CAA FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE -- SEPT. 20
CAA Football Players of the Week -- Sept. 21
Offensive Player of the Week - Kyle Havens, QB, Massachusetts
Havens, the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week, completed 22-of-30 passes for a career-best 329 yards and two touchdowns in No. 17 Massachusetts’ 30-10 win over Rhode Island Saturday. The Concord, Calif., native was nearly perfect in the first half against the Rams, completing 15-of-17 attempts for 206 yards and two touchdowns. The Diablo Valley College transfer completed passes to eight different receivers and was responsible for two big plays in the game including a 50-yard toss to Julian Talley and a 51-yarder to Victor Cruz.
Defensive Player of the Week - Nick Battle, DL, Richmond
Battle, the CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week, was the defensive leader for top-ranked Richmond in its 47-0 shutout win over Hofstra Saturday. Battle, a San Diego, Calif., native made a total of five stops in the game, recorded 2.5 tackles for loss (17 yards), had one sack (12 yards), forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble. The senior forced a first-quarter fumble which led to a Richmond field goal. Two possessions later, his strip-sack of the Hofstra quarterback was scooped up and returned 36 yards to set up the Spiders’ first touchdown. Battle then fell on a loose ball following another strip-sack in the second quarter, and a touchdown on the ensuing possession put the Spiders up 24-0. Richmond’s defense, which garnered its fourth shutout in the last four seasons, limited Hofstra to 199 total yards and just 13 on the ground.
Special Teams Player of the Week - Matt Szczur, KR, Villanova
Szczur, the CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week, got second-ranked Villanova on the board early in its 14-3 win over Penn Saturday at Franklin Field. The Erma, N.J., native returned the game’s opening kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown helping the Wildcats to a 7-0, first-quarter lead. The return for a touchdown marked Szczur’s second of his career and the first this season for Villanova. The junior finished the contest with 87 return yards and 27 rushing yards on seven carries.
Rookie of the Week - Peter Athens, QB, Towson
Athens earned Rookie of the Week honors after leading Towson to a home-opening win, 21-17, over Coastal Carolina Saturday. The Huntingtown, Md., native was 13-of-18 passing for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The freshman, making just the second start of his career, fired touchdown passes of four yards and 13 yards to senior wide receiver David Newsom in the win.
Rookie of the Week - Justin Thorpe, QB, James Madison
Thorpe earned Rookie of the Week honors after logging 180 yards of total offense in No. 7 James Madison’s 44-16 win over VMI Saturday. Thorpe, who made his first career start, completed 7-of-11 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown, and rushed 10 times for 53 yards and a score.
CAA Football In The Polls
For a complete rundown of both the Sports Network Top-25 and the FCS Coaches Poll visit page 23 of the weekly release. Below are highlights and notes about CAA Football in this week’s rankings.
The Sports Network Top-25
After holding seven spots in the Top-25 each of the last three weeks, CAA Football shows six ranked teams this week. The league’s six ranked teams are three more than any other league in the country and mark the first time CAA Football has had six among the Top-25 since the final edition of the 2008 poll.
Richmond’s No. 1 ranking helps place the league atop the poll for the third-straight week in 2009. The Spiders and Villanova, which have been 1-2 in the poll for the last two weeks, mark the second time in as many years CAA Football has held the Top-2 spots in the poll -- Richmond and James Madison were 1-2 in the poll last season on Sept. 22. Prior to 2008, only the Big Sky had placed two teams in the Top-2 spots of the Sports Network poll in 1991 (Nevada and Idaho, respectively).
CAA Football’s strength in this week’s poll continues to show by making up five of the Top-10 spots. Even more impressive is that four of the six CAA Football South Division squads are part of the national Top-10.
CAA Football has now had at least six teams ranked in 18 of the last 19 editions of the Sports Network poll. The league has had at least three teams ranked every week since the poll’s inception and two teams among the poll’s Top-10 in 59-straight weeks and 85 of the last 89 editions.
FCS Coaches Top-25
After logging eight teams in the Preseason Top-25 and then seven ranked squads each of the last two weeks, CAA Football shows six in the Sept. 21 edition of the Top-25.
Richmond’s No. 1 ranking gives the league now three-straight weeks atop the rankings, after it owned No. 1 for 11-straight weeks in 2008. Villanova’s No. 2 ranking gives CAA Football ownership of the No. 1 and No. 2 spots at least one week in each of the last two seasons. James Madison and Richmond garnered the Top-2 spots last season on Sept. 22, marking the first time since 1998 one conference held No. 1 and No. 2 in the same Coaches’ poll (The Southern’s Georgia Southern and Appalachian State, respectively).
The league holds five of the Top-10 spots in this weeks poll, while four of the league’s six CAA Football South Division teams appear in the Top-6.
Since the FCS Coaches Poll debuted in 2007 CAA Football has had at least four squads ranked in every edition (32 weeks).
Bring On The BCS/FBS
CAA Football has logged a record-breaking four wins over BCS/FBS opponents in 2009. New Hampshire (Ball State), Richmond (Duke), Villanova (Temple) and William and Mary (Virginia) all have added BCS/FBS wins to the league’s current total of 12 non-conference wins.
The league has an all-time mark of 27-108 (.200) against BCS/FBS opponents dating back to the 1978 I-A/I-AA split by the NCAA. Prior to 2009, the league had not beat more than three BCS/FBS squads in a single season.
CAA Football is 2-0 against the Mid-American Conference and has outscored the FBS league 50-40 in 2009. The league also guaranteed itself a .500 mark against the Atlantic Coast Conference (BCS) with two victories (2-2) over its programs in 2009. The only wins for FCS squads over BCS/FBS teams this season have come from CAA Football (4-59).
CAA Football has now won 18 games versus BCS/FBS opponents in the last 10 years. The league has garnered at least one win over BCS/FBS foes in seven of the last eight years, and multiple wins over BCS/FBS teams in six of the last eight years.
For a complete list of CAA Football’s wins over BCS/FBS opponents check out page 22 of the weekly release.
Walter Payton & Buck Buchanan Watch Lists Include Seven CAA Football Athletes
The Sports Network released its 2009 Preseason Watch lists for both the Walter Payton (Offensive) and Buck Buchanan (Defensive) Player of the Year Awards. CAA Football had a total of seven honorees on the preseason lists.
Walter Payton Award Watch List Honorees
-- Tony Nelson, RB, Massachusetts
-- R.J. Toman, QB, New Hampshire
Buck Buchanan Award Watch List Honorees
-- Charles Graves, DB, Delaware
-- Jeromy Miles, DB, Massachusetts
-- Osayi Osunde, LB, Villanova
-- Justin Rogers, DB, Richmond
-- Adrian Tracy, DL, William and Mary
FCS Non-Conference Domination
CAA Football schools are a combined 58-11 against non-conference FCS regular-season competition since 2007. League schools combined to go 21-4 against non-conference FCS regular-season foes in 2007, then compiled a 25-5 non-conference regular-season FCS mark in 2008. Thus far in 2009 CAA Football teams are 12-2 in non-league games against FCS foes.
VERSUS To Televise CAA Football Conference Game
CAA Football and The Comcast Sports Group announced the October 3 matchup of No. 5 William and Mary at No. 2 Villanova will be broadcast nationally on VERSUS at 3:30 p.m.
The contest will be the league’s first-ever conference game to be nationally televised. VERSUS, which reaches 73 million homes nationally, is available on cable systems and satellite operators throughout the United States.
2009 CAA Football -- Did You Know...
-- Four CAA Football teams have earned wins over BCS/FBS foes in 2009 including New Hampshire (Ball State), Richmond (Duke), Villanova (Temple) and William and Mary (Virginia).
-- CAA Football squads own the nation’s four wins in BCS/FBS contests. FCS teams are a combined 4-59 this season against the BCS/FBS level.
-- CAA Football has advanced a record five programs to the NCAA Division I National Championships each of the last two years. No league had ever advanced more than four teams prior to the 2007 season.
-- CAA Football has been represented in the NCAA Division I National Championship game in five of the last six years.
-- CAA Football teams make up five of the Top-10 in each of the two National polls. Four of the six CAA Football South Division squads are part of the Top-10 in each poll.
-- The five CAA Football squads among the national Top-10 are a combined 6-0 against non-conference FCS foes this season. Those same teams also have compiled an unblemished 27-0 record in non-league regular-season FCS games since the 2007 season.
-- CAA Football student-athletes have logged a total of five National Player of the Week honors this season. Most recently, Richmond’s Nick Battle earned national honors from the Sports Network for his play against Hofstra, Sept. 19. William and Mary’s B.W. Webb became the first-ever FCS athlete to be recognized as the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 7.
DELAWARE (2-1, 0-1 CAA)
This Week: at #5/5 William and Mary (3-0, 0-0)
Next Week: at Maine (2-1, 1-0)
-- Delaware claimed the Inaugural First State Cup as it defeated in-state rival Delaware State, 27-17, in the first-ever regular season matchup between the state’s only two Division I programs. The game was played before 20,585 fans which included all three members of congress for the state of Delaware (U.S. Rep Mike Castle, Sen. Tom Carper and Sen. Ted Kaufman), who took part in the pre-game coin toss and postgame trophy presentation.
-- Quarterback Pat Devlin threw for 227 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for two more scores against Delaware State. Both Delaware and Delaware State gained 343 total yards during the contest.
-- A parie of true freshmen scored two of Delaware’s four touchdowns in the Delaware State game led by wide receiver Rob Jones and running back Leon Jackson.
-- Placekicker Jon Striefsky had his streak of 43-straight PATs made snapped with a fourth-quarter miss against Delaware State.
HOFSTRA (2-1, 0-1 CAA)
This Week: at Western Michigan (1-2)
Next Week: #7/6 James Madison (1-1, 0-0)
-- The Pride’s 199 yards of offense against Richmond was its fewest since posting 179 yards against Delaware in 2008. The last time Hofstra had less than 13 yards rushing was in 2006 when UMass held the Pride to -1 yards on the ground.
-- Four Hofstra fumbles lost in the first half/game at Richmond fell one short of the school record set in 2005 at Northeastern in a 20-17 victory.
-- The Pride is 15-12 all-time against current members of the Mid-American Conference. Hofstra is 9-3 against Buffalo, 6-7 against Temple and 0-2 against Central Michigan. The last time the Pride played a current MAC opponent was in 1999 when it downed Buffalo 20-13. The Pride hasn’t played Temple since 1969 and Central Michigan since 1971.
#7/6 JAMES MADISON (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
This Week: at #25/24 Liberty (2-1)
Next Week: at Hofstra (2-1, 0-1)
-- Quarterback Drew Dudzik connected on 9-of-13 passes for 214 yards and three scores in the win over VMI.
-- James Madison had four touchdown passes overall and two receivers with two touchdown-catches each in the win over VMI -- Rockeed McCarter and Mike Caussin. Both McCarter and Caussin went over the 100-yard receiving plateau in the game, marking the first time since 1998 JMU had two receivers eclipse 100-yards in the same single-game.
-- Mike Caussin had two touchdown catches for the second-straight week, raising his career total to 14 and matching the No. 4 mark on JMU’s career list. Caussin is now tied with Alan Harrison (2000-03) for first among JMU tight ends for career receiving TDs. Wide receiver Jay Jones (1990-93) also had 14 during his career.
-- The Dukes had a 486-288 total yards edge over VMI, but was out-gained on the ground 178-145 -- the first time in eight games JMU has been out-gained on the ground.
MAINE (2-1, 1-0 CAA)
This Week: at Syracuse (1-2)
Next Week: Delaware (2-1, 0-1)
-- Maine suffered its first loss of the season Saturday, falling on the road at Albany, 20-16. The Black Bears led by as many as 16 in the contest, but saw the Great Danes score 20 unanswered-points to win the contest.
-- Tailback Derek Session is pacing a Black Bear offense which is averaging nearly 200 yards a game (199.3). Session has carried the ball 63 times for a total of 314 yards in three games. His 104.7/game average trails only UMass’ Tony Nelson’s average of 114.0 yards/game average in the league.
-- Maine is one of four CAA Football teams using a two-quarterback system. Iona College transfer Warren Smith and Mike Brusko have split the duties for Maine dating back to the Northeastern contest. No. 7 James Madison, Towson and No. 2 Villanova are also using a form of the two-quarterback system in 2009.
-- Maine has had success against FBS opponents in its program history. The Black Bears topped Mississippi State in 2004 (9-7), and the year prior took down Florida International (24-14) during the Golden Panthers’ transitional year.
#15/15 MASSACHUSETTS (2-1, 1-0 CAA)
This Week: Stony Brook (1-2)
Next Week: Bye Week
-- With the win over Rhode Island Massachusetts is now 20-2 at McGuirk Stadium since 2006, and will welcome Stony Brook to Amherst this weekend.
-- Massachusetts was 7-of-7 on third-down conversions in the first half against Rhode Island. The first unsuccessful third-down conversion attempt came on the Minutemen’s first drive of the second half against Rhody.
-- The Minutemen continued to pitch a shutout in the first quarter this season, outscoring opponents 20-0 in the first 15 minutes of each contest.
-- UMass allowed its first points in the second half this season on a 68-yard fumble return by Rhode Island’s Jarrod Williams. Those points were also Rhode Island’s first points scored against Massachusetts in more than 96 minutes of action (96:11) dating back to the 2007 season.
#6/7 NEW HAMPSHIRE (2-0, 0-0 CAA)
This Week: Dartmouth (0-1)
Next Week: at Towson (1-1, 0-0)
-- New Hampshire’s win over Ball State marked its fifth-straight over an FBS opponent as the Wildcats defeated Army in 2008, Marshall in 2007, Northwestern in 2006 and Rutgers in 2004. The Cardinals finished the 2008 regular season a perfect 12-0 and played in the GMAC Bowl.
-- The Wildcat defense allowed just 127 yards of total offense and held Ball State running back MiQuale Lewis to just 24 yards on 14 carries. New Hampshire’s defense limited the Cardinals to 27 yards of offense on 24 plays and no touchdowns in the first half. It also held the Ball State running back to 21 rushing yards on nine carries. Ball State was just 1-of-7 on third down conversions in the first half.
-- Prior to arriving in Durham, N.H., R.J. Toman was the successor to former USC signal-caller and current New York Jet rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez at Mission Viejo High School. Prior to taking snaps full-time at UNH, Toman learned from Ricky Santos, who ranks second all-time on the NCAA FCS career total offense yards list with 14,615 yards from 2004-07.
NORTHEASTERN (0-3, 0-1 CAA)
This Week: at #2/2 Villanova (3-0, 0-0)
Next Week: #21/23 Holy Cross (3-0)
-- Tony Lott returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown against Youngstown State, marking a career-long punt return for the senior. It was also the longest punt return by a Husky since Andy Alsup had an 86-yard return against Maine Nov. 11, 2000. It was NU’s first punt return for a touchdown since Quintin Mitchell had a 63-yard TD punt return vs. Rhode Island Nov. 24, 2001.
-- Quarterback Alex Dulski returned from injury to throw for 208 yards against Youngstown State, including a 35-yard touchdown pass to Greg Abelli in the second quarter, his first career TD pass. Dulski also produced 50 yards on the ground.
-- Northeastern garnered two interceptions against the Penguins, one each by Nate Thellen and Darryl Jones. Craig Kenney and Phil Higgins both had nine tackles and a sack in the Youngstown State game, while David Akinniyi added a sack, three tackles and a forced fumble.
RHODE ISLAND (1-1, 0-1 CAA)
This Week: at Connecticut (2-1)
Next Week: at Brown (0-1)
-- After switching from defensive back to linebacker over the offseason, Rob Damon has made a strong showing this season leading the team in tackles with 27. Against UMass, Damon led the Rams with a career-high 16 tackles eclipsing his previous career-high of 11 tackles set in week one of 2009 against Fordham. Damon also recorded 2.0 tackles for loss and forced two fumbles against the Minutemen, one of which resulted in a 68-yard return for a touchdown.
-- Wide receiver Brandon-Johnson Farrell caught three passes for 28 yards against Massachusetts. Johnson-Farrell has caught at least one pass in every game throughout his collegiate career (14-straight games).
-- Quarterback Chris Paul-Etienne led the Rams passing attack against UMass as he totaled 198 yards through the air. Paul-Etienne completed passes to nine different receivers in the loss to Massachusetts.
#1/1 RICHMOND (3-0, 2-0 CAA)
This Week: VMI (1-1)
Next Week: Bye Week
-- Richmond’s 12-game winning streak stands as the longest current streak in the FCS - and trails only Florida’s 13-game streak for the longest in Division I football. Additionally, Utah’s road loss Saturday gives Richmond the longest current road winning streak in Division I at eight games.
-- At 3-0, Richmond is off to its best start since opening 4-0 in 2006 - that season also began with a win at Duke.
-- Hofstra became the 15th of Richmond’s last 19 opponents to gain less than 100 yards on the ground (14-1) and the sixth team to rush for less than 40 (6-0). The Pride managed just 13 yards on 34 carries.
-- Quarterback Eric Ward was 12-of-16 passing in the Hofstra game, but completed 12 of his final 13 attempts. Three of his four incomplete passes were thrown to avoid sacks. Ward has yet to be sacked this season and has thrown just one interception in three games.
TOWSON (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
This Week: at Morgan State (1-1)
Next Week: #6/7 New Hampshire (2-0, 0-0)
-- Rob Ambrose made his Unitas Stadium debut as the Tigers’ head coach Saturday night when Towson hosted Coastal Carolina. Ambrose and his squad edged the Chanticleers, 21-17, for the win in front of 7,628 fans -- the seventh-largest crowd in Unitas Stadium history.
-- The win over Coastal Carolina gave the Tigers their fifth-straight victory in a home-opener. Towson has now won 12 of its last 13 home openers.
-- The victory over the Chanticleers also snapped the Tigers’ six-game losing streak dating back to a 37-32 win over Rhode Island, Oct. 11, 2008. The win also avenged a 31-3 loss at Coastal Carolina in 2008.
-- Tremayne Dameron, a redshirt-freshman tailback, ran for a career-high 84 yards on 21 carries and caught seven passes for 61 yards against Coastal. Towson rushed for 138 yards while holding Coastal to 94 rushing yards -- marking the first time in nine games Towson ran for more yards than it allowed on the ground. The last time it happened was Sept. 27, 2008 when Towson outrushed Columbia.
#2/2 VILLANOVA (3-0, 0-0 CAA)
This Week: Northeastern (0-3, 0-1)
Next Week: #5/5 William and Mary (3-0, 0-0)
-- With its win over Penn, Villanova improves to 10-0 all-time against Ivy League competition under the direction of head coach Andy Talley.
-- After recording just one sack in the first two games of the season, Villanova registered six sacks in the victory over Penn. Leading the charge was both Terence Thomas and Tim Kukucka as each garnered two sacks for 18 yards.
-- The Penn game was Villanova’s last non-conference contest of the season. Villanova will now play eight consecutive CAA Football games beginning with Saturday’s matchup at home against Northeastern.
-- For the second-straight week, a quarterback led Villanova in rushing. Against Penn, quarterback Antwon Young had a team-high 36 yards rushing on four carries. Last week against Lehigh, quarterback Chris Whitney rushed for a team-high 130 yards.
#5/5 WILLIAM AND MARY (3-0, 0-0 CAA)
This Week: Delaware (2-1, 0-1)
Next Week: at #2/2 Villanova (3-0, 0-0)
-- The Tribe’s defensive unit has allowed just 43 points over three games (14.3/game), which ranks as the second-fewest surrendered by a Tribe team through three games in the last 30 years. Additionally, the College is allowing just 240.2 yards of total offense per game (82.7 rushing/157.7 passing), which ranks second in the league and 15th nationally.
-- Saturday’s game against Delaware was announced as a sellout earlier this week. The sellout tag marks the third in the last four years for the Tribe and first since its 2007 matchup with James Madison.
-- Of the 17 previous meetings between Delaware and William and Mary, the College has entered the game ranked higher than the Blue Hens just four times (including Saturday’s contest). The College is 2-1 in the previous three engagements as the higher ranked team, winning in 1996, 2004 (playoffs) and losing in 2005.
NORTHEASTERN AT #2/2 VILLANOVA
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 3:30 pm
Villanova Stadium (12,000), Villanova, Pa.
Television: The Comcast Network/Comcast SportsNet - New England
Series: Villanova leads 10-5
Northeastern (0-3, 0-1 CAA)
Coach: Rocky Hager
Career: 108-67-1 (16 years)
School: 17-42 (6 years)
Offense
Rushing: John Griffin (3 G, 46-165 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Alex Dulski (2 G, 24-44-2-229 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: Greg Abelli (3 G, 9-103 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Phil Higgins (3 G, 13 solo, 12 assisted, 25 total)
Sacks: Craig Kenney (3 G, 2.0-12 yards)
Interceptions: Darryl Jones (3 G, 1-0 yards)
Villanova (3-0, 0-0 CAA)
Coach: Andy Talley
Career: 196-119-2 (30 years)
School: 168-101-1 (25 years)
Offense
Rushing: Chris Whitney (3 G, 43-178 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Chris Whitney (3 G, 38-58-1-422 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: Brandyn Harvey (3 G, 13-159 yards, 2 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Osayi Osunde (3 G, 9 solo, 12 assisted, 21 total)
Sacks: Terence Thomas (3 G, 3.0-26 yards)
Interceptions: Ross Ventrone (3 G, 2-27 yards)
DELAWARE AT #5/5 WILLIAM AND MARY
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 7:00 pm
Zable Stadium (12,259), Williamsburg, Va.
Series: Delaware leads 20-13
Delaware (2-1, 0-1 CAA)
Coach: K.C. Keeler
Career: 146-56-1 (16 years)
School: 58-35 (8 years)
Offense
Rushing: David Hayes (3 G, 39-147 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Pat Devlin (3 G, 46-75-2-621 yards, 3 TD)
Receiving: Mark Mackey (3 G, 13-192 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Benard Makumbi (3 G, 9 solo, 9 assisted, 18 total)
Sacks: John Higginson (3 G, 2.5-11 yards)
Interceptions: Charles Graves (3 G, 2-33 yards)
William and Mary (3-0, 0-0 CAA)
Coach: Jimmye Laycock
Career: 192-138-2 (30 years)
School: 192-138-2 (30 years)
Offense
Rushing: Jonathan Grimes (3 G, 52-199 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: R.J. Archer (3 G, 47-80-2-466 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: D.J. McAulay (3 G, 14-195 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Jake Trantin (3 G, 11 solo, 13 assisted, 24 total)
Sacks: C.J. Herbert (3 G, 1.0-11 yards)
Interceptions: B.W. Webb (3 G, 3-68 yards)
DARTMOUTH AT #6/7 NEW HAMPSHIRE
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 12:00 pm
Cowell Stadium (6,500), Durham, N.H.
Series: Tied 17-17-2
Dartmouth (0-1)
Coach: Buddy Teevens
Career: 33-55-2 (9 years)
School: 67-133-2 (20 years)
Offense
Rushing: Nick Schwieger (1 G, 14-38 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Alex Jenny (1 G, 11-28-0-147 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: Michael Reilly (1 G, 4-87 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Tony Pastoors (1 G, 4 solo, 12 assisted, 16 total)
Sacks: Mark Dwyer (1 G, 2.0-6 yards)
Interceptions: Shawn Abuhoff (1 G, 1-0 yards)
New Hampshire (2-0, 0-0 CAA)
Coach: Sean McDonnell
Career: 72-50 (11 years)
School: 72-50 (11 years)
Offense
Rushing: Sean Jellison (2 G, 45-180 yards, 3 TD)
Passing: R.J. Toman (2 G, 32-58-3-307 yards, 3 TD)
Receiving: Joey Orlando (2 G, 4-70 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Sean Ware (2 G, 8 solo, 5 assisted, 13 total)
Sacks: Dan Ruhl (2 G, 1.5-15 yards)
Interceptions: Ryan Hinds (2 G, 2-0 yards)
RHODE ISLAND AT CONNECTICUT
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 12:00 pm
Rentschler Field (40,000), East Hartford, Conn.
Television: ESPN360.com
Series: Connecticut leads 49-34-8
Rhode Island (1-1, 0-1 CAA)
Coach: Joe Trainer
Career: 14-21 (4 years)
School: 1-1 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Anthony Ferrer (2 G, 25-94 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Chris Paul-Etienne (2 G, 33-58-1-362 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Tyquan Bynum (2 G, 6-112 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Rob Damon (2 G, 12 solo, 15 assisted, 27 total)
Sacks: Victor Adesanya (2 G, 2.0-8 yards)
Interceptions: Rodney Mitchell (2 G, 1-20 yards)
Connecticut (2-1)
Coach: Randy Edsall
Career: 60-61 (11 years)
School: 60-61 (11 years)
Offense
Rushing: Jordan Todman (3 G, 65-326 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: Zach Frazer (3 G, 22-43-4-221 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Isiah Moore (3 G, 7-107 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Lawrence Wilson (3 G, 12 solo, 18 assisted, 30 total)
Sacks: Lindsey Witten (3 G, 7.0-46 yards)
Interceptions: Jerome Junior (3 G, 1-14 yards)
VMI AT #1/1 RICHMOND
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 3:30 pm
UR Stadium (21,319), Richmond, Va.
Series: Tied 40-40-5
VMI (1-1)
Coach: Sparky Woods
Career: 68-54-5 (12 years)
School: 5-8 (2 years)
Offense
Rushing: Howard Abegesah (2 G, 32-185 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Kyle Hughes (2 G, 8-10-1-130 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: Bryan Barnson (2 G, 1-67 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Byron Allen (2 G, 12 solo, 8 assisted, 20 total)
Sacks: Kris Ware (2 G, 2.5-4 yards)
Interceptions: None
Richmond (3-0, 2-0 CAA)
Coach: Mike London
Career: 16-3 (2 years)
School: 16-3 (2 years)
Offense
Rushing: Justin Forte (3 G, 43-162 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Eric Ward (3 G, 46-71-1-555 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Tre Gray (3 G, 13-126 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Patrick Weldon (3 G, 17 solo, 4 assisted, 21 total)
Sacks: Martin Parker (3 G, 2.0-14 yards)
Interceptions: Darryl Hamilton (3 G, 1-33 yards)
TOWSON AT MORGAN STATE
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 4:00 pm
Hughes Stadium (10,000), Baltimore, Md.
Series: Towson leads 16-5
Towson (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
Coach: Rob Ambrose
Career: 4-8 (2 years)
School: 1-1 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Tremayne Dameron (2 G, 35-117 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Peter Athens (2 G, 28-43-3-272 yards, 3 TD)
Receiving: David Newsom (2 G, 11-122 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Brady Smith (2 G, 10 solo, 6 assisted, 16 total)
Sacks: Yaky Ibia (2 G, 1.0-9 yards)
Interceptions: Jeremy Gardner (2 G, 1-38 yard)
Morgan State (1-1)
Coach: Donald Hill-Eley
Career: 37-44 (9 years)
School: 37-44 (9 years)
Offense
Rushing: Allen Singletary (2 G, 15-45 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Carlton Jackson (2 G, 26-40-2-233 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Edwin Baptiste (2 G, 6-72 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: George Howard (2 G, 10 solo, 15 assisted, 25 total)
Sacks: Justin Lawrence (2 G, 1.0-7 yards)
Interceptions: Jody Ellis (2 G, 1-21 yards)
STONY BROOK AT #15/15 MASSACHUSETTS
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 6:00 pm
McGuirk Alumni Stadium (17,000), Amherst, Mass.
Series: Massachusetts leads 1-0
Stony Brook (1-2)
Coach: Chuck Priore
Career: 56-28 (10 years)
School: 17-19 (4 years)
Offense
Rushing: Edwin Gowins (3 G, 43-200 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: Michael Coulter (3 G, 40-70-2-479 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Matt Brevi (3 G, 10-138 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Stephen Schwicke (3 G, 20 solo, 9 assisted, 29 total)
Sacks: None
Interceptions: Stephen Schwicke (3 G, 1-32 yards)
Massachusetts (2-1, 1-0 CAA)
Coach: Kevin Morris
Career: 26-33 (7 years)
School: 2-1 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Tony Nelson (3 G, 69-342 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: Kyle Havens (3 G, 52-96-4-715 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Victor Cruz (3 G, 14-261 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Tyler Holmes (3 G, 9 solo, 17 assisted, 26 total)
Sacks: Michael Hanson (3 G, 2.0-21 yards)
Interceptions: Tyler Holmes (3 G, 2-12 yards)
HOFSTRA AT WESTERN MICHIGAN
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 7:00 pm
Waldo Stadium (30,200), Kalamazoo, Mich.
Series: First Meeting
Hofstra (2-1, 0-1 CAA)
Coach: Dave Cohen
Career: 15-22 (4 years)
School: 15-22 (4 years)
Offense
Rushing: Kwabena Asante (3 G, 19-90 yards, 0 TD)
Passing: Cory Christopher (3 G, 57-94-2-642 yards, 3 TD)
Receiving: Aaron Weaver (3 G, 14-179 yards, 0 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Luke Bonus (3 G, 13 solo, 10 assisted, 23 total)
Sacks: Johnny Hartsfield (3 G, 1.0-11 yards)
Interceptions: Leslie Jackman (3 G, 1-0 yards)
Western Michigan (1-2)
Coach: Bill Cubit
Career: 64-40-1 (9 years)
School: 30-22 (5 years)
Offense
Rushing: Brandon West (3 G, 46-168 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Tim Hiller (3 G, 67-110-2-710 yards, 6 TD)
Receiving: Juan Nunez (3 G, 16-273 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Austin Pritchard (3 G, 23 solo, 7 assisted, 30 total)
Sacks: Cody Cielenski (3 G, 3.0-29 yards)
Interceptions: Jamail Berry (3 G, 1-12 yard)
#7/6 JAMES MADISON AT #25/24 LIBERTY
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 7:00 pm
Williams Stadium (12,000), Lynchburg, Va.
Television: Flames Sports Television Network/WHSV-MyValley
Series: James Madison leads 9-5
James Madison (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
Coach: Mickey Matthews
Career: 77-47 (11 years)
School: 77-47 (11 years)
Offense
Rushing: Jamal Sullivan (2 G, 33-119 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: Drew Dudzik (2 G, 18-28-0-355 yards, 5 TD)
Receiving: Mike Caussin (2 G, 6-197 yards, 4 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Pat Williams (2 G, 9 solo, 12 assisted, 21 total)
Sacks: Pat Williams (2 G, 1.0-9 yards)
Interceptions: Jon Williams (2 G, 1-62 yards)
Liberty (2-1)
Coach: Danny Rocco
Career: 26-11 (4 years)
School: 26-11 (4 years)
Offense
Rushing: B.J. Hayes (3 G, 24-171 yards, 1 TD)
Passing: Mike Brown (3 G, 39-48-0-313 yards, 2 TD)
Receiving: Chris Summers (3 G, 17-182 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Wes Cheek (3 G, 11 solo, 12 assisted, 23 total)
Sacks: Doncel Bolt (3 G, 1.5-10 yards)
Interceptions: Wes Cheek (3 G, 2-21 yards)
MAINE AT SYRACUSE
Saturday, Sept. 26 - 7:00 pm
Carrier Dome (52,000), Syracuse, N.Y.
Series: First Meeting
Maine (2-1, 1-0 CAA)
Coach: Jack Cosgrove
Career: 90-96 (17 years)
School: 90-96 (17 years)
Offense
Rushing: Derek Session (3 G, 63-314 yards, 3 TD)
Passing: Warren Smith (2 G, 18-29-2-212 yards, 1 TD)
Receiving: Landis Williams (3 G, 12-126 yards, 2 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Donte Dennis (3 G, 11 solo, 17 assisted, 28 total)
Sacks: Jordan Stevens (3 G, 4.5-23 yards)
Interceptions: Trevor Coston (3 G, 3-20 yards)
Syracuse (1-2)
Coach: Doug Marrone
Career: 1-2 (First year)
School: 1-2 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Delone Carter (3 G, 56-212 yards, 2 TD)
Passing: Greg Paulus (3 G, 57-86-4-618 yards, 4 TD)
Receiving: Mike Williams (3 G, 23-357 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Derell Smith (3 G, 16 solo, 10 assisted, 26 total)
Sacks: Derrell Smith (3 G, 2.5-16 yards)
Interceptions: Max Suter (2 G, 1-22 yards)