 kickoffs for 753 yards in the regular season, but had his most memorable moment in the The former collegiate linebacker has made the transition to saftey in the NFL. playoffs. In a wild card game against Seattle, Austin became the first Dallas player to bring back a kick Corto is the second Pioneer to make his way onto an NFL roster. Former wide receiver DeVeren for a touchdown. Johnson (2001) was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2001 NFL Draft and spent that season on the team's practice squad. Barksdale, who was drafted last spring by the in the sixth round, was released on Saturday. The Chiefs then picked him up the following day where his positioned at left cornerback Duquesne Ready to Begin NEC Play in 2008 on the defensive unit. Coleman signed as a free agent with the Chargers following the draft. He went Duquesne University accepted an invitation to join the Northeast Conference as an through training camp, then was released two days ago, and now has been assigned to the team’s associate member in the sport of football, it was announced this past January by NEC eight-man practice squad. Commissioner Brenda Weare. Duquesne begins competition within the NEC once the 2008 season commences.

“It feels good and there is a sense of relief to make the Chiefs’ 53-man roster,” said Barksdale, who "We are excited to add a football program the caliber of Duquesne," said Weare. can become the first UAlbany player to see action in an NFL regular-season game. “I now have a "Football is an integral sport in the NEC, and the addition of Duquesne will strengthen our reputation as an emerging Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) league." 0-2 in the NEC.

With the addition of Duquesne, NEC football sponsorship will reach eight in 2008. Stepping up in the absence of two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year Colin Disch Central Connecticut State, Monmouth, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, Saint Francis (North Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield), junior saftey Dave Nicomini (Newton, (PA) and Wagner are full-time NEC members who sponsor football, and are joined by NJ/Kittatinny) made 13 tackles to help the Great Danes up their record to 2-3 and associate member Albany, which joined the league in 1999. complete the toughest non-conference schedule in the league. Sophomore tailback Duquesne began as a Football Bowl Subdivision team in 1902 and won a pair of New Dave McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) amassed 157 yards of rushing Years Day Bowl games (1934 Festival of Palms and 1937 Orange) before the program and two touchdowns on 18 attempts. was disbanded following the 1950 season. DU returned at the Club level prior to the 1969 season and won a National Club Championship in 1973. The Dukes competed at NEC Week Five Review: Wagner Prevails in Lone NEC Game of the NCAA Division III level from 1979-92 before moving up to the FCS in 1993. Week Behind Czech’s Record Day Wagner prevailed, 18-15, over Sacred Heart in the lone NEC game on the week five NEC Preseason Poll docket thanks to a Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) fourth-quarter field goal, his Albany Earns Preseason Favorite Moniker Once Again third of the afternoon. The conference came up empty-handed in the three non- In search of its first conference title since 2003, Albany earned the top spot in the league matchups. Monmouth was unable to repeat what Albany accomplished last Northeast Conference preseason football poll. The Great Danes edged out defending year when the Great Danes marched out of Delaware, the ninth-ranked team at the champion Monmouth for top billing in the poll, conducted by the league’s head time, with a 17-10 upset win. The Hawks fell, 42-7, to the No. 12 Blue Hens. Saint coaches. The preseason rankings, along with the NEC preseason all-conference Francis (PA) was hit hard by Liberty, 68-10. Robert Morris was unable to pick up its team, were announced as a prelude to the league’s 12th football season. fourth straight victory, tripping at home to VMI, 40-13.

In 2006, the NEC enjoyed the best year in league history with Albany and Central The Seahawks received a fourth straight 100-yard rushing performance from senior Connecticut State becoming the first conference teams to be ranked in Sports Net- running back Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) on their way to the NEC work FCS Top-25 poll as league members secured a number of victories over peren- victory, which snapped a seven-game conference losing skid. Butler amassed a nial playoff teams. career-best 157 yards on a career-high 37 carries to pace the Wagner offense. Czech’s perfect three-for-three field-goal kicking performance moved him into first Albany also earned the moniker of preseason favorite last year, but the Great Danes place all-time in Seahawks’ history with 36 career makes. finished the 2006 campaign tied for second with a 5-2 NEC record. The Great Danes received three first-place votes as did Monmouth, which captured its fifth league Playing its highest ranked opponent ever, Monmouth could not keep pace with title last year and represented the NEC in the inaugural Gridiron Classic. Robert Delaware. The Blue Hens responded with 28 unanswered points following Hawks’ Morris pulled in one first-place vote and finished tied for third in the poll with tailback Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) first-quarter touchdown. Central Connecticut State. Wagner landed in fifth with Sacred Heart and Saint Sinisi scored a rushing TD for the 16th straight game, the nation’s longest current Francis (PA) rounding out the preseason selections in a tie for sixth. streak.

NEC Week-by-Week Review: The Red Flash received a solid performance from first-year starting QB George NEC Week Six Review: NEC Backs Run Wild in Wins; Albany Little (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne), but were overwhelmed by Liberty. Little threw Uses Last-second FG to Win Week's Lone Non-NEC Game for 193 yards and a touchdown on 20-for-33 passing. Monmouth and Wagner used big individual rushing performances to capture NEC road The Colonials passed for 203 yards and ran for anther 157, but they had little success victories. Junior tailback Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar Grove) piled up 200 in stopping VMI’s tri-option attack. The Keydets rushed for 443 yards. rushing yards and three touchdowns on only 17 carries in the Hawks’ 49-8 rout of Sacred Heart. Senior running back Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) came away with his fifth straight 100-yard rushing performance, amassing 129 yards on 32 NEC Week Four Review: Robert Morris Wins Third Straight, attempts in the Seahawks’ 20-13 win at Robert Morris. Four different Blue Devils Albany and CCSU Fall to Tough Foes Out West rushed for touchdowns in Central Connecticut State’s NEC opener, a 43-7 win at Saint Preseason all-NEC quarterback Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, OH/Shadyside) threw Francis (PA). Albany won the lone non-conference game on the slate, edging Stony a 45-yard strike to receiver Alvin Hill (New Kensington, PA/Plum), setting up Brook, 24-23, on senior kicker Jason Fralicker’s (North Tonawanda, NY/North Karey Murray’s touchdown plunge with 20 seconds remaining which lifted Robert Tonawanda) 19-yard field goal with nine seconds left on the gameclock. Morris to a 9-8 victory at Morehead State. The Colonials are now winners of three straight. Going for a third win on the young season, Sacred Heart was derailed in Sinisi broke touchdown runs of 99, 41, and two yards to extend his nation-leading overtime by Duquesne, 30-23. Albany and Central Connecticut State fell to formidable (FBS and FCS) touchdown streak to 17 games. Freshman running back Bobby Giles non-conference opponents out west, while Stony Brook edged Monmouth out on Long (Burlingston, NJ/Burlingston) was also a huge part of Monmouth’s 593 yards of Island, NY. total offense, rushing 16 times for 116 yards. Sacred Heart senior Jason Payne (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) gained most of his 123 net rushing yards on Cwalinski threw for 274 yards (19-for-26 passing), 164 of which went to Hill. Reigning two big scampers of 71 and 53 yards. The win is the first of the season for the Hawks NEC Defensive Player of the Week Chad Wengert (Kempton, PA/Kutztown) led the (1-4, 1-1 NEC), while SHU drops to 2-4 overall, 0-2 in league play. Colonials in tackles with 11. Defensive backs Mike Niklos (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson) and James Kazil (Georgetown, PA/South Side) each made an Wagner senior cornerback Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL/American), a preseason all-NEC interception for the NEC-leading Colonials. selection, changed the complexion of the game by bringing back a kickoff for a touchdown with his team trailing 10-0. The Seahawks took a 14-13 lead into the lockerroom following Rodney Davis’ (Bristol, PA/Neshaminy) TD run 50 seconds Sacred Heart running back Jason Payne (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas) prior to halftime. All-NEC kicker Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) added two produced 139 yards of total offense and a touchdown, but Duquesne tailback Greg second-half field goals to seal the win, which moved Wagner to 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the Hough provided the difference with an eight-yard TD scamper in overtime. The NEC. Robert Morris is now 3-3 overall with the loss and 2-1 in league play. Pioneers will have an opportunity for revenge next year when this game becomes an annual event upon Duquesne’s admittance into the NEC Football league. Central Connecticut State moved to 3-2 overall, 1-0 in NEC play, behind 302 yards of rushing offense. In all, 11 players carried the ball for the Blue Devils with quarterback Omar Johnson’s (Edgewater Park, NJ/Burlington City) touchdown dive tied the Aubrey Norris (Staten Island, NY/Hargrave Military) leading the way with 81 game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter, but No. 2 Montana outscored Albany yards on seven rushes. Senior running back Anthony Richards (Parlin, NJ/Bishop McCarrick) gained 152 yards on the ground for the Red Flash, who fell to 0-4 overall, 28-7 the rest of the way. It was the second straight week that the Great Danes fell to a ranked opponent. Albany linebacker Trevor DuPont (Victor, NY/Victor Central) forced a Fordham fumble with under two minutes remaining to seal the Great Danes’ 23-20 victory over In the first ever game between an NEC team and a Division I FBS school, Central the Patriot League foe. With three tackles, fellow linebacker Colin Disch (North Connecticut State stumbled at Western Michigan, 51-14. The nation’s top rushing Plainfield, NJ/North Plainfield) became the Great Danes’ all-time leading tackler offense managed 196 yards on the ground against the Broncos, who appeared in the International Bowl last season. surpassing Josh Bazan. Disch —the two-time NEC Defensive Player of the Year— now has 356 career stops. Albany’s ground attack produced 337 yards, 143 from Monmouth outgained Stony Brook, but three Hawks’ turnovers proved costly in the sophomore tailback David McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute). That Seawolves’ 21-15 victory. Monmouth tailback Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/ Cedar individual rushing total was the most by an Albany back since Marcus Allen gained Grove) extended his nation-leading touchdown streak to 15 games when he dove in 149 yards in last season’s 24-13 triumph at Sacred Heart (10/14/06). the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Sacred Heart used its ground attack to roll over La Salle, 54-14, at Campus Field in Week Three Review: Robert Morris Starts 2-0 in League Play, Fairfield, CT. The Pioneers rushed for 319 yards with four players amassing at least Wagner and CCSU Win Non-League Games 60 yards apiece. SHU quarterback Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic), last Robert Morris earned its second conference win in as many weeks, while Wagner week’s NEC Rookie of the Week, threw for three touchdowns on only nine total added a non-conference victory over Marist to its resume on Saturday afternoon. passing attempts. Central Connecticut State ran its home winning streak to ten with by defeating Southern Connecticut under the lights. Albany was unable to tame the No. 19 Hostra Central Connecticut State opened its home schedule with 527 yards of total offense in Pride at home. Earlier in the day, Sacred Heart stumbled at Iona. a 45-7 victory over Merrimack. The Blue Devils outgained their guests by 489 yards, allowing Merrimack only 38 total yards and three first downs. Robert Morris (2-1, 2-0 NEC) is off to a 2-0 start in NEC play after doubling up intra- state rival Saint Francis (PA), 28-14, at Stadium. The win comes one week Morehead State scored the go-ahead touchdown with 4:05 remaining to spoil Saint after the Colonials opened conference play by picking up a last-minute road win at Francis’ (PA) season opener at De Gol Field in Loretto, PA. Red Flash quarterback defending league champion Monmouth thanks to two second-half field goals from NEC George Little (Duquesne, PA/Duquesne) threw for 290 yards and a touchdown in Special Teams Player of the Week Michael Walser (Thornville, OH/Sheridan). his first career start under center.

Wagner (2-1, 0-0 NEC) rebounded from last week’s overtime loss by marching past Iona kicker Chris LoFrese’s 19-yard field goal sent Wagner to a 17-14 overtime loss Marist, 24-14, on Homecoming Day at Wagner Stadium. Seahawks’ signal caller at Mazzella Field in New Rochelle, NY. The Gaels’ win was their first in ten previous Matt Abbey (La Canada, CA/St. Francis) threw two first-half touchdown passes as tries against Wagner, and it marked only the second time in 12 games that the Wagner jumped out to a 24-0 advantage. All-NEC kicker and punter Piotr Czech Seahawks fell to an opponent from the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. Wagner (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) made a Marist comeback nearly impossible by constantly pin- tailback Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) carried the ball 29 times for 134 ning the Red Foxes deep in their own territory. Czech, who connected on his lone field yards in the loss. goal attempt of 39 yards, placed six of his nine punts inside the opponents’ 20. He averaged 40.0 yards per punt with a long of 63 and no touchbacks.

Sacred Heart (2-1, 0-0 NEC) missed out on its opportunity to start 3-0, tripping at Iona, 34-10. The Pioneers, who entered the game at 2-0 for the first time since 2003, saw Iona quarterback Nick Rossetti throw four touchdowns in front of his home crowd at Mazzella Field. SHU quarterback and two-time NEC Rookie of the Week Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) completed 25-of-38 passes for 223 yards, but was picked off twice.

Central Connecticut State (2-1, 0-0 NEC) gained more than 320 yards on the ground for the second straight week in clobbering So. Connecticut, 56-34, at Arute Field. Junior running back Jo Jo Freeman (Philadelphia, PA/Pomfret School) accounted for 147 of CCSU's 358 rushing yards and three TDs.

A week after rushing for 315 yards in a winning effort at Fordham, Albany (1-2, 0-0 NEC) only managed 225 yards of total offense against the nationally-ranked Pride. All- NEC kicker Jason Fralicker (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) made two field goals for the Great Danes.

Week Two Review: RMU Takes First NEC Tilt, Albany Tops Fordham Three NEC teams picked up out-of-conference wins on Saturday, while the first confer- ence tilt of the season went to Robert Morris.

The Colonials marched out of West Long Branch, NJ with a last-minute, 20-17 come- back victory over the defending NEC champion . Michael Walser’s (Thornville, OH/Sheridan) field goal, his second of the day, with 47 seconds remaining was the difference for RMU. 2007 NEC Football Schedule/Results

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

Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time 9/1 at Colgate L, 13-11 8/30 at Towson L, 20-10 9/1 at Maine L, 21-14 9/1 Dayton L, 23-12 9/8 at Fordham W, 23-20 9/8 Merrimack W, 45-7 9/8 Robert Morris L, 20-17 9/8 at Monmouth W, 20-17 9/15 Hofstra L, 28-13 9/15 Southern Connecticut W, 56-34 9/22 at Stony Brook L, 21-15 9/15 St. Francis (PA) W, 28-14 9/22 at Montana L, 35-14 9/22 at Western Michigan L, 51-14 9/29 at No. 12 Delaware L, 42-7 9/22 at Morehead St. W, 9-8 10/6 Stony Brook W, 24-23 10/6 at St. Francis (PA) W, 43-7 10/6 at Sacred Heart W, 49-8 9/29 Virginia Military L, 40-13 10/13 Sacred Heart W, 38-7 10/13 Robert Morris W, 16-10 10/13 Wagner L, 45-16 10/6 Wagner L, 20-13 10/20 at St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm 10/20 at Wagner 1:00 pm 10/27 at Central Conn. St. 12:00 pm 10/13 at Central Conn. St. L, 16-10 10/27 at Wagner 1:00 pm 10/27 Monmouth 12:00 pm 11/3 at St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm 10/20 at Duquesne 1:00 pm 11/3 Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/3 Sacred Heart 5:00 pm 11/10 Albany 1:00 pm 11/3 at Albany 1:00 pm 11/10 at Monmouth 1:00 pm 11/10 at Stony Brook 1:00 pm 11/17 Duquesne 12:00 pm 11/10 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 11/17 at Central Conn. St. 12:00 pm 11/17 Albany 12:00 pm NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold

Sacred Heart Saint Francis (PA) Wagner (2-5, 0-3 NEC) (0-5, 0-2 NEC) (5-1, 3-0 NEC)

Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time Date Opponent Time 8/30 at Assumption W, 41-20 9/8 Morehead State L, 21-14 8/31 at Western Conn. St. W, 20-7 9/8 La Salle W, 54-14 9/15 at Robert Morris L, 28-14 9/8 at Iona L, 17-14 (OT) 9/15 at Iona L, 34-10 9/29 at Liberty L, 68-10 9/15 at Marist W, 24-14 9/22 Duquesne L, 30-23 (OT) 10/6 Central Conn. St. L, 43-7 9/29 Sacred Heart W, 18-15 9/29 at Wagner L, 18-15 10/13 Duquesne L, 24-17 10/6 at Robert Morris W, 20-13 10/6 Monmouth L, 49-8 10/20 Albany 1:00 pm 10/13 at Monmouth W, 45-16 10/13 at Albany L, 38-7 10/27 at Sacred Heart 1:00 pm 10/20 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm 10/27 St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm 11/3 Monmouth 1:00 pm 10/27 Albany 1:00 pm 11/3 at Central Conn. St. 5:00 pm 11/10 at Wagner 1:00 pm 11/3 La Salle 1:00 pm 11/10 at Robert Morris 1:00 pm 11/17 at LaSalle 1:00 pm 11/10 St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm NEC Games in Bold NEC Games in Bold 11/17 at Jacksonville 12:00 pm NEC Games in Bold Albany (3-3, 1-0 NEC) Last Game: Albany 38, Sacred Heart 7 Next Game: October 20 at Saint Francis (PA)

• Albany opened its Northeast Conference schedule with a 38-7 victory over Sacred Heart this week before a Homecoming crowd of 6,417, the fifth-largest in the program's 35-year history ... the Great Danes have won seven of nine NEC openers since joining the league in 1999 … Albany has now won 24 of 35 homecoming games at University Field … sophomore QB Vinny Esposito (Demarest, NJ/Northern Valley) passed for two second-quarter touchdowns and scored on a four-yard option run in the third quarter … Esposito threw for 236 yards, the second-highest total of his career … the Great Danes accounted for 524 total yards, the highest figure by the UAlbany offense since 11/ 9/1 at Colgate L, 13-11 1/03 … the Great Danes had no turnovers for the third time this season and are ranked 14th nationally with a +1.17 margin … senior PK 9/8 at Fordham W, 23-20 Jason Fralicker (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) established a school record for career field goals, breaking a mark held 9/15 Hofstra L, 28-13 9/22 at Montana L, 35-14 by Bryan Bagstad (1999-2002) … Fralicker booted a 39-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, his 23rd as a collegian … FL Tim Bush 10/6 Stony Brook W, 24-23 (Saratoga Springs, NY/Saratoga Springs) had a career day with four receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown and 13 rushing yards 10/13 Sacred Heart W, 38-7 on a reverse … TB Omar Johnson (Edgewater Park, NJ/Burlington City) reached the end zone on a six-yard blast in the third period 10/20 at St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm … Johnson moved into a tie for seventh in career rushing TDs (19) and a tie for 11th on the all-time scoring list with 120 points … TB David 10/27 at Wagner 1:00 pm McCarty (Gansevoort, NY/LaSalle Institute) ran for a game-high 97 yards and one touchdown … McCarty, who scored on a seven-yard 11/3 Robert Morris 1:00 pm run in the first quarter, was one of eight runners who gained positive yardage .. McCarty, a sophomore, will attend U.S. Army Advanced 11/10 at Monmouth 1:00 pm 11/17 at Central Conn. St. 12:00 pm Individual Training during the 2008 spring semester before spending two years in the reserves as he completes his collegiate career … UAlbany's defense held Sacred Heart to 187 total yards, including 80 on the ground, forced three turnovers and registered a season-high six sacks … DE Jon Volpe (Reston, VA/South Lakes) had a career-high 1.5 sacks to help make up for the loss of injured DE Mark Sheehan (Waterford, NY/Catholic Central) … the Great Danes are ranked third among the FCS national leaders in sacks (3.5/gm) … S Dave West (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) and ILB Tommy Genovesi (East Greenbush, NY/Columbia) equaled career-highs with seven and five tackles, respectively … CB L.B. McCloskey (Gloversville, NY/ Gloversville) recorded his first interception as a collegian in the third period … head coach Bob Ford earned his 220th career victory on the collegiate level … Mike Grever (Syosset, NY/Cold Spring Harbor) was enshrined into UAlbany's Athletic Hall of Fame on 10/12 … Grever was voted the 1999 NEC Defensive Player of the Year Central Connecticut State (4-2, 2-0 NEC) Last Game: Central Connecticut State 16, Robert Morris 10 Next Game: October 20 at Wagner

• The Blue Devils won for the 11th straight time at home, extending their school record and the nation's fifth-longest active streak… the win was the 12th straight at home vs. an NEC opponent… Saturday's 16-10 victory at home over Robert Morris was the Blue Devils' third win in four years vs. the Colonials after losing the first 10 meetings of the series…. CCSU (2-0 NEC) travels to Wagner for a battle of league 8/30 at Towson L, 20-10 unbeatens this week… CCSU has won three straight vs. the Seahawks since the 2004 season… the Blue Devils set a school-record rushing 9/8 Merrimack W, 45-7 9/15 Southern Conn. St. W, 56-34 the ball 75 times in the victory over the Colonials… they had 344 total rushing yards in the win, the fourth time this season they have posted 9/22 at Western Michigan L, 51-14 at least 300 rushing yards in a game… four Blue Devils finished the game with at least 51 rushing yards led by junior Jo Jo Freeman's 10/6 at St. Francis (PA) W, 43-7 (Philadelphia, PA/Pomfret School) 126... it was Freeman’s fourth career 100-yard rushing performance... with 86, 64, and 51 yards, 10/13 Robert Morris W, 16-10 respectively, quarterbacks Aubrey Norris (Staten Island, NY/Hargrave Military) and Ryan Holmes (Union, NJ/Union) and full back 10/20 at Wagner 1:00 pm Adrian Hull (Goldvein, VA/Liberty) also rushed for at least 51 on Saturday… Hull's two touchdown runs marked his fourth and fifth 10/27 Monmouth 12:00 pm 11/3 Sacred Heart 5:00 pm scores of the year and the first time in his career he rushed for more than one score in a game… Norris and Holmes combined to hit on 11/10 at Stony Brook 1:00 pm 7-of-14 passes for 86 yards in the game… five of the seven completions were good for first downs… the Blue Devil defense held RMU to 11/17 Albany 12:00 pm 195 yards of total offense and picked off RMU quarterbacks three times in the game… the three picks give the Blue Devils 10 on the season, by 10 different players… junior defensive end Ernie Greywacz (New Canaan, CT/New Canaan) singled-handedly ended two late Robert Morris drives with big defensive plays... Greywacz, who finished with eight tackles, came up with a sack and an interception to kill two RMU drives with under five minutes to play. Monmouth (1-5, 1-2 NEC) Last Game: Wagner 45, Monmouth 16 Next Game: October 27 at Central Connecticut State

• Monmouth suffered its fifth defeat of the season, losing to Wagner by a score of 45-16 at home last Saturday… the 45 points Wagner put up in front of Monmouth's homecoming crowd was the most an opponent has ever scored at Kessler Field… the Hawk defense allowed two 100-yard backs for the second time this season (Maine)… freshman wide receiver Troy Yudin (Stevenson Ranch, CA/William Hart) had a career-high seven catches for 89 yards-also a career-best… Monmouth quarterback Brett Burke (Wall, NJ/Wall) posted career- numbers in completions, attempts and yardage, completing 31-of-49 passes for 289 yards… senior Steve Dowens (Lincroft, NJ/ Middletown South) also had a career day receiving, hauling in seven passes for 83 yards… Dave Sinisi (Cedar Grove, NJ/Cedar 9/1 at Maine L, 21-14 Grove) had both the Monmouth touchdowns, scoring on a one-yard run and a eight yard reception… Sinisi's streak now sits at 18 9/8 Robert Morris L, 20-17 consecutive games with a score, still the longest in the nation… the redshirt sophomore leads the Northeast Conference in scoring with 9/22 at Stony Brook L, 21-15 60 points on 10 touchdowns (9 rushing)… Sinisi finished the day with 50 yards rushing on 16 carries… Monmouth has six receivers with 9/29 at No. 12 Delaware L, 42-7 over 150 yards… Monmouth sophomore Joe Cella (Jackson, NJ/Jackson Memorial) led the Hawks with six tackles, three of which were 10/6 at Sacred Heart W, 49-8 solo stops… senior Ayo Falae (Newark, NJ/Barringer) had five solo tackles in the game… The Hawks were out-gained 363-44 on the 10/13 Wagner 1:00 pm 10/27 at Central Conn. St. 12:00 pm ground and 518 to 333 overall against Wagner… penalties continue to plague the Hawks as they had 11-for-72 against Wagner... the Hawks 11/3 at St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm will be idle this Saturday during their second bye week... they return to action in two weeks at Central Connecticut State. 11/10 Albany 1:00 pm 11/17 Duquesne 12:00 pm Robert Morris (3-3, 2-1 NEC) Last Game: Central Connecticut State 16, Robert Morris 10 Next Game: October 20 at Duquesne

• Robert Morris dropped its third straight with a 16-10 setback at Central Connecticut State ... a week after posting 192 yards of total offense, the Colonials finished with just 195 against the Blue Devils ... Robert Morris finished 3-for-10 in third-down situations and during its three- game slide has converted just 26.3 percent (10-for-38) of its chances on third down ... Central Connecticut State owned a 38:26 to 21:34 advantage in time of possession ... Sophomore Camdin Crouse (Snow Shoe, PA/Bald Eagle) garnered his first collegiate start at quarterback in the place of junior Erik Cwalinski (Jacobsburg, OH/Shadyside) but was pulled in the second quarter and finished 2-for- 4 passing for 28 yards, a touchdown and an interception ... Cwalinski finished 7-for-17 passing for 81 yards and two interceptions in relief of Crouse ... freshman halfback Myles Russ (Boca Raton, FL/West Boca) finished with 67 yards on just 12 carries, an average of 5.2 yards 9/1 Dayton L, 23-12 per rush ... senior split end Alvin Hill (New Kensington, PA/Plum) was RMU's top receiver with two catches for 35 yards ... sophomore 9/8 at Monmouth W, 20-17 tight end Chris Molnar (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional), also making his first career start, caught two balls for 30 yards and a 9/15 St. Francis (PA) W, 28-14 9/22 at Morehead St. W, 9-8 touchdown ... so far in 2007 a total of 19 Colonials have made their first collegiate start, including 11 on offense and eight on defense ... of 9/29 Virginia Military L, 40-13 the 19 players to earn their first starting assignments in a Robert Morris uniform, 11 have been either a freshman or a sophomore ... RMU's 10/6 Wagner L, 20-13 trio of linebackers in seniors Jordan Howard (Uniontown, OH/Lake) and Chad Wengert (Kempton, PA/Kutztown) and sophomore 10/13 at Central Conn. St. L, 16-10 Adam Lawrence (Dubois, PA/Big Run) combined for 55 of RMU's single-game school record 121 tackles ... Howard tied the RMU single- 10/20 at Duquesne 1:00 pm 11/3 at Albany 1:00 pm game record with 20 tackles, while Wengert added 19 and Lawrence 16 ... joining the trio with double-digit tackle games was senior 11/10 Sacred Heart 1:00 pm cornerback Mike Niklos (Columbus, OH/Bishop Watterson), who had 11 takedowns, and sophomore safety Michael Landers (Springdale, PA/Springdale), who recorded 10 stops ... Wengert became the first Colonial to finish with 19 tackles in a contest and his total helped him leap frog five Colonials in the program record book for career tackles, as he now ranks ninth all-time with 219 takedowns ... Howard, Wengert and Lawrence become the 11th, 12th and 13th Colonials to post a game with at least 15 tackles in school history ... RMU's 121 tackles against the Blue Devils established a new single-game team record, eclipsing the 119 the club posted in a 23-17 overtime win over CCSU in 2006 ... freshman punter Nick Schirtzinger (Hurricane, WV/Hurricane) finished with five punts for 209 yards, an average of 41.8 yards per punt ... junior kicker Michael Walser (Thornville, OH Sheridan) converted a 41-yard field goal and now has hit eight of his last nine opportunities, with his only miss due to a block ... Robert Morris continues its three-game road swing Saturday, when it travels across town to square off with Duquesne at Rooney Field in a non-conference game ... The contest will mark the final time the Colonials and Dukes meet as non-conference opponents. Sacred Heart (2-5, 0-3 NEC) Last Game: Albany 38, Sacred Heart 7 Next Game: October 27 vs. Saint Francis (PA)

• The Pioneers lost their sixth-straight meeting with Albany Saturday afternoon, as the Great Danes improve their series lead to 8-2… Albany has average 31.0 points over the streak, winning by an average of 21.5 points per contest… the loss drops SHU to 31-35 all-time in NEC play since 1998… the Pioneers saw their losing streak hit five-straight, their second-longest streak under head coach Paul Gorham… SHU lost six-straight to end the season last year… for the fourth-straight game senior safety John Wilson (Bloomfield, CT/Bloomfield) led the Pioneers in tackles with 12 tackles… Wilson has five games this season with double digit tackles and leads the club with 70 total stops through seven games… sophomore cornerback Andre Isla (Brookhaven, NY/Bellport) had a career-best 10 tackles with a pass break-up 8/30 at Assumption W, 41-20 in the loss… redshirt-freshman Dale Fink (Swansea, IL/Althoff Catholic) made his return to the starting line-up after missing the last two 9/8 La Salle W, 54-14 and a half games with an ankle injury… Fink completed 17-of-24 passes for 107 yards a touchdown and an interception in the loss… the 9/15 at Iona L, 34-10 SHU offense was held to a season-low 12 first downs and 187 yards of total offense in the loss… the offense produces just one scoring drive 9/22 Duquesne L, 30-23 (OT) on the day that covered 70 yards… Fink led a 12 play drive in the second quarter that cut the UAlbany lead to 14-7… the offense was sparked 9/29 at Wagner L, 18-15 by senior running back Jason Payne (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Walter Panas), who had runs of 13, 18 and 14 yards on the drive… Fink 10/6 Monmouth L, 49-8 capped it off hitting sophomore Steve Tedesco (Mission Viejo, CA/Trabuco Hills) on third and goal from the seven for a score, his 11th 10/13 at Albany L, 38-7 touchdown pass of the season… the back-breaker for the Pioneers came with just 10 seconds left in the first half, down 14-7... Albany 10/27 St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm 11/3 at Central Conn. St. 5:00 pm converted a on a third and 15 from their 39 yard line on a tackle-breaking 17-yard run from Justin Gannon to the SHU 44… after using their 11/10 at Robert Morris 1:00 pm second time out with 10 second left, quarterback Vinny Esposito lofted a pass over three SHU defenders into the hands of Jason Smith for a momentum swinging score before the half… the SHU defense struggled for the second-straight week allowing 524 total yards in the loss, 273 yards on the ground and 251 through the air… Albany controlled the ball for 37:00 minutes and racked up 28 first downs… the Great Danes converted 10 of 17 on third down while the Pioneers were a season-low 2 of 11 on third down… SHU gave up a season-high six sacks in the loss as Fink went down all six times… SHU was held to their lowest point total of the season (7) and have scored just 15 points the last two weeks while giving up 87 points the last two weeks… SHU is 2-49 all-time when they are held under 10 points… during head coach Paul Gorham's tenure, the Pioneers have been held under 10 points on six occasions, all losses… Sacred Heart is off this week before hosting Saint Francis (PA) on 10/27. Saint Francis (PA) (0-5, 0-2 NEC) Last Game: Duquesne 24, Saint Francis (PA) 17 Next Game: October 20 vs. Albany

• The Red Flash relinquished a 7-3 half-time lead in falling, 24-17, to Duquesne… Saint Francis (PA) held Duquesne to 28 rushing yards on 29 carries… SFPA tallied six sacks (one shy of tying the school record)… kicker Adam Sciulli (Pittsburgh, PA/Central Catholic) broke the school record for 9/8 Morehead State L, 21-14 career field goals, connecting on a 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for the 22nd of his career… freshman linebacker Scott Lewis (South Fork, 9/15 at Robert Morris L, 28-14 PA/Bishop McCort) led the team in tackles (15) for the third straight week.... Lewis leads all of Division I (FBS and FCS) with a 13.00 tackles per game 9/29 at Liberty L, 68-10 average… Fehi Sevelo (Kaneohe, HI/Damion Memorial), the program's all-time leading tackler, was up to his old tricks by making seven tackles, 10/6 Central Conn. St. L, 43-7 10/13 Duquesne L, 24-17 two of which were sacks for a total loss of 12 yards… first-time starter and freshman cornerback Robert Horne (Baltimore, MD/Loyola Blakefield), 10/20 Albany 1:00 pm who played for the injured Joshua Bentley (Pittsburgh, Pa./Schenely), broke up four passes in the game… for the first time this season, Saint Francis 10/27 at Sacred Heart 1:00 pm won the Time-of-Possession battle and also connected on all three scoring opportunities within the Red Zone… running back Anthony Richards 11/3 Monmouth 1:00 pm (Parlin, J./Cardinal McCarrick) broke the game's longest play from scrimmage, running for 41 yards to set up a first-half touchdown… Saint Francis 11/10 at Wagner 1:00 pm 11/17 at LaSalle 1:00 pm will stay home for the third consecutive week, this time, playing host to NEC member Albany.

Wagner (5-1, 3-0 NEC) Last Game: Wagner 45, Monmouth 16 Next Game: October 20 vs. Central Connecticut State

• Senior RB Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/ Henninger) and junior RB Rodney Davis (Bristol, PA/ Neshaminy) combined to rush for 318 yards in Wagner's 45-16 win over Monmouth… Butler ran for 201 yards and four TDs on 31 carries, while Davis rushed for 117 yards on 10 carries… Davis broke by a 75-yard TD run and also snatched a 55-yard TD reception… those performances marked the first time Wagner had a pair of rushers exceed the 100-yard mark since 10/5/95 when Rick Sarille (165) and Tremayone Hughes (125) accomplished the feat 8/31 at Western Conn. St. W, 20-7 Saint Francis (PA)... senior DB Al Phillips (Hialeah, FL/American) had two interceptions vs. Monmouth, one of which came in the end 9/8 at Iona L, 17-14 zone to squelch a Hawk drive… he now has 15 career INTS, moving him into a tie for third on the Wagner all-time list with Mike Kelly who (OT) pilfered 15 passes from 1963-65… next on the list in second place is Jim Nix (1976-79) with 18… the Seahawks' all-time leader in career 9/15 at Marist W, 24-14 interceptions is Tony Parisi who picked off 24 passes from 1971-74… with two receptions for 15 yards vs. Monmouth, senior WR Joe Kinard 9/29 Sacred Heart W, 18-15 10/6 at Robert Morris W, 20-13 (Kingston, NY/ Kingston) tied Pat Connolly (1991-94) for ninth place on the Seahawk career receptions list with 96… he needs 11 more 10/13 at Monmouth W, 45-16 receptions to pass Bob Grady (1974-76) for eighth place on the all-time list… Kinard now has 1,222 career receiving yards and is 335 yards 10/20 Central Conn. St. 1:00 pm shy of entering the all-time top-10… the magnificent senior season being authored by Butler has him within shouting distance of the Wagner 10/27 Albany 1:00 pm all-time top 10 rushing list as well as the school's single-season Top 10… with 1,595 career rushing yards in less than two seasons on offense 11/3 La Salle 1:00 pm (he was a DB his first two seasons at Wagner), Butler needs 236 yards to tie Tom Moore (1967-69) for 10th place all-time… in just six 11/10 St. Francis (PA) 1:00 pm 11/17 at Jacksonville 12:00 pm games, Butler has rushed for 860 yards (143.3 yards/game) and needs 252 yards to tie Kito Lockwood who rushed for 1,113 yards in 1994… every time senior PK Piotr Czech (Keyport, NJ/Keyport) converts a field goal, he re-establishes a Wagner record… with the 39-yard field goal vs. Monmouth, Czech now has 39 career field goals made… Czech is 10-of-11 on field goal attempts this season (91%)… he is also perfect on PATs this season (14-14)… Wagner's 45 points were the most ever allowed by Monmouth on its home Kessler Field… before Saturday, the last time Wagner had five rushing TDs in a game was on 9/26/81 against Iona.

NEC Football NEC Champions • 1996-2006 vs. the competition NEC Ov. Year Champion Rec. Rec. 2007 NEC vs. Big Sky 0-1 1996 Robert Morris 3-1 9-2 Big South 0-2 Monmouth 3-1 7-3 CAA 0-4 1997 Robert Morris 4-0 8-3 Division II 3-0 1998 Robert Morris 4-1 4-6 Division III 1-0 Monmouth 4-1 5-5 Independent 1-1 MAC (FBS) 0-1 1999 Robert Morris 7-0 8-2 MAAC 2-4 2000 Robert Morris 8-0 10-0 Patriot 1-1 2001 Sacred Heart 8-0 11-0 Pioneer 1-2 2002 Albany 6-1 8-4 2003 Monmouth 6-1 10-2 All-Time NEC Records Albany 6-1 7-4 School Record Pct. 2004 Monmouth 6-1 10-1 Albany 41-16 .719 Cent. Conn. St. 6-1 8-2 Central Conn. St. 34-36 .486 2005 Cent. Conn. St. 5-2 7-4 Monmouth 45-25 .643 Stony Brook 5-2 6-5 Robert Morris 47-23 .671 2006 Monmouth 10-1 6-1 Sacred Heart 31-32 .492 St. Francis (PA) 8-62 .114 Stony Brook 29-29 .500 Wagner 34-37 .479