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2011

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NEC FOOTBALL FACTS & FIGURES NEC FOOTBALL STANDINGS LAST WEEK’S RESULTS WEEK 2 RELEASE • SEP. 12, 2011 Saturday, Sept. 10 �� BRYANT 27, American Int’l 16 SCHOOL NEC PCT. OVR. PCT. STR. HOME AWAY NEU. DUQUESNE 22, Dayton 13 1. Wagner ...... 1-0 1.000 1-1 .500 L1 1-0 0-1 0-0 #11 North Dakota State 56, SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 3 2. Bryant ...... 0-0 .000 1-1 .500 W1 1-0 0-1 0-0 Central Conn. St...... 0-0 .000 1-1 .500 L1 1-0 0-1 0-0 #9 Richmond 21, WAGNER 6 Duquesne ...... 0-0 .000 1-1 .500 W1 0-0 1-1 0-0 #24 Liberty 38, ROBERT MORRIS 7 Albany ...... 0-0 .000 0-1 .000 L1 0-0 0-1 0-0 #19 James Madison 14, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 9 Monmouth ...... 0-0 .000 0-1 .000 L1 0-1 0-0 0-0 Open Date: Albany, Monmouth, Sacred Heart Sacred Heart ...... 0-0 .000 0-1 .000 L1 0-1 0-0 0-0 Robert Morris ...... 0-0 .000 0-2 .000 L2 0-1 0-1 0-0 UPCOMING SCHEDULE Friday, Sept. 16...... BRYANT at SACRED HEART 7:00 pm St. Francis (PA) ...... 0-1 .000 0-2 .000 L2 0-0 0-2 0-0 Saturday, Sept. 17 �� CENTRAL CONNECTICUT at WAGNER 1:00 pm NEC Offensive Player of the Week Sean Patterson, DUQUESNE Valparaiso at DUQUESNE 12:00 pm Jr., QB, 6-2, 210 lbs., Toledo, OH/St. John’s Jesuit ROBERT MORRIS at Morgan State 1:00 pm Patterson accounted for 310 yards of total offense to lead Duquesne past Dayton for a second consecutive season. The junior Morehead State at SAINT FRANCIS (PA) 1:00 pm quarterback went 19-for-32 passing for 254 yards and rushed nine times for 56 yards in the 22-13 road victory over a team that has won at least a share of the Pioneer League title in three of the past four seasons. The 6-foot-2 Patterson effectively managed the Maine at ALBANY 6:00 pm Dukes’ offense and produced in a number a key spots throughout the afternoon. His 28-yard quarterback keeper set up a field goal MONMOUTH at Villanova 3:30 pm that gave the Dukes their first lead of the game, 13-10, with 00:59 remaining in the third quarter. Patterson later completed passes Open Date: None of 9 and 13 yards to Isaac Spragg and added a 13-yard rush into Dayton territory on the game-winning drive that ended on Charlie Leventry’s 24-yard field goal with 30 seconds to play. He ran 18 yards for a first down and followed with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Connor Dixon on a scoring drive that pulled Duquesne even at 7-7 right before half. Through the season’s first two games, both NEC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL of which have come on the road, Patterson is averaging a NEC-best 268.5 yards of total offense. 1. Central Connecticut (5) NEC Defensive Player of the Week 2. Duquesne (2) Chris Linares, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 3. Robert Morris (1) 4. Albany So., CB, 5-9, 170 lbs., New Britain, CT/New Britain 5. Bryant (1) The Blue Devils bottled up No. 19 James Madison for much of Saturday night’s game and Linares was a key piece in the effort. The 6. Monmouth sophomore cornerback spearheaded a pass defense that surrendered a measly 47 yards to the nationally-ranked Dukes, who managed 7. Wagner 105 more yards through the air in their Week 1 setback at ACC member North Carolina. Linares logged four tackles, an interception, and a pass break-up in the 14-9 loss before a record crowd of 25,102 fans at Bridgeforth Stadium. He recorded his first interception 8. Sacred Heart of the season on the game’s opening drive. The 5-foot-9 defensive back, who earned preseason all-NEC honors, picked off a potential 9. Saint Francis (PA) scoring pass at CCSU’s own 2-yard line. Linares later broke up a third-down pass to force a second-quarter punt. The Blue Devils First-place votes in parentheses limited JMU’s pass attack to 4.3 yards per attempt. NEC Offensive Player of the Week NEC Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 12 ��Sean Patterson, DUQ Charlie Leventry, DUQUESNE Sept. 5 ��Dominique Williams, WAG Jr., PK/P, 6-3, 194 lbs., Johnstown, PA/Richland Leventry shanked a 25-yard first-quarter field goal attempt, but redeemed himself by nailing all three of his second-half attempts in a 22-13 road win over Dayton. The 6-foot-3 product of Johnstown (PA) hit a 40-yarder to pull the Dukes even at 10-10 midway through NEC Defensive Player of the Week the third quarter. His 28-yard kick, which came 5:50 late, gave Duquesne its first lead of the game. Leventry was not called upon Sept. 12 ��Chris Linares, CC again until the final minute of the contest when he calmly booted a game-winning 24-yarder with 00:30 left on the clock. Leventry, Sept. 5 ��CO Prime, WAG who made his 24th consecutive start at punter, also punted five times in the win and none of the kicks were returnable. The Dukes’ starting punter for the last two years has added full-time placekicking duties to his list of responsibilities this season and is 5-for-6 on field goal attempts. NEC Special Teams Player of the Week NEC Rookie of the Week Sept. 12 ��Charlie Leventry, DUQ Mike Westerhaus, BRYANT Sept. 5 ��Herb Glass, ALB R-Fr., QB, 6-3, 190 lbs., Farmingville, NY/Sachem East Westerhaus earned his first collegiate victory under center in what was his second straight start in place of the injured Mike Croce. NEC Rookie of the Week The freshman quarterback, who saw his first-ever collegiate game action in a Week 1 setback at Maine, threw for two fourth-quarter Sept. 12 ��Mike Westerhaus, BRY touchdowns to lift the Bulldogs past American International. He finished 10-for-13 passing for 103 yards and came through in the Sept.5 ��Tyrell Holmes, CC clutch. With Bryant trailing 16-13 midway through the fourth quarter, Westerhaus engineered a 10-play, 90-yard drive that he capped with an 11-yard scoring strike to senior tight end Matt Tracey.

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG AROUND THE LEAGUE Bye, Bye, Bye NEC FOOTBALL RECAPS - WEEK 2 Three Northeast Conference members were idle during Week 2 and all three will be back in action this week. Albany Bryant 27, American International 16 and Monmouth will return to the gridiron for non-conference match-ups against CAA foes, while Sacred Heart resumes Bryant scored the game’s final 14 points to complete a fourth-quarter come- its 2011 schedule with its NEC opener. Both Monmouth and Albany opened against Patriot League members, and back against American International and enjoyed another triumphant home now the former will visit Villanova and the latter will host Maine on September 17. Meanwhile, the SHU Pioneers opener, the Bulldogs’ seventh in the last eight years. The Bulldogs, who are will open their NEC schedule against Bryant on Sept. 16 under the lights on Campus Field and Northeast Conference in the last year of the NCAA-mandated reclassification process into Division I, trailed their former D-II rival, 16-13, with fewer than 4:00 remaining in Television will be there to broadcast the action in HD. the game. Freshman quarterback Mike Westerhaus, who has been filling in for the injured Mike Croce, threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the NEC-TV Schedule Kicks off with Pioneers & Bulldogs in Primetime first to tight end Matt Tracey and the second to preseason all-NEC running back Jordan Brown. Brown rushed for 121 yards and scored three of the The Northeast Conference’s five-game football television package opens up under the lights at Campus Field where Bulldogs’ four touchdowns. Sacred Heart will host Bryant on Friday, September 16 at 7:00 pm. The NEC-TV Game of the Week will air live on MSG+ HD and Cox HD (CT/RI). Longtime NEC-TV personality Paul Dottino, who doubles as a host/report on the New James Madison 14, Central Connecticut 9 Central Connecticut gave No. 19 James Madison more than a scare under York Giants Radio Network, will call the play-by-play, while Steve Levy, a Don Bosco alumnus who played collegiately the lights in Harrisonburg. The Blue Devils trailed 7-3 and were knocking at Cal, will provide color commentary. Eric Singer is the producer of NEC telecasts. on the door for the go-ahead touchdown with just under 10:00 remaining in regulation, but a 4th-and-goal play from the 7-yard line resulted in only NEC-TV to Give Tweeting a Try a five-yard gain. The host Dukes extended the lead to 14-3 on an eight-yard run from Dae’Quan Scott with 3:01 left. Central added a late touchdown For the first time ever, Northeast Conference Television will incorporate the use of Twitter into its broadcast. During from running back Chris Tolbert. Friday night’s game between Sacred Heart and Bryant (Sept. 16), fans and viewers are encouraged to tweet their questions and comments to @NECsports. NEC play-by-play announcer Paul Dottino and former Cal quarterback Steve Duquesne 22, Dayton 13 Duquesne defeated the reigning Pioneer League co-champions on the back Levy will address some of the best Tweets throughout the broadcast. Fans will also have the opportunity to tweet their of exceptional special teams play. The Dukes broke a 13-13 tie with 30 selections for Player of the Game to @NECsports. Be sure to tune in and tweet away as the Pioneers host the Bulldogs. seconds left in the fourth quarter when Charlie Leventry booted his third field goal of the day and went on to deal Dayton a 22-13 defeat. The host Flyers attempted a game-tying field goal on the final play of the game, but Great Danes Welcome Maine to Capital Region the kick was blocked and returned for a touchdown by Jared Williams. Albany has had two weeks to prepare for Saturday evening’s non-conference matchup with Maine at University Field Duquesne junior quarterback Sean Patterson accounted for 310 yards (Sept. 17). The Great Danes enjoyed a bye week following a season-opening overtime setback at Patriot League of total offense in helping the Dukes bounce back from a heart-breaking member Colgate, and will open their home schedule against the CAA member. Albany has gotten the best of this series one-point road loss to Bucknell in the season opener. in recent meetings, having topped Maine in both 2009 and 2010. The Great Danes will look to defeat a CAA member #24 Liberty 38, Robert Morris 7 for the fourth consecutive season. They beat Hofstra in 2008 before back-to-back wins over Maine. Robert Morris was unable to defeated nationally-ranked Liberty for a second straight season, falling, 38-7, to the Big South’s preseason favorite in Lynch- burg. Liberty quarterback Mike Brown passed for two scores and rushed Glass Doesn’t Crack for two more. RMU signal caller Jeff Sinclair, a preseason all-NEC selection Albany senior Herb Glass (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) has made as many field goals (28) as anyone in Albany’s threw for the Colonials’ lone touchdown of the game, a nine-yard hookup program history. Glass, who can become the Great Danes’ all-time leader in field goals made with one more conver- with Vince Mongelluzzo 4:35 into the fourth quarter, but was intercepted three times. Senior receiver Anthony Coleman was on the receiving end sion, became the highest scoring placekicker in program history during the Danes’ Week 1 overtime loss at Colgate. of six of Sinclair’s 12 completions. He kicked the go-ahead field goal, from 41 yards out, in overtime against Colgate only to see the Raiders answer with a touchdown on their possession of the extra session. Glass converted on a 48-yarder, the third longest in UA history, #11 North Dakota State 56, Saint Francis (PA) 3 earlier in the contest and will look for the good fortune to continue when the Danes host Maine in the home opener on NDSU quarterback Brock Jensen threw for two touchdowns and rushed for a third as the nationally-ranked Bison ran past visiting Saint Francis. September 17. Glass, who has accounted for 174 points in his career, has made three field goals against Maine. He The Bison rushed for 233 yards and four scores against a young Red Flash connected on a pair in the Danes’ 20-16 home win back in 2009. Glass’ 21-yarder midway through the first quarter defense that lost two of the NEC’s all-time leaders in tackles to graduation. held up as the lone points in Albany’s 3-0 shutout at Maine to open the 2010 campaign. NDSU running back Sam Ojuri rushed 12 times for a career-high 165 yards, including a school-record 95 yard touchdown dash, and Bisons’ special teams and defensive units each came produced a touchdown. Meanwhile, Michael ‘Willis’ Croce Red Flash running back Kyle Harbridge was limited to 41 yards on the Bryant quarterback Michael Croce wasn’t born until 20 years after Willis Reed’s historic appearance in Game 7 of the ground as Saint Francis totaled 182 yards of offense in its first trip to the Fargodome. 1970 NBA Finals, but the Bulldogs’ senior signal caller did his best Reed impersonation on Saturday, September 10. Croce had suffered a summertime injury and his status was indefinite heading into the season. Mike Westerhaus #9 Richmond 21, Wagner 6 (Farmingville, NY/Sachem East) started the season’s first two games in place of Croce, but, just as Willis did over Richmond quarterback Aaron Corp threw for 236 yards and two touch- four decades ago at Madison Square Garden, Croce surprised those on hand at Bulldog Stadium by stepping onto downs to lead the nationally-ranked Spiders past Wagner before 8,700 fans at Robins Stadium. The Seahawks, who picked off Corp twice, received a the field, in uniform, for the coin toss. He spent the first half of the sideline before moving under center for Bryant’s pair of field goals (38, 45) from preseason all-NEC kicker David Lopez, but first drive of the second half. Croce played the entire third quarter before heading back to the bench. He was greeted were out-gained by a 412-189 margin. Wagner running back Dominique rudely, being sacked on his first series, but rebounded to throw a 54-yard screen pass toJordan Brown (Glastonbury, Williams, who totaled 193 yards from scrimmage in the team’s season- opening NEC victory over Saint Francis (PA), was limited to 45 yards rushing CT/Glastonbury) for a touchdown. He finished 1-for-3passing for 54 yards and a TD while being sacked twice and and 30 yards receiving in Richmond. losing a fumble. His touchdown pass came at a key juncture, however, with Bryant trailing 16-7 in the third quarter. The scoring strike gave Croce 27 career touchdown passes to 11 interceptions.

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG AROUND THE LEAGUE (CON’T) CCSU PRESEASON FAVORITE AGAIN Blue Devils Play Near-Perfect Pass Defense at James Madison Central Connecticut starts two sophomores and a freshman in its defensive secondary, but none of the youngsters Central Connecticut has finished either atop or tied atop the Northeast seemed fazed by the bright lights and the 25,000-plus people present at Bridgeforth Stadium. The Blue Devils limited Conference (NEC) football standings each of the past two seasons and the No. 19 James Madison to a total of 47 passing yards in a 14-9 setback in Harrisonburg. James Madison quarterback league’s head coaches expect that trend to continue in 2011. Justin Thorpe finished 5-for-11 passing for 47 yards and was intercepted twice. NEC Defensive Player of the Week Chris Linares (New Britain, CT/New Britain) came up with the first interception, denying James Madison on the The Blue Devils garnered five first-place votes to headline the NEC pre- game’s opening drive. Meanwhile, rookie safety Tyrell Holmes (Bristol, CT/Bristol Eastern) picked off a pass for season coaches’ poll for a second straight summer. the second consecutive week. One week after his performance against Southern Connecticut landed him the NEC Rookie of the Week award, Holmes made six tackles (5 solo) and intercepted Thorpe at CC’s 3-yard line just before After capturing the 2009 NEC crown outright, Central Connecticut tied halftime. The Dukes averaged 4.3 yards per pass attempt and managed only two first downs through the air. James Robert Morris for the 2010 title but the latter took the league’s automatic Madison actually managed 105 more passing yards in its opener at North Carolina than it did against the NEC pre- bid to the NCAA FCS playoffs by virtue of a 42-24 Week 10 victory. season favorite Blue Devils.

Robert Morris, which ended a 10-year NEC title drought and became the Don’t Overlook Larry NEC’s first-ever NCAA FCS playoff participant last season, received one It was easy to look past the performance of Larry McCoy (Wytheville, VA/Wythe) during Duquesne’s road win over first-place vote, but finished third in the preseason poll behind Steel City Dayton. The Dukes used fine special teams play and 300-plus yards of offense from quarterback Sean Patterson rival Duquesne. Coming off their winningest season as a NEC member, (Toledo, OH/St. John’s Jesuit) to end Dayton’s FCS-leading 10-game win streak. Duquesne, which had been the last the Dukes garnered two first-place nods to finish as the poll’s runner-up. team to defeat Dayton prior to the streak, saw their kicker nail a go-ahead field goal with 30 seconds left and then Albany, a four-time league champion and preseason favorite from 2006 benefitted from an unusual field goal block touchdown return on the game’s final play. All the while, McCoy quietly through 2009, finished fourth in the annual predicted order-of-finish.Bry - did what he does best – rack up another 100-yard rushing performance. The preseason all-NEC running back carried ant, which enters its third year of NEC play, claimed fifth place. Outer Bridge 26 times for 113 yards, including a key 16-yard rush that set up the game-winning field goal. McCoy, who logged rivals Monmouth and Wagner finished sixth and seventh, respectively, in 112 rushing yards and a touchdown in the season opener at Bucknell (Sept. 3), has topped the 100-yard mark in the poll. Sacred Heart (eighth) and Saint Francis (PA) (ninth) rounds out eight of his last 10 appearances. the coaches’ preseason selections.

Shadrae Can Become RMU Receiving King The NEC released the poll results and also unveiled a 25-member Preseason Liberty slowed down Robert Morris’ offense on Saturday (Sept. 10), but the Flames couldn’t end Shadrae King’s All-Conference during its annual preseason media teleconference. All nine (Pittsburgh, PA/McKeesport) quest for history. Robert Morris’ All-American tight end caught two passes for 24 head coaches were available on the call to answer questions from news- yards in the 38-7 road loss. The game marked the 21st consecutive outing during which King has made at least one paper writers and broadcasters throughout the conference’s geographic reception, a RMU record for a tight end. With one catch in RMU’s next game at Morgan State (Sept. 17), King can footprint, which stretches from the mid-Atlantic up to Rhode Island and tie the all-time program record. out to Pittsburgh. A select number of fans questions were also asked. Entering its 16th season on the gridiron, the Northeast Conference will grant its champion automatic access to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs for the second consecutive year.

The conference will determine its champion again follow an eight-game format and the league will once again produce a five-game television package that will give each NEC team at least one exposure (game dates/ listings are TBA).

Central Connecticut partially lived up to its preseason billing last year as the Blue Devils settled for a co-championship after winning an outright title in 2009 when Albany was tabbed the preseason “team to beat.”

If the Blue Devils were again to live up to the poll’s expectations, it would be the fifth time in the past eight years that Central has at least earned a share of the conference crown.

2010 NEC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG 2011 NEC FOOTBALL SCHEDULES

ALBANY (0-1, 0-0 NEC) BRYANT (1-1, 0-0 NEC) CENTRAL CONNECTICUT (1-1, 0-0 NEC) DUQUESNE (1-1, 0-0 NEC)

9/3 at Colgate...... L, 37-34 (OT) 9/3 at Maine...... L, 28-13 9/3 Southern Connecticut...... W, 35-21 9/3 at Bucknell...... L, 27-26

9/17 Maine...... 6:00 pm 9/10 American International...... W, 27-16 9/10 at #19 James Madison...... L, 14-9 9/10 at Dayton...... W, 22-13

9/24 at Columbia...... 12:30 pm 9/17 at Sacred Heart...... 1:00 pm 9/17 at Wagner...... 1:00 pm 9/17 Valparaiso...... 12:00 pm

10/1 at Saint Francis (PA)...... 1:00 pm 9/24 Wagner...... 1:00 pm 9/24 Monmouth...... 12:00 pm 9/24 at Saint Francis (PA)...... 1:00 pm

10/8 Duquesne...... 1:00 pm 10/1 at Duquesne...... 1:00 pm 10/1 Sacred Heart...... 12:00 pm 10/1 Bryant...... 1:00 pm

10/15 Robert Morris...... 1:00 pm 10/8 Stonehill...... 1:00 pm 10/8 at Massachusetts...... 6:00 pm 10/8 at Albany...... 1:00 pm

10/22 at Central Connecticut...... 12:00 pm 10/15 Monmouth...... 1:00 pm 10/15 at Duquesne...... 12:00 pm 10/15 Central Connecticut...... 12:00 pm

10/29 at Wagner...... 1:00 pm 10/22 at Robert Morris...... 12:00 pm 10/22 Albany...... 12:00 pm 10/22 Wagner...... 12:00 pm

11/5 Bryant...... 1:00 pm 11/5 at Albany...... 1:00 pm 10/29 at Saint Francis (PA)...... 1:00 pm 10/29 at Monmouth...... 1:00 pm

11/12 at Monmouth...... 12:00 pm 11/12 Saint Francis (PA)...... 12:00 pm 11/5 Robert Morris...... 12:00 pm 11/12 at Sacred Heart...... 12:00 pm

11/19 Sacred Heart...... 1:00 pm 11/19 Central Connecticut...... 12:00 pm 11/19 at Bryant...... 12:00 pm 11/19 Robert Morris...... 12:00 pm

MONMOUTH (0-1, 0-0 NEC) ROBERT MORRIS (0-2, 0-0 NEC) SACRED HEART (0-1, 0-0 NEC) SAINT FRANCIS (PA) (0-2, 0-1 NEC)

9/3 Lehigh...... L, 49-24 9/3 Dayton...... L, 19-13 9/3 Marist...... L, 20-7 9/3 at Wagner...... L, 38-28

9/17 at VIllanova...... 3:30 pm 9/10 at #24 Liberty...... L, 38-7 9/17 Bryant...... 1:00 pm 9/10 at #11 North Dakota St...... L, 56-3

9/24 at Central Connecticut...... 12:00 pm 9/17 at Morgan State...... 1:00 pm 9/24 Dartmouth...... 1:00 pm 9/17 Morehead State...... 1:00 pm

10/1 Robert Morris...... 1:00 pm 10/1 at Monmouth...... 1:00 pm 10/1 at Central Connecticut...... 12:00 pm 9/24 Duquesne...... 1:00 pm

10/8 Colgate...... 1:00 pm 10/8 Saint Francis (PA)...... 7:00 pm 10/8 at Columbia...... 12:30 pm 10/1 Albany...... 1:00 pm

10/15 at Bryant...... 1:00 pm 10/15 at Albany...... 1:00 pm 10/15 Saint Francis (PA)...... 1:00 pm 10/8 at Robert Morris...... 7:00 pm

10/22 at Sacred Heart...... 1:00 pm 10/22 Bryant...... 12:00 pm 10/22 Monmouth...... 1:00 pm 10/15 at Sacred Heart...... 12:00 pm

10/29 Duquesne...... 1:00 pm 10/29 Sacred Heart ...... 12:00 pm 10/29 at Robert Morris...... 12:00 pm 10/22 at Youngstown State...... 4:00 pm

11/5 at Saint Francis (PA)...... 1:00 pm 11/5 at Central Connecticut...... 12:00 pm 11/5 at Wagner...... 1:00 pm 10/29 Central Connecticut...... 1:00 pm

11/12 Albany...... 12:00 pm 11/12 Wagner...... 12:00 pm 11/12 Duquesne...... 12:00 pm 11/5 Monmouth...... 1:00 pm

11/19 Wagner...... 12:00 pm 11/19 at Duquesne...... 12:00 pm 11/19 at Albany...... 1:00 pm 11/12 at Bryant...... 12:00 pm

WAGNER (1-1, 1-0 NEC)

9/3 Saint Francis (PA)...... W, 38-28

9/10 at #9 Richmond...... L, 21-6

9/17 Central Connecticut...... 1:00 pm

9/24 at Bryant...... 1:00 pm

10/1 at Cornell...... 1:00 pm

10/8 Georgetown...... 1:00 pm

10/22 at Duquesne...... 12:00 pm

10/29 Albany...... 1:00 pm

11/5 Sacred Heart...... 1:00 pm

11/12 at Robert Morris...... 12:00 pm

11/19 at Monmouth...... 12:00 pm

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG ALBANY GREAT DANES OVERALL RECORD: 0-1, NEC RECORD 0-0 LAST WEEK: Idle THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 vs. Maine, 6:00 pm - Albany, NY (University Field)

• UAlbany (0-1, NEC 0-0) was idle last week after dropping a against UAlbany on National Football League 53-man ac- 37-34 overtime at Colgate on Sept. 3 … the Great Danes start- tive rosters … QB Joe Flacco (Baltimore, Delaware), OT Wil- HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB ed their schedule on the road for the 11th time in 13 campaigns lie Colon (Pittsburgh, Hofstra), DE Kroy Biermann (Atlanta, The Architect of UAlbany Football turned 74 at the Division I FCS level Montana), DB Leigh Bodden (New England, Duquesne) and years young on September 11 and had a bye • UAlbany has played in eight games decided by three points or WR Marques Colston (New Orleans, Hofstra) are among the week to celebrate. Head coach Bob Ford has less since the beginning of the 2009 season notables on the list been at Albany since 1970 and is the active • Maine, who fell to FBS opponent Pittsburgh, 35-29, last Sat- • Herb Glass (Miller Place, NY/Miller Place) became the wins leader in the NCAA Football Championship urday after starting with a home win over Bryant, travels to school’s all-time scoring placekicker at Colgate (Sept. 3), shat- Subdivision. He is fourth all-time in the FCS University Field on Sept. 17 for UAlbany’s home opener … the tering Bryan Bagstad’s previous standard. Glass, who has 174 ranks, which are topped by the legendary Eddie game will be televised in the Capital Region and in parts of career points, is fifth on the overall scoring chart. He booted a Robinson. Maine on Time Warner Cable Sports … the Great Danes have 48-yard field goal in the opening period at Colagte, tying the won five of seven games following a bye week as a NCAA FCS third-longest kick in UAlbany history. The senior also tied Ja- program son Fralicker (2006-07) for first in career field goals with 28. • Paul Layton (Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake) • The Great Danes scored their most points in an opener since leads all FCS punters with a 50.8 average per attempt … Layton 1999, as starting QB Dan Di Lella (Neshanic Station, NY/ has 15 fifty-plus yard punts at the collegiate level Somerville) accounted for career-highs in passing yards (239) • S Jake Ciccarello (Altamonte Springs, FL/Winter Springs), and total offense (261) … TB Andrew Smith (Schenectady, ILB Jon Morgan (Copiague, NY/Copiague) and ILB Dave NY/Guilderland) and TB Ben Miseikis (Fort Johnson, NY/Am- Plungas (Concord Township, OH/Mentor Lake Catholic) can sterdam) scored on runs of five and 19 yards, respectively, as all reach the 100-career tackle mark against Maine UAlbany piled up 427 total yards, the most in an opener in the • There are currently 27 players who played as collegians program’s FCS history

BRYANT BULLDOGS OVERALL RECORD: 1-1, NEC RECORD 0-0 LAST WEEK: W, 27-16 vs. American Int’l (Sept. 10) - Smithfield, RI (Bulldog Stadium) THIS WEEK: Sept. 16 at SACRED HEART, 7:00 pm - Fairfield, CT (Campus Field) - LIVE on NEC-TV (MSG+ HD & Cox HD [CT/RI])

• Bryant scored the final 20 points on Saturday to overcome SECOND-HALF SURPRISE a 16-7 second half deficit, and defeat AIC 27-16 at Bulldog Bryant featured a different quarterback on its first pos- Stadium. session of the second half against American Internation- • The Bulldogs are now 7-1 under head coach Marty Fine in al. After redshirt freshman Mike Westerhaus made his home openers, having now won seven in a row. second straight start, he stepped aside to make way for • In his first action of the season, senior Mike Croce (Water- senior Mike Croce. The Bulldogs’ starter for each of the bury, CT/Holy Cross), who returned from injury to play oen past two years, Croce suffered a summertime injury that prevented him from participating in training camp. He quarter (the third) during the Bulldogs’ home opener, hit junior played the entire third quarter to finish 1-for-3 passing. running back Jordan Brown (Glastonbury, CT/Glastonbury) His lone completion went 54 yards and a touchdown. with a screen pass and Brown took it 54 yards for a touchdown Croce was sacked twice and lost a fumble before Wester- that cut the deficit to 16-13. haus took the reins back for the fourth quarter. • Sophomore quarterback Mike Westerhaus (Farmingville, MD), who has started the season’s first two games in place • Defensively, Paul Hanley (Leicester, Mass.) had a team-high of Croce, then led the Bulldogs to a fourth-quarter comeback. ten tackles and Jordan Kelly (Canton, Mass.) had two sacks Westerhaus drove Bryant 90 yards in 10 plays, capping the and forced a fumble in the 11-point win over AIC scoring march by hitting senior tight end Matt Tracey (Little- • Jordan Brown’s three touchdowns give him 23 total touch- ton, CO/Heritage) in the back of the end zone for a touchdown, downs for his career and move him into sole possession to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game. Westerhaus of second place in the Bryant record books. He surpassed added another touchdown pass later in the quarter. Westerhaus Lindsey Gamble, and now eyes down Lorenzo Perry (38) finished 10-for-13 passing for 106 yards and two touchdowns. • Jordan Brown had 184 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns in the Week 2 win Preseason all-NEC rusher Jordan Brown (Right)

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE BLUE DEVILS OVERALL RECORD: 1-1, NEC RECORD 0-0 LAST WEEK: L, 14-9 at No. 19 James Madison (Sept. 10) - Harrisonburg, VA (Bridgeforth Stadium) THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 at WAGNER, 1:00 pm - Staten Island, NY (Wagner Stadium)

• The Blue Devils played in front of the largest crowd in • Central picked off a pair of JMU passes in the loss. They program history, 25,102 fans, on Saturday night, as James have four interceptions in the first two games this season. Madison opened its newly-renovated Bridgeforth Stadium. They had only five interceptions last season The crowd was the largest home crowd in JMU history • Central forced five total turnovers in the loss to JMU. They have forced nine turnovers in two games this season OPEN MAC • The Blue Devils were facing the first of two CAA teams “We fought hard. I’m proud of our this season. They will also face UMass come October 8 guys. We didn’t come here to lose, to in Amherst • Senior running back Brian Fowler (Geneva, NY/Erie CC) play for second. We came here to win rushed 21 times for 93 yards at JMU and I’m proud of the way we repre- • Sophomore running back Chris Tolbert (Silver Spring, sented our team and University. These MD/Springbrook) scored the only touchdown of the game for the Blue Devils. It was his first rushing touchdown of guys are tough. We fought to the end.” the season • Junior placekicker Juan Duque (New Britain, CT/New CCSU head coach Britain) kicked a 35-yard field goal that pulled CC within Jeff McInerney 7-3 in the fourth quarter. It was the first field goal of his (after 14-9 loss at JMU) career CCSU CB Chris Linares

DUQUESNE DUKES OVERALL RECORD: 1-1, NEC RECORD 0-0, LAST WEEK: W, 22-13 at Dayton (Sept. 10) - Dayton, OH (Welcome Stadium) THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 vs. Valpo, 12:00 pm - Pittsburgh, PA (Rooney Field)

• The Dukes win ended Dayton’s nation-best FCS win streak finished with a team and career-high nine tackles Coolidge) WELCOME BACK CONNOR at 10. DU had been the last team to defeat the Flyers, winning (four solo). His previous career best was seven set last year 35-31 at Pittsburgh on Sept. 11 of the 2010 season. Duquesne against Graduate student Connor Dixon (South Park, PA/ has won four of the past five meetings between the two and • Senior Brooks Roorback (Beaver Falls, PA/Blackhawk) South Park) was granted a sixth year of eligibility now leads the all-time series 5-4 caught a career high seven passes for 48 yards. Roorback, who • Senior cornerback Jared Williams (Pittsburgh, PA/Perry did not have a catch in nine games last season, has 10 catches one day prior to Duquesne’s season opener. After Traditional Academy) had a hand in nine of Duquesne’s 22 in two games this season not practicing with the team since last November, points. His 19-yard interception return in the third quarter set • Senior Isaac Spragg (Westfield, VA/Valley Forge) continued up a game-tying 40-yard field goal from Charlie Leventry. Wil- his strong start with six catches for 93 yards. Spragg has a Dixon stepped in and caught a 14-yard touchdown liams also blocked Dayton’s last-second, 50-yard field goal at- team-high 16 catches for 193 yards in two games. He entered pass from on his first play from scrimmage early tempt and returned it for a touchdown on the game’s final play the season with eight catches in 22 career games to seal the win. He added three tackles on the afternoon • Safeties Khiry Carter (Philadelphia, PA/West Philadelphia in the second quarter. The 6-5, 206-pounder was • Junior Charlie Leventry (Johnstown, PA/Richland), DU’s Catholic) and Serge Kona (Gaithersburg, MD/Gaithersburg) back at it again in Week 2 at Dayton, extending his starting punter for the past two seasons, kicked field goals of were credited with three pass break ups each 40, 28 and 24 yards. The 40-yarder was a career-long and the • The Duquesne defense limited Dayton to 124 yards passing personal streak to 17 consecutive games with a

24-yarder with 30 seconds left gave the Dukes a 16-13 lead. on 32 attempts and the Flyers were able to convert just 3-of-13 catch. Dixon, who has caught a pass in every game This seasons is Leventry’s first as Duquesne’s full-time place- third downs since moving from QB to WR eight games into the kicker

• Junior running back Larry McCoy (Wytheville, VA/George 2009 season, has six receptions for 94 yards and Wythe) carried 26 times for 113 yards. It was his eighth 100- two touchdowns in 2011. yard game in his past 10 outings, and 12th of his career • Senior linebacker Chris Oliver (Washington, DC/Calvin

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG MONMOUTH HAWKS OVERALL RECORD: 0-1, NEC RECORD 0-0 LAST WEEK: Idle THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 at Villanova, 3:30 pm - Villanova, PA (Goodreau Field)

• Monmouth returns from its bye week by traveling across the face Villanova coming coming off the bye week on Sept. 17 COACH CAL’S TAKE Delaware River for a bout with nationally-ranked Villanova. The before welcoming Robert Morris to West Long Branch two Hawks will look for a road upset as means for avenging their weeks later. Lehigh, which came to Kessler Field with a No. 13 “As a team, we didn’t play the way we needed to Week 1 loss to then-No. 13 Lehigh ranking, is the highest-ranked team ever to play at Monmouth. play to be in a game or win a game like there was • Junior cornerback Elijah Phillips (Willingboro, NJ/Holy • The Hawks opened the season with a 14-play, 72 yard drive Cross) returned to the field against Lehigh after missing the which ended with a 2-yard Pete Nagy (East Hanover, NJ/ today. It was across the board. There were break- entire 2010 season due to injury and wasted no time before Hanover Park) touchdown. The Hawks converted four third downs in the secondary that allowed big pass making an impact. He delivered a couple of hard hits to go downs on the drive and junior QB Kyle Frazier (Damascus, along with an interception. Phillips finished with five total tack- MD/Damascus) was 4-of-6 passing on the drive plays which got them out to a 21-7 lead and it was les and also recorded three pass break-ups. Phillips’ INT led • Tight End Tyler George (Berkeley Heights, NJ/Gov. Livings- an uphill battle from there. We had difficulty put- to a Monmouth field goal, before his 46-yard punt return in the ton) picked up where he left off last year when he led the Hawks fourth quarter led to a MU touchdown in receptions. Against Lehigh, he made a team-high eight re- ting anything together consistently on either side ceptions for 72 yards • Monmouth is now 4-15 all-time in openers, with Saturday’s of the ball and when you play a good team, that’s game against Lehigh just the fifth time that MU has opened the • Three different players scored the MU TDs against the Moun- season at home (2-3 record) tain Hawks, with Nagy and true freshman Julian Hayes (Mid- not enough to be successful.” • With Saturday’s loss to Lehigh, the Hawks have now lost four dletown, CT/Hun School) scoring their first touchdowns for the straight non-conference matchups, the last MU victory over a Blue & White. Redshirt senior Balial Sloan El (Pennsauken, non-NEC opponent came on Sept. 26. 2009 NJ/Roman Catholic) had the other Hawk score Monmouth head coach • Lehigh was the first of three opponents on the MU schedule Kevin Callahan who made it to the 2010 FCS playoffs. The Hawks will play all (after Week 1 loss to Lehigh) three of those opponents in the first four games. The Hawks

ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS OVERALL RECORD: 0-2, NEC RECORD 0-0 LAST WEEK: L, 38-7 at No. 24 Liberty - Lynchburg, VA(Williams Stadium) THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 at Morgan State, 1:00 pm - Baltimore, MD (Hughes Stadium)

• Robert Morris saw its losing streak reach four (dating back purpose yards. Thanks to his performance against the Flames, BACK TO .500 to 2010) with a 38-7 setback at No. 24 Liberty. The Colonials Coleman moved into eighth place all-time in school history slipped to 2-2 all-time against ranked opponents with the loss, with 2,521 career all-purpose yards Robert Morris’ loss to No. 24 Liberty dropped the Colo-

including 0-2 on the road • The Robert Morris secondary accounted for 28 of RMU’s nials’ all-time record vs. Top 25 teams to 2-2. • RMU has started the season 0-2 for just the fifth time in the 57 tackles against Liberty, with senior cornerback Alex Tarr 18-year history of the program. (Bethel Park, PA/Bethel Park) pacing the defense with a NOW THAT’S A LOT OF PEOPLE Senior tight end Shadrae King (McKeesport, PA/McKees- career-high eight tackles The attendance of 15,805 at Williams Stadium is the larg- port) extended his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 21 dating back to the 2009 campaign by finishing est crowd in school history for an RMU football game. with two catches for 24 yards. He also became the third player in school history to eclipse 100 career receptions. King owns 101 career catches, trailing only former wide receiver Tyjuan Massey (112) and former tight end Rupert Rickards (107). • The freshman running back duo of Justin Brooks (St. Charles, MD/McDonough) and Duane Mitchell (Monroe Falls, OH/Stow) again had a good week, combining for 114 yards rushing on 30 attempts. Brooks finished the evening with 22 carries for 86 yards. • Senior wide receiver Anthony Coleman (Cheltenham, MD/ St. John’s College HS) caught six passes for 59 yards to lead the Robert Morris receiving corps and also compiled 165 all-

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG SACRED HEART PIONEERS OVERALL RECORD: 0-1, NEC RECORD 0-0 LAST WEEK: Idle THIS WEEK: Sept. 16 vs. BRYANT, 7:00 pm - Fairfield, CT (Campus Field) LIVE on NEC-TV (MSG+ HD & Cox HD [CT/RI])

• Sacred Heart comes off its bye week and opens its NEC SOUNDING OFF schedule against Bryant at Campus Field. The Sept. 16 game “The quarterbacks are a little bit of a problem, but will kick off at 7:00 pm and can be seen live on MSG+ and Cox

• Tim Little (Egg Harbor Twp., NJ/Egg Harbor Twp) scored we didn’t help them. We had our opportunities,

his first collegiate touchdown with a five yard run in the first certainly early, too.” quarter to give SHU a 7-0 lead in the season opener vs. Marist Sacred Heart head coach (Sept. 3). Paul Gorham • SHU blanked the Red Foxes over the first thirty minutes of the

season, looking to pitch its first shutout of an opponent since

defeating Robert Morris 34-0 in October of 2003.

• Freshman J.D. Roussel (Pawtucket, RI/St. Raphael Acad- “It always tough when you are on the field a lot, emy) had his first career interception in the second quarter, but, as a defense, it’s our job to stop them and get one play after the Marist defense had picked off the Pioneers the ball back to the offense.” • The Pioneers only picked up two first in the second half but Preseason all-NEC LB the defense kept the game tied after three quarters vs. Marist

• SHU did not help its freshman QB’s in the season opener, Chris Mandas netting just 32 rushing yards on 28 attempts

SAINT FRANCIS (PA) RED FLASH OVERALL RECORD: 0-2, NEC RECORD 0-1 LAST WEEK: L, 56-3 at No.11 North Dakota State (Sept. 10) - Fargo, ND (Fargodome) THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 vs. Morehead State, 1:00 pm - Loretto, PA (DeGol Field)

• Saint Francis opens its home schedule on Sept. 17 as More- 49-yard return and raised his kick return average to 29.4 yards head State travels to DeGol Field. Last season, Saint Francis per kick return through two games in 2011 won its home opener against Sacred Heart, 41-0.

• Sophomore Corey Nielsen (Cerritos, CA/Gahr) saw his first VILLARRIAL’S THOUGHTS action for Saint Francis at quarterback after transferring from “These are the kind of games you need to Hawaii. Nielsen completed five-of-six passes in the fourth quar- play. North Dakota State is a great team and ter against NDSU

• Ryan LaDuke (Greensburg, PA/Greater Latrobe) led the you can’t be afraid to go out and play some Flash in receptions for the second consecutive game. LaDuke of the nation’s top teams.” leads Saint Francis in receptions with 11 catches for 91 yards on the season SFPA head coach • Florida State transfer AJ Alexander (Altoona, PA/Altoona) led the Red Flash in all-purpose yards with 116 with 86 coming on Chris Villarrial three kickoff returns. In his first two games with Saint Francis, Alexander has 273 all-purpose yards

• Sophomore LB Anthony Bowman (Damascus, MD/Our Lady Good Counsel) made 3.0 tackles for loss, the most by an SFU player in a single game since Scott Lewis made 3.5 TFL in 2010 against Morehead State • Alexander opened the game against North Dakota State with a

WWW.NORTHEASTCONFERENCE.ORG WAGNER SEAHAWKS OVERALL RECORD: 1-1, NEC RECORD 1-0 LAST WEEK: L, 21-6 at No. 9 Richmond (Sept. 10) - Richmond, VA (Robins Stadium) THIS WEEK: Sept. 17 vs. CENTRAL CONNECTICUT, 1:00 pm - Staten Island, NY (Wagner Stadium)

• With his 121 yards passing vs. Richmond, the ninth-ranked § Junior linebacker Mike Lombardo (Jupiter, FL/ Jupiter team in The Sports Network Poll, junior quarterback Nick Christian) and junior cornerback Torian Phillips (Staten Is- Doscher (Staten Island, NY/ Moore Catholic) moved into land, NY/ Port Richmond) nabbed the first interceptions of sixth-place on the Seahawk all-time list with 3,691 yards… their careers vs. Richmond. Lombardo’s pick occurred in the Sitting in fifth place is Greg Tovar (1985-88) at 3,895 yards… end zone, quelling a long Richmond drive. Phillips’ second Doscher’s 13 completions vs. Richmond also moved him into quarter INT led to a 38-yard field goal by junior kicker David sixth place in that category with 272… Jason Cue (1993-94) is Lopez (Plantation, FL/ American Heritage) next in fifth place with 282 completions • Senior strong safety Jeremiah Brown (Brooklyn, NY/ Grand • Richmond is a member of the ultra-competitive Colonial Ath- Street Campus) was around the football all game long vs. letic Association (CAA)…In its 80 previous seasons of college Richmond as he paced the Seahawks with 12 tackles, two shy football, Wagner had only faced one other school that is a cur- of his career high of 14. He also contributed one forced fumble, rent member of the CAA in Towson University. Wagner and one fumble recovery and one pass breakup Towson engaged in a two-game series in the mid 1990’s. On • Lopez accounted for all of Wagner’s scoring vs. Richmond by September 23, 1995, the Seahawks earned a 23-15 victory over going a perfect 2-of-2 vs. the Spiderss…His 38-yard field goal Towson on Grymes Hill. The following season, on November with 6:01 left in the opening half allowed the Seahawks to go 16, 1996, the Tigers came away with a 35-11 win…The Rich- into halftime trailing by just a 7-3 count….With 2:40 remaining mond game marked just the third in Seahawk history to take in the third quarter, Lopez drilled a 45-yard field goal to draw place in the state of Virginia…On September 16, 1989, Wagner Wagner to within 14-6…On the season, Lopez, a Preseason posted a 31-7 win at Newport News…The teams met again in All-Northeast Conference selection, has been successful on all Virginia on October 5, 1991 with Newport News coming out three of his attempts on top 32-19