CAA FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE - OCT. 5
CAA Football Players of the Week -- Oct. 6
CAA Football announced its Player of the Week honorees, Monday, Oct. 6. Three individuals earned honors following their performances on the field Saturday, including Rhode Island's Derek Cassidy, Massachusetts' Josh Jennings and William and Mary’s Jonathan Grimes.
Cassidy, the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week, helped the Rams top 25th-ranked Brown in the battle for the Governor’s Cup and Rhode Island state bragging rights, 37-13, Saturday. The Winter Haven, Fla., native completed 25-of-37 passes for 298 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes against the Bears. Cassidy’s 298-yard passing day marks the fifth time in Rhode Island’s six games this season he has gone over 200-yard mark. Cassidy also became only the second quarterback in Rhody history to garner five touchdown passes in a single-game, equalling a mark set by Tom Ehrhardt. The senior also now leads the league in both total offense (272.0 yards/game) and passing yards (271.3 yards/game). This is Cassidy’s first-ever weekly CAA Football honor.
Jennings grabbed CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week honors after leading No. 18 Massachusetts to a 17-7 win over No. 16 Delaware Saturday. The New Britain, Conn., native made a career-high 16 tackles in the win, while leading an impressive Minutemen defensive effort. Massachusetts limited Delaware to just 167 total yards on the day, and just 88 yards after the Blue Hens’ game-opening scoring drive of 79 yards. Delaware was only able to garner 63 second-half yards, including just five through the air. Jennings, who now has earned two Defensive Player of the Week honors in 2008, also made 3.5 tackles for loss in the win.
Grimes, earned both CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week honors and the CAA Football Rookie of the Week award, after accounting for 324 all-purpose yards in William and Mary’s contest against No. 14 Villanova. Grimes helped get the Tribe on the board late in the first half when he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. The Palmyra, N.J., native went on to total 161 yards in kickoff returns on just four attempts. Offensively, Grimes hauled in a team-high six receptions for a game-high 105 yards and rushed 11 times for 58 yards in the losing effort. Both his 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and his 105 yards receiving marked William and Mary true freshman records. With the two honors this week, Grimes now has a total of three weekly CAA Football honors in his career.
CAA Football Launches Another Landmark TV Package
CAA Football will feature an even larger television package than the league debuted at the beginning of its Inaugural Season.
CAA Football Commissioner Tom Yeager announced a 41-game television schedule as part of the league’s Media Day Celebration at the ESPNZone in Baltimore, Md. The schedule, the largest conference television package among the nation’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), is highlighted by a conference-only package of 21 games on Comcast regional television networks CN8, The Comcast Network and Comcast SportsNet.
The 21-game conference-only package covered by the Comcast networks features the most competitive games airing on regional networks spanning the East Coast. CN8 will air 12 match-ups throughout its Maine to Virginia footprint. Comcast SportsNet networks including Comcast SportsNet New England and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will cover an additional nine games throughout the 13-week season, with additional distribution possible on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, CSS and SNY, schedule permitting.
The remaining 20 games on the 2008 CAA Football Television package will include two non-conference games on CN8, one on Comcast SportsNet, seven broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks and a single game on both the Big Ten Network and NESN. WABI-TV in Maine will provide coverage for five of the Black Bears’ six home games this season. Madison Square Garden Network (MSG) has plans to broadcast one contest, Towson will play a non-conference match-up on CSTV and WMUR-TV in New Hampshire will provide coverage of New Hampshire’s contest at Dartmouth.
Television listings for every game are listed throughout this release.
CAA Football In The Polls
For a complete rundown of both the Sports Network Top-25 and the FCS Coaches Poll visit page 18 of the weekly release. Below are highlights and notes about CAA Football in this week’s rankings.
The Sports Network Top-25
No. 1 James Madison carries on what is now a three-week span CAA Football has owned the top-spot in the poll. The last time a CAA Football school was ranked No. 1 in consecutive weeks was in 2006 when New Hampshire held on to No. 1 from Sept. 11-Oct. 9 (five weeks).
The Dukes’ No. 1 ranking also marks the second-straight week they have been at No. 1 -- the first time since 2005 JMU has been at the top of The Sports Network Top-25 for consecutive weeks.
On Sept. 22 both Richmond (No. 1) and James Madison (No. 2) became the first duo from a single-league to hold the Top-2 spots in The Sports Network Poll since 1991. It also marked the first time in CAA Football’s 62-year history (Atlantic 10 and Yankee Conference) it has ever held the Top-2 spots in any National Top-25.
The league boasts three teams among the Top-5, including No. 1 James Madison, No. 4 New Hampshire and No. 5 Richmond -- marking the first time since Oct. 20, 2003 when the Atlantic 10 held three of the Top-5 spots -- No. 2 Villanova, No. 3 Delaware and No. 5 Massachusetts.
CAA Football’s six ranked squads in the Sports Network’s Top-25 mark the second-straight season the league has had six teams ranked following the sixth week of the season.
CAA Football’s six teams in the poll is more than any other conference can boast, as both the Missouri Valley and SoCon show only five in this week’s poll.
CAA Football teams among the 2008 Sports Network rankings continue a weekly string of at least three league squads ranked among the Top 25 since the poll’s inception.
CAA Football also extends its string of at least two teams in the Sports Network Top-10 to 47-straight weeks. The league can now boast having at least two teams in the Sports Network Top-10 in 73 of the last 77 weeks. The last time CAA Football placed at least six among the Top-25 in six consecutive weeks was between Sept. 24-Nov. 5, 2007 which included Delaware, Hofstra, James Madison, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova -- all of which were ranked at some point during the streak.
FCS Coaches Top-25
James Madison’s No. 1 ranking in this week’s poll marks the first time CAA Football has owned the top spot in the FCS Coaches Poll in consecutive weeks (now three-straight weeks). When the Dukes first earned the No. 1 ranking (Sept. 22) it marked a first for CAA Football, as no team from the league had ever been ranked No. 1 by the Coaches during the poll’s two-year existence.
On Sept. 22 both James Madison (No. 1) and Richmond (No. 2) held the Top-2 spots in the poll, marking another first-ever for CAA Football in the FCS Coaches Poll. Since the poll debuted in 2007 no league has held the Top-2 spots in the same week.
The league boasts three teams among the Top-5 of the FCS Coaches Poll, including No. 1 James Madison, No. 4 New Hampshire and No. 5 Richmond. The three among the Top-5 marks a first-ever for any league in the FCS Coaches Top-25
Since the FCS Coaches Poll debut, CAA Football has had at least four squads ranked every week (19 weeks). The league’s total of six in this week’s poll mark the seventh-consecutive edition with as many CAA Football squads listed, and the 14th week overall.
CAA Football’s five teams among the poll’s Top-15 mark the sixth-straight week the league has had at least five squads among the Top-15 -- something only accomplished by CAA Football. The league has had four-or-more teams among the Coaches Top-15 each of the last 19 weeks of the Top-25 -- the poll has been released a total of 20 weeks dating back to the Preseason 2007 edition.
CAA Football -- The SEC of FCS
CAA Football is widely regarded as the toughest conference, top-to-bottom, in the landscape of FCS football. One can point to the SEC as a viable comparison for CAA Football on the FBS/BCS level.
In the Oct. 5 edition of the Associated Press Top-25, the SEC put a total of six teams in the poll, five of which were in the Top-15 -- No. 2 Alabama, No. 4 LSU, No. 10 Georgia, No. 11 Florida and No. 13 Vanderbilt. In the Oct. 6 edition of The Sports Network poll, CAA Football also placed six in the Top-25, five of which were among the Top-15 -- No. 1 James Madison, No. 4 New Hampshire, No. 5 Richmond, No. 9 Villanova and No. 13 Massachusetts.
The two leagues (The SEC and CAA Football) also are split into two six-team divisions. When comparing the breakdown of Top-15 teams by division the similarities hold true. The SEC has three teams from the East among the Top-15 (Florida, Georgia and Vanderbilte) and two teams from the West in the Top-15 (Alabama and LSU). CAA Football shows three teams from the South in the Top-15 (James Madison, Richmond and Villanova) and two teams from the North in the Top-15 (Massachusetts and New Hampshire)
In this week’s (Oct. 5) USA Today Coaches’ poll the SEC has six teams ranked and five among the Top-15 including No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Alabama, No. 10 Georgia, No. 12 Florida and No. 14 Vanderbilt. In this week’s FCS Coaches Poll CAA Football also has six teams ranked and five among the Top-15 including No. 1 James Madison, No. 4 New Hampshire, No. 5 Richmond, No. 11 Massachusetts and No. 13 Villanova.
Non-conference winning percentages for CAA Football and the SEC are almost identical. CAA Football is 21-5 (.808) against non-conference FCS opponents, while the rest of the country’s FCS squads are a combined 88-103 (.461) against non-conference FCS foes. The SEC is 19-5 (.792) against non-conference FBS opponents, while the rest of the country’s FBS teams are a combined 146-160 (.477) against non-conference FBS foes.
Comments from coaches on the toughness in both leagues also mirror each other:
Mississippi State’s Sylvester Croom -- “If you are going to compete in this conference, you’ve got to prepare well and you’ve got to play well every week. Anybody in this conference can beat anybody at any given time.”
Richmond’s Mike London -- “(CAA Football) is a tough conference. In this conference you have to be on point each game. If you are deficient in any area, whether it be offense, defense or special teams then you are going to have issues. It is the toughest FCS conference in the country ... there are good coaches, good players and good schemes. It all boils down to executing and on any given Saturday you better be ready to play.”
No. 1 vs. No. 5 -- CAA Football and FCS Style
Everyone knows about the battle between No. 1 and No. 5 at the BCS level -- No. 1 Oklahoma will take on No. 5 Texas at noon, as both teams hail from the Big 12’s South Division.
CAA Football’s South Division also is showcasing a national No. 1 against No. 5 battle this weekend -- and it will be televised in the 3:30 p.m. time slot -- immediately following the Red River Rivalry. No. 1 James Madison will travel to No. 5 Richmond in what is being dubbed the Farm Bureau Insurance Fall Classic.
A closer look at this rivalry will show it has every right to be compared to the game played as part of the Texas State Fair in the Cotton Bowl.
Over the last 10 meetings Richmond holds a 6-4 advantage over JMU. Oklahoma holds a 6-4 edge over Texas in their last 10 meetings. Richmond and Madison are tied 10-10 in the last 20 meetings, while Texas holds a narrow 10-9-1 advantage over OU in the last 20 years.
Saturday’s game in Richmond marks the first time ever both teams will play as teams ranked among the Top-5 in the country, while Oklahoma is 5-3 when both the Sooners and Longhorns were ranked among the Top-5 for the Red River Rivalry game. This year’s Richmond/JMU game marks the third-straight year both teams have been nationally ranked at the time of the matchup.
Richmond and James Madison have never met in a No. 1 vs. No. 5 matchup. Texas and Oklahoma have also never met in a No. 1 vs. No. 5 matchup.
Tribe’s Grimes Extends CAA Football National Honors Streak
William and Mary’s Jonathan Grimes garnered recognition as The Sports Network Special Teams Player of the Week Monday after earning the league’s weekly recognition as both the Special Teams Player and Rookie of the Week. The Sports Network and College Sporting News, both publications which devote major coverage to the FCS level of college football, will select National Player of the Week honorees following each week of competition during the 2008 regular season.
After just six weeks of play CAA Football has already garnered recognition 10 times (at least one honor in six-straight weeks) -- a total that is five more than any other FCS conference has won.
CAA Football athletes were honored nine of the 12 weeks in 2007, and boasted a total of 15 national winners. CAA Football’s total trailed only the Southern Conference’s 16 National Player of the Week honorees last season.
Check out page 16 of the weekly release for a complete rundown of CAA Football’s National Players of the Week.
Payton/Buchanan Watch
The Sports Network released its 2008 Preseason Watch lists for both the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan awards. CAA Football had two on the Payton Watch List -- UMass’ Liam Coen and James Madison’s Rodney Landers -- and one on the Buck Buchanan Watch List -- Maine’s Jovan Belcher. The Walter Payton Award is given to the most outstanding offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, while the Buck Buchanan Award is awarded to the most outstanding defensive player in FCS.
Several other league players may be added to the watch lists over the course of the season -- below are some of those names (including their to-date stats) along with those already on the lists.
Walter Payton Award
-- Liam Coen, QB (Massachusetts) - 92-147-5-1199 pass yds, 62.6%, 10 TD, 239.8 pass yds/game, (-11)-1199-1188 total yds, 237.6 total yds/game
-- Rodney Landers, QB (James Madison) - 42-71-3-596 pass yds, 59.2%, 6 TD, 99.3 pass yds/game, 105-735 rush yds, 8 TD, 122.5 rush yds/game, 735-596-1331 total yds, 221.8 total yds/game
-- Kevin Grayson, WR (Richmond) - 27-374 rec. yds, 1 TD, 74.8 rec. yds/game
-- Eugene Holloman, RB (James Madison) - 60-366 rush yds, 3 TD, 73.2 rush yds/game
-- Sean Schaefer, QB (Towson) - 139-217-8-1480 pass yds, 64.1%, 9 TD, 246.7 pass yds/game, (-16)-1480-1464 total yds, 244.0 total yds/game
Buck Buchanan Award
-- Jovan Belcher, DL (Maine) - 5 G, 17 solo, 28 assisted, 45 total, 6.0-21 TFL, 2.0-7 sacks, 1 FR, 1 PBU
-- Tim Kukucka, DL (Villanova) - 5 G, 6 solo, 9 assisted, 15 total, 4.0-11 TFL, 2.0-5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 PBU, 1 BLK
-- Sherman Logan, DL (Richmond) - 6 G, 6 solo, 13 assisted, 19 total, 4.5-32 TFL, 2.0-24 sacks, 1 FF, 1 PBU
-- Matt Marcorelle, DL (Delaware) - 4 G, 5 solo, 3 assisted, 8 total, 2.0-6 TFL, 0.5-4 sacks, 2 PBU, 1 BLK
-- Greg Miller, DL (Villanova) - 5 G, 21 solo, 9 assisted, 30 total, 10.5-48 TFL, 4.5-35 sacks, 2 FF
-- Lawrence Sidbury, DL (Richmond) - 6 G, 11 solo, 10 assisted, 21 total, 7.0-25 TFL, 2.0-12 sacks, 1 FR, 1 FF, 2 PBU
-- Sean Smalls, DB (Massachusetts) - 5 G, 9 solo, 6 assisted, 15 total, 2 PBU
CAA Football In The NFL
As of Oct. 7 a total of 32 CAA Football alumni and one head coach were listed among NFL franchises player personnel (athletes who exhausted their NCAA eligibility in CAA Football). Below is a list of CAA Football alums, the teams they are part of and each players’ statistics and results from the most recent week of NFL contests.
**The list includes head coaches, active rosters, practice squads, suspended players and injured reserve/physically unable to perform.
Player - Alma Mater - NFL Franchise - Roster Status
- Mike Adams - Delaware - Cleveland Browns - Active Roster
-- BYE WEEK --
- Stephen Bowen - Hofstra - Dallas Cowboys - Active Roster
-- not active vs CIN (W 31-22) --
- Jermon Bushrod - Towson - New Orleans Saints - Active Roster
-- not active vs MIN (L 27-30) --
- Willie Colon - Hofstra - Pittsburgh Steelers - Active Roster
-- started on Offensive Line vs JAC (W 26-21) --
- Marques Colston - Hofstra - New Orleans Saints - Active Roster
-- not active vs MIN (L 27-30) --
- Stephen Cooper - Maine - San Diego Chargers - Active Roster
-- 8 tackles, 1 tackle for loss vs MIA (L 10-17) --
- Mike DeVito - Maine - New York Jets - Active Roster
-- BYE WEEK --
- Brian Finneran - Villanova - Atlanta Falcons - Active Roster
-- saw action vs GB (W 27-24) --
- Joe Flacco - Delaware - Baltimore Ravens - Active Roster
-- 18-of-27 for 153 passing yards, 2 interceptions, 2-4 rushing yards vs TEN (L 10-13) --
- Corey Graham - New Hampshire - Chicago Bears - Active Roster
-- 7 tackles vs DET (W 34-7) --
- Tim Hightower - Richmond - Arizona Cardinals - Active Roster
-- 7-37 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, 2-8 receiving yards, 1 tackle vs BUF (W 41-17) --
- Akeem Jordan - James Madison - Philadelphia Eagles - Active Roster
-- 1 tackle vs WAS (L 17-23) --
- Dan Kreider - New Hampshire - St. Louis Rams - Active Roster
-- BYE WEEK --
- Mike Leach - William and Mary - Denver Broncos - Active Roster
-- saw action vs TB (W 16-13) --
- Paris Lenon - Richmond - Detroit Lions - Active Roster
-- 9 tackles vs CHI (L 7-34) --
- Brandon London - Massachusetts - Miami Dolphins - Active Roster
-- saw action vs SD (W 17-10) --
- Montell Owens - Maine - Jacksonville Jaguars - Active Roster
-- 2 tackles vs PIT (L 21-26) --
- Ben Patrick - Delaware - Arizona Cardinals - Active Roster
-- 2-11 receiving yards vs BUF (W 41-17) --
- Darren Sharper - William and Mary - Minnesota Vikings - Active Roster
-- 3 tackles vs NO (W 30-27) --
- Mike Tomlin - William and Mary - Pittsburgh Steelers - Head Coach
-- 26-21 winners over JAC --
- Raymond Ventrone - Villanova - New England Patriots - Active Roster
-- saw action vs SF (W 30-21) --
- Brian Westbrook - Villanova - Philadelphia Eagles - Active Roster
-- 12-33 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 6-51 receiving yards vs WAS (L 17-23) --
- Kyle Arrington - Hofstra - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Practice Squad
- Anthony Cotrone - Maine - Jacksonville Jaguars - Injured Reserve
- Christian Gaddis - Villanova - Cleveland Browns - Practice Squad
- Ryan Gibbons - Northeastern - Dallas Cowboys - Practice Squad
- James Ihedigbo - Massachusetts - New York Jets - Practice Squad
- Matt Lawrence - Massachusetts - Seattle Seahawks - Practice Squad
- Shemiah LeGrande - Hofstra - Detroit Lions - Injured Reserve
- Brandon McGowan - Maine - Chicago Bears - Injured Reserve
- Matt Mulligan - Maine - Miami Dolphins - Practice Squad
- Matt Sherry - Villanova - Cincinnati Bengals - Injured Reserve
- Arman Shields - Richmond - Oakland Raiders - Injured Reserve
#24/20 DELAWARE (2-3, 0-1 CAA)
This Week: hosts Maine (2-3, 0-2)
Next Week: hosts William and Mary (2-2, 0-1)
-- Delaware’s 17-7 loss Saturday at Massachusetts was just the third in the last 14 trips to Amherst.
-- The Blue Hens managed just 167 total yards and 10 first downs, averaging just 3.0 yards per play against UMass. Delaware gave up 459 yards but intercepted three passes and recovered a fumble, each inside their own territory.
-- After opening the game with a 15-play, 79-yard drive which consumed 9:09 and resulted in a touchdown, Delaware managed just 88 yards the rest of the day and had six possessions of three-and-out. The 15-plays and 9:09 were season highs in UD scoring drives.
-- Despite its offensive output against Massachusetts, Delaware still extended its consecutive streak of not being shutout to 153-straight games, just one shy of the school record of 154 set in 1983-96
HOFSTRA (2-3, 1-1 CAA)
This Week: at Bucknell (3-1)
Next Week: at Maine (2-3, 0-2)
-- Hofstra’s 195 yards on offense at James Madison Saturday marked the second lowest total of the season behind its 170-yard game at Connecticut.
-- Aaron Weaver tallied a career-best nine catches for 47 yards, leading all receivers in the game at Madison. He now has a team-leading 31 receptions for 241 yards. Anthony Nelson picked up four receptions for 15 yards against the Dukes and still leads the team in receiving yards with 279.
-- In addition to Luke Bonus’ game-high 11 tackles, Basim Hudeen posted a career-high eight tackles (2-6). Ray McDonough also tallied five tackles and two pass deflections.
-- Saturday’s game will be the seventh meeting against the Bucknell Bison but the first since 1994 (45-21). Hofstra holds a 4-2 series lead and is 2-1 in games played in Lewisburg. The Pride has won the last four meetings.
#1/1 JAMES MADISON (5-1, 3-0 CAA)
This Week: at #5/5 Richmond (4-2, 2-1)
Next Week: Bye Week
-- Rodney Landers became JMU’s all-time rushing yards leader for a QB with 2,442 at the conclusion of the Hofstra game, passing Eriq Williams’ (1989-92) previous record of 2,322. Landers now ranks sixth overall for JMU players. Landers recorded his 11th career 100-yard rushing game and his fourth this season (coming in each of the last four games). He now ranks fifth on JMU’s career total offense list with 4,792 yards.
-- JMU is now 41-14 since the start of the 2004 season and 24-3 at home during that time. Two of the three losses at home have come to Richmond (2005 and 2007).
-- James Madison has started 5-1 for what is now the third-straight year and the fourth time in the last five seasons.
-- Ronnell Brown’s interception for a TD against Hofstra was James Madison’s first since Marcus Haywood scored on a 44-yarder at New Hampshire in 2006.
MAINE (2-3, 0-2 CAA)
This Week: at #24/20 Delaware (2-3, 0-1)
Next Week: hosts Hofstra (2-3, 1-1)
-- Redshirt freshman Jared Turcotte earned CAA Football Rookie of the Week honors Sept. 29 after garnering a team-high 82 rushing yards on 11 carries in the Black Bears’ 24-10 loss to James Madison. The Lewiston, Maine, native who was playing in place of an injured Jhamal Fluellen, averaged 7.5 yards a carry against a defense which was limiting opponents to just 3.9 yards per attempt.
-- The Black Bears return to action Saturday at Delaware for a 6 p.m. kickoff at Delaware Stadium. The last time Maine and Delaware met, the Black Bears pulled out a 25-15 win over the Blue Hens in the 2005 season.
-- Offensive lineman Ryan Canary was named a semifinalist for the prestigious Draddy Trophy. Canary is one of just 43 players at the FCS level to be a semifinalist for the award, and one of just four CAA Football student-athletes listed as semifinalists.
#13/11 MASSACHUSETTS (3-2, 1-1 CAA)
This Week: at Northeastern (2-3, 1-0)
Next Week: hosts #5/5 Richmond (4-2, 2-1)
-- Josh Jennings earned CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week honors Monday. The New Britain, Conn., native made a career-high 16 tackles in the win, while leading an impressive Minutemen defensive effort which limited Delaware to just 167 total yards on the day, and just 88 yards after the Blue Hens’ game-opening scoring drive of 79 yards. Thanks to Jennings and the UMass defense, The Blue Hens were only able to garner 63 second-half yards, including just five through the air.
-- The Delaware game attendance of 16,422 was the largest regular-season crowd at McGuirk Stadium since Nov. 26, 1974 when 16,900 packed the facility against UConn.
-- Jeromy Miles’ 52-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter was the first by a Minuteman since Sean Smalls’ 90-yard run back against Towson last year on Sept. 15, 2007.
#4/4 NEW HAMPSHIRE (4-0, 1-0 CAA)
This Week: hosts William and Mary (2-2, 0-1)
Next Week: at Northeastern (2-3, 1-0)
-- New Hampshire is 4-0 for the first time since the Wildcats opened up 5-0 in 2006.
-- New Hampshire’s defense held Dartmouth, Sept. 27, scoreless in the first half and only allowed the Big Green 92 yards of offense over the first 30 minutes of the game. For the contest, UNH’s defense gave up just six points and 238 total offensive yards.
-- The New Hampshire offense had 310 yards and 28 points in the first half and finished the game with 42 points and 525 yards of total offense against Dartmouth, Sept. 27. The 500-yard offensive output marks the second time this season the Wildcats have racked up at least 500 yards of total offense.
-- As a team New Hampshire rushed for 265 yards against Dartmouth, Sept. 27, even without the services of junior running back Chad Kackert. The Wildcats carried the football 42 times for 265 yards and five touchdowns.
NORTHEASTERN (2-3, 1-0 CAA)
This Week: hosts #13/11 Massachusetts (3-2, 1-1)
Next Week: hosts #4/4 New Hampshire (4-0, 1-0)
-- Anthony Orio garnered his third 200-yard passing game of the season, throwing for 238 yards and connecting on TD passes of 24 and 30 yards to Chris Plum. He finished the Towson game 17-for-20 (85 percent). With the two TD passes, Orio passed Bob Connors (1967-69) for seventh all-time in Northeastern passing touchdown history.
-- Alex Broomfield, who rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown against Towson, often lined up to take the direct snap and either kept the ball or handed off to John Griffin, who rushed for 66 yards and scored his first career touchdown. For Broomfield, it was his fifth-career 100-yard rushing game and he now has five rushing TDs, tying a career high.
-- The Huskies scored 35 points against the Tigers after averaging 34.0 against Towson in the first eight meetings. It was just the second win by the road team in the series. Northeastern defeated Towson at Johnny Unitas Stadium in 2004.
RHODE ISLAND (2-4, 0-2 CAA)
This Week: at Towson (2-4, 0-2)
Next Week: hosts #9/13 Villanova (4-1, 2-0)
-- Derek Cassidy, who was the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week, threw for a career-high five touchdown passes Saturday against Brown. The Florida native completed 25-of-37 passes for 298 yards. Cassidy has now thrown for 200-or-more yards in five of six games this season. Cassidy also became just the second Rhody quarterback to throw for five touchdowns in a single game, joining former Rams QB Tom Ehrhardt.
-- This season Cassidy has thrown for 1,628 yards and has surpassed his previous career-best single-season passing total of 1,060 (2006). The URI signal caller has also thrown 11 touchdowns this season and has surpassed his previous career-best single-season touchdown total of six (2006).
-- Brandon Johnson-Farrell set a pair of career-highs Saturday as he caught eight passes for 72 yards. Johnson-Farrell also hauled in his first touchdown of the season Saturday. This season, Johnson-Farrell leads the squad with 26 receptions. In the last two games, the URI wide receiver has caught 22 passes for 206 yards.
#5/5 RICHMOND (4-2, 2-1 CAA)
This Week: hosts #1/1 James Madison (5-1, 3-0)
Next Week: at #13/11 Massachusetts (3-2, 1-1)
-- Saturday’s victory over VMI improved Richmond to 44-26 as a ranked team since 1993 and 13-4 since the start of last season.
-- VMI entered Saturday’s game with Richmond leading the nation with an average of 384.0 yards rushing, but Richmond’s rush defense (ranked 11th in the NCAA) limited the Keydets to just 267 yards on 59 carries (4.5 avg.). VMI was 0-of-5 passing with an interception.
-- Justin Rogers’ fumble recovery which was returned 41-yards for a touchdown, now gives him five TDs in his career (two by kickoff return, two by interception return). Rogers picked off a Tim Maypray pass in the game and now has four career interceptions - all coming this season. He needs one more to move into a tie for eighth on the Spiders’ single-season interceptions chart.
-- Eric Ward moved into a tie for second all-time at UR in TD passes (37) and stands third all-time in completions (441) with his performance at VMI.
TOWSON (2-4, 0-2 CAA)
This Week: hosts Rhode Island (2-4, 0-2)
Next Week: Bye Week
-- In the Tigers’ 35-17 loss to Northeastern, they took a 17-7 lead and surrendered 28 unanswered points. The Tigers never punted in the game and had 10 total possessions ? they scored two touchdowns and kicked a field goal. Two drives ended with turnovers and one drive ended with a missed field goal. Three of their drives ended on downs in Northeastern territory and one drive ended on downs in Towson territory.
-- Sean Schaefer completed 31-of-46 passes for 358 yards with one interception against Northeastern. It was the 11th 300-yard game of Schaefer’s career and moved him into fourth place on the CAA’s career passing yardage list with 9,788 yards. Schaefer needs 212 more passing yards to become the third quarterback in CAA history with 10,000 career passing yards.
-- In the loss to Northeastern, Drew Mack had a career-high 14 tackles. Making his first career start, freshman nose tackle Rob Osborne had six tackles, including a quarterback sack.
#9/13 VILLANOVA (4-1, 2-0 CAA)
This Week: Bye Week
Next Week: at Rhode Island (2-4, 0-2)
-- With its win Saturday, Villanova has now beaten William and Mary four-straight times. The Wildcats have tallied 101 points in the last two games against the Tribe. Saturday’s win at William and Mary also was Villanova’s third win all-time at Zable Stadium. The Wildcats are now 3-9-1 all-time at William and Mary.
-- In starting the last two games, quarterback Chris Whitney has completed 34-of-49 passes (69.4%) for 362 yards to go with three touchdowns and one interception.
-- Running back Aaron Ball tallied his second consecutive 100-yard rushing game with 137 yards on 22 carries in the win over William and Mary
-- Dating back to last year, Villanova has won six-straight games against FCS opponents. The Wildcats are also 14-4 in their last 18 games versus FCS opponents.
WILLIAM AND MARY (2-2, 0-1 CAA)
This Week: at #4/4 New Hampshire (4-0, 1-0)
Next Week: at #24/20 Delaware (2-3, 0-1)
-- Jonathan Grimes earned both CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week honors and the CAA Football Rookie of the Week award, after accounting for 324 all-purpose yards in William and Mary’s contest against No. 14 Villanova. Grimes helped get the Tribe on the board late in the first half when he returned a kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. The Palmyra, N.J., native went on to total 161 yards in kickoff returns on just four attempts. Offensively, Grimes hauled in a team-high six receptions for a game-high 105 yards and rushed 11 times for 58 yards in the losing effort.
-- In his first collegiate start at quarterback, R.J. Archer finished 21-of-37 for 307 yards and a touchdown through the air. The Earlysville, Va., native also registered his first two career rushing touchdowns with scoring runs of three and six yards in the fourth quarter.
-- Josh Rutter led the Tribe defense against Villanova with a team season-high 15 tackles, including an impressive 12 solo stops. The senior linebacker also totalled 1.5 tackles for loss against the Wildcats.
WILLIAM AND MARY AT #4/4 NEW HAMPSHIRE
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 12:00 pm
Cowell Stadium (6,500), Durham, N.H.
Series: William and Mary leads 9-2
Last Meeting: Oct. 18, 2005, William and Mary 42-10 in Williamsburg, Va.
William and Mary (2-2, 0-1 CAA)
Coach: Jimmye Laycock (William and Mary, 1970)
Career: 184-136-2 (29 years)
School: 184-136-2 (29 years)
Offense
Rushing: Terrance Riggins (3 G, 31-261 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Jake Phillips (3 G, 42-74-6-515 yards, 8 TD)
Receiving: Rob Varno (4 G, 14-156 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Josh Rutter (4 G, 23 solo, 11 assisted, 34 total)
Sacks: Adrian Tracy (4 G, 3.5-23 yards)
Interceptions: Derek Cox (4 G, 2-79 yards)
New Hampshire (4-0, 1-0 CAA)
Coach: Sean McDonnell (New Hampshire, 1978)
Career: 64-47 (10 years)
School: 64-47 (10 years)
Offense
Rushing: Chad Kackert (3 G, 39-338 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: R.J. Toman (4 G, 79-113-4-910 yards, 10 TD)
Receiving: Mike Boyle (4 G, 25-300 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Dino Vasso (4 G, 22 solo, 9 assisted, 31 total)
Sacks: Devon Jackson (4 G, 1.0-8 yards)
Interceptions: Ryan Hinds (4 G, 1-21 yards)
#13/11 MASSACHUSETTS AT NORTHEASTERN
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 12:00 pm
Parsons Field (7,000), Brookline, Mass.
Television: CSN, CSS - Jerry Trupiano (pbp), Steve DeOssie (analyst), Paul Souza (sideline), Tom Todisco (producer), Marc Sotiropoulos (director)
Series: Massachusetts leads 28-8-1
Last Meeting: Oct. 20, 2007, Massachusetts 24-7 in Amherst, Mass.
Massachusetts (3-2, 1-1 CAA)
Coach: Don Brown (Norwich, 1977)
Career: 91-42 (12 years)
School: 39-16 (5 years)
Offense
Rushing: Tony Nelson (5 G, 97-566 yards, 5 TD)
Passing: Liam Coen (5 G, 92-147-5-1199 yards, 10 TD)
Receiving: Victor Cruz (5 G, 28-481 yards, 2 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Josh Jennings (5 G, 20 solo, 33 assisted, 53 total)
Sacks: Josh Jennings (5 G, 1.0-12 yards)
Interceptions: Jeromy Miles (5 G, 2-52 yards)
Northeastern (2-3, 1-0 CAA)
Coach: Rocky Hager (Minot State, 1974)
Career: 108-57-1 (15 years)
School: 17-32 (5 years)
Offense
Rushing: Alex Broomfield (5 G, 112-473 yards, 5 TD)
Passing: Anthony Orio (5 G, 83-141-3-1032 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Tony Lott (5 G, 18-225 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Phil Higgins (5 G, 27 solo, 19 assisted, 46 total)
Sacks: David Akinniyi (5 G, 4.0-40 yards)
Interceptions: Nate Thellen (5 G, 4-113 yards)
RHODE ISLAND AT TOWSON
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 3:00 pm
Unitas Stadium (11,198), Towson, Md.
Series: Rhode Island leads 5-3
Last Meeting: Oct. 8, 2005, Towson 23-14 in Kingston, R.I.
Rhode Island (2-4, 0-2 CAA)
Coach: Darren Rizzi (Rhode Island, 1992)
Career: 17-18 (3 years)
School: 2-4 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Jimmy Hughes (6 G, 55-156 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Derek Cassidy (6 G, 146-243-7-1628 yards, 11 TD)
Receiving: Brandon Johnson-Farrell (6 G, 34-309 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Matt Hansen (6 G, 31 solo, 18 assisted, 49 total)
Sacks: Matt Hansen (6 G, 3.0-19 yards)
Interceptions: Chris Mancuso (2 G, 1-27 yards)
Towson (2-4, 0-2 CAA)
Coach: Gordy Combs (Towson, 1972)
Career: 91-85 (17 years)
School: 91-85 (17 years)
Offense
Rushing: Matt Castor (4 G, 78-267 yards, 3 TD)
Passing: Sean Schaefer (6 G, 139-217-8-1480 yards, 9 TD)
Receiving: David Newsom (6 G, 31-359 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Jordan Manning (6 G, 23 solo, 24 assisted, 47 total)
Sacks: Jordan Manning (6 G, 1.5-9 yards)
Interceptions: Ollie Thomas (6 G, 1-0 yards)
#1/1 JAMES MADISON AT #5/5 RICHMOND
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 3:30 pm
UR Stadium (21,319), Richmond, Va.
Television: CSN, CSS - Bob Picozzi (pbp), Scott Brunner (analyst), Wade Roland (producer), Chris Grain (director)
Series: Richmond leads 14-11
Last Meeting: Oct. 27, 2007, Richmond 17-16 in Harrisonburg, Va.
James Madison (5-1, 3-0 CAA)
Coach: Mickey Matthews (West Texas State, 1976)
Career: 69-45 (10 years)
School: 69-45 (10 years)
Offense
Rushing: Rodney Landers (6 G, 105-735 yards, 8 TD)
Passing: Rodney Landers (6 G, 42-71-3-596 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Griff Yancey (6 G, 7-130 yards, 2 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Marcus Haywood (6 G, 26 solo, 25 assisted, 51 total)
Sacks: Arthur Moats (6 G, 3.5-20 yards)
Interceptions: Marcus Haywood (6 G, 4-48 yards)
Richmond (4-2, 2-1 CAA)
Coach: Mike London (Richmond, 1983)
Career: 4-2 (First year)
School: 4-2 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Josh Vaughan (6 G, 96-476 yards, 5 TD)
Passing: Eric Ward (6 G, 93-141-2-1198 yards, 9 TD)
Receiving: Kevin Grayson (5 G, 27-374 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Collin McConaghy (6 G, 15 solo, 21 assisted, 36 total)
Sacks: Sherman Logan (6 G, 2.0-24 yards)
Interceptions: Justin Rogers (6 G, 4-105 yards)
MAINE AT #24/20 DELAWARE
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 6:00 pm
Delaware Stadium (22,000), Newark, Del.
Television: CN8 - Scott Graham (pbp), Jon Ritchie (analyst), Gregg Murphy (sideline), Bob Anderson (producer), John Anderson (director)
Series: Delaware leads 21-6
Last Meeting: Oct. 29, 2005, Maine 25-15 in Orono, Maine
Maine (2-3, 0-2 CAA)
Coach: Jack Cosgrove (Maine, 1978)
Career: 82-93 (16 years)
School: 82-93 (16 years)
Offense
Rushing: Jhamal Fluellen (4 G, 72-341 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Adam Farkes (5 G, 74-137-6-835 yards, 9 TD)
Receiving: Tyrell Jones (5 G, 13-199 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Jovan Belcher (5 G, 17 solo, 28 assisted, 45 total)
Sacks: Jonas Rousseau (4 G, 3.0-28 yards)
Interceptions: Norman Smith (5 G, 1-12 yards)
Delaware (2-3, 0-1 CAA)
Coach: K.C. Keeler (Delaware, 1981)
Career: 142-50-1 (15 years)
School: 54-29 (7 years)
Offense
Rushing: Johnathon Smith (5 G, 86-362 yards, 8 TD)
Passing: Robby Shoenhoft (5 G, 65-118-8-774 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Aaron Love (5 G, 18-246 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Erik Johnson (5 G, 16 solo, 15 assisted, 31 total)
Sacks: John Higginson (5 G, 2.0-15 yards)
Interceptions: Anthony Walters (5 G, 3-31 yards)
HOFSTRA AT BUCKNELL
Saturday, Oct. 11 - 1:00 pm
Mathewson Memorial Stadium (13,100), Lewisburg, Pa.
Series: Hosfstra leads 4-2
Last Meeting: Sept. 10, 1994, Hofstra 45-21 in Lewisburg, Pa.
Hofstra (2-3, 1-1 CAA)
Coach: Dave Cohen (C.W. Post, 1988)
Career: 11-16 (3 years)
School: 11-16 (3 years)
Offense
Rushing: Brock Jackolski (4 G, 37-204 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: Cory Christopher (5 G, 105-157-4-956 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Aaron Weaver (5 G, 31-241 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Nick Altomare (4 G, 13 solo, 12 assisted, 25 total)
Sacks: Luke Bonus (4 G, 1.5-6 yards)
Interceptions: Ray McDonough (4 G, 2-54 yards)
Bucknell (3-1)
Coach: Tim Landis (Randolph-Macon, 1986)
Career: 78-86-1 (16 years)
School: 25-34 (6 year)
Offense
Rushing: AJ Kizekai (4 G, 44-213 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Marcello Trigg (4 G, 62-85-1-856 yards, 7 TD)
Receiving: Shaun Pasternak (4 G, 27-443 yards, 4 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Sam Nan-Sinkham (4 G, 19 solo, 23 assisted, 42 total)
Sacks: Marques Morgan (4 G, 1.5-12 yards)
Interceptions: Todd Rinaldo (4 G, 1-40 yards)