Conference play in the CAA gets underway on Saturday with four matchups: Delaware at North Carolina A&T, Towson at Villanova, Monmouth at Maine and Campbell at Rhode Island. The CAA race is traditionally one of the most competitive in the nation as last season saw three teams (UAlbany, Richmond and Villanova) tie for the league championship at 7-1 and 10 teams finish 4-4 or better in conference play.
There are also some excellent non-conference contests. In a rematch of last year’s FCS quarterfinal game, #17 UAlbany returns to the Kibbie Dome to face #4 Idaho on Saturday. The Great Danes defeated the Vandals, 30-22, last December. Regional rivalries include Hampton meeting Norfolk State in the Battle of the Bay, Stony Brook visiting Fordham, Elon hosting in-state foe Western Carolina, UNH playing its home opener against Stonehill and Bryant welcoming Holy Cross. Rounding out the slate, William & Mary heads to unbeaten Wofford and Richmond looks to bounce back against Charleston Southern.
Get ready for all of the action with the latest edition of Three Things To Watch:
WEEK 3 SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 14
Delaware (1-0, 0-0 CAA) vs North Carolina A&T (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
1 p.m.
at Truist Stadium (21,500)
Greensboro, N.C.
TV: FloFootball.com / My48
Stony Brook (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs Fordham (0-2, 0-0 PL)
1 p.m.
at Moglia Stadium (7,000)
Bronx, N.Y.
TV: ESPN+
Charleston Southern (1-1, 0-0 BSC-OVC) vs Richmond (0-2, 0-0 CAA)
2 p.m.
at Robins Stadium (8,700)
Richmond, Va.
TV: Monumental Sports / FloFootball
Holy Cross (0-2, 0-0 PL) vs Bryant (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
2 p.m.
at Beirne Stadium (4,400)
Smithfield, R.I.
TV: FloFootball.com
Towson (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs 5/4 Villanova (2-0, 0-0 CAA)
3:30 p.m.
at Villanova Stadium (10,500)
Villanova, Pa.
TV: FloFootball.com
Monmouth (0-2, 0-0 CAA) vs Maine (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
3:30 p.m.
at Alfond Stadium (10,000)
Orono, Maine
TV: FloFootball.com / ABC7
Hampton (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs Norfolk State (1-2, 0-0 MEAC)
4 p.m.
at Dick Price Stadium (30,000)
Norfolk, Va.
TV: ESPN+
17/15 UAlbany (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs 4/5 Idaho (1-1, 0-0 Big Sky)
4 p.m.
at Kibbie Dome (16,000)
Moscow, Idaho
TV: ESPN+
Campbell (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs Rhode Island (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
6 p.m.
at Meade Stadium (6,555)
Kingston, R.I.
TV: FloFootball.com
13/13 William & Mary (1-1, 0-0 CAA) vs Wofford (2-0, 0-0 SoCon)
6 p.m.
at Gibbs Stadium (13,000)
Spartanburg, S.C.
TV: ESPN+
Western Carolina (0-2, 0-0 SoCon) vs Elon (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
6 p.m.
at Rhodes Stadium (11,250)
Elon, N.C.
TV: FloFootball.com / My48
Stonehill (0-1, 0-0 NEC) vs UNH (1-1, 0-0 CAA)
6 p.m.
at Wildcat Stadium (11,015)
Durham, N.H.
TV: FloFootball.com
CAA FOOTBALL WEEK 1 AWARDS
CO-Offensive Player of the Week
Roland Dempster | RB | Stony Brook
Dempster rushed for a career-high tying 160 yards and 3 TD’s on 19 carries as Stony Brook rolled past Stonehill, 37-10, for its first victory since the 2022 season. The senior gave SBU a quick 14-0 lead with scoring runs of 17 and 15 yards and added a 3-yarder in the third quarter. The three rushing TD’s are Ɵ ed for the 2nd-most in SBU history.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Isaac Seide | RB | New Hampshire
Seide rushed for a career-high 161 yards on 18 carries, including the game-winning TD with 9:18 to play, in UNH’s 21-20 triumph at Holy Cross. The senior had a 35-yard run to the 2-yard line that set up a go-ahead TD for UNH in the third quarter before his game-winning score in the fourth. Seide also had a career-best 61-yard burst in the game.
Defensive Player of the Week
Jalen Brooks | LB | Campbell
Brooks recorded a career-high 12 tackles, intercepted a pass and broke up another as Campbell earned a 24-16 road win at #17 Western Carolina for the first victory over a ranked foe in program history. The senior led a Camels’ defense that held WCU to 287 yards and didn’t allow a TD. Brooks’ interception was one of four for Campbell in the game.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Rion Roseborough | DL | Towson
Roseborough blocked a field goal and an extra point as Towson held off Morgan State, 14-9. The freshman defensive lineman deflected an extra point attempt after a third-quarter TD. On MSU’s next possession, he broke through the middle and denied a 39-yard fi eld goal attempt that would have cut the Tigers’ lead to two.
Rookie of the Week
TJ Thomas, Jr. | RB | Elon
Thomas rushed for a career-high 163 yards and a TD on 11 carries in Elon’s 41-19 win at North Carolina Central. He’s the first Elon freshman since 2018 to run for over 100 yards in a game. Thomas broke loose for a 74-yard scoring run that gave Elon a 21-0 2nd-quarter lead and averaged 14.8 yards per carry.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
FOUR CONFERENCE OPENERS ON WEEK 3 SLATE:
Conference play in the CAA gets underway on Saturday with four matchups: Delaware at North Carolina A&T, Towson at Villanova, Monmouth at Maine and Campbell at Rhode Island. The CAA race is traditionally one of the most competitive in the nation as last season saw three teams (UAlbany, Richmond and Villanova) Ɵ e for the league championship at 7-1 and 10 teams finish 4-4 or better in conference play
PLAYOFF REMATCH AMONG NON-CONFERENCE GAMES:
In a rematch of last year’s FCS quarterfinal game, #17 UAlbany returns to the Kibbie Dome to face #4 Idaho on Saturday. The Great Danes defeated the Vandals, 30-22, last December
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS:
CAA teams are 11-5 (.688) this season against FCS opponents. In 2023, the league was a combined 20-10 against FCS foes during the regular season after posting a 21-5 mark in 2022
EIGHT TEAMS RANKED OR GETTING VOTES IN TOP 25:
Eight CAA teams are either ranked or receiving votes in the latest Stats Perform and AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls. Villanova is #4 in the Stats poll and #5 in the AFCA poll. William & Mary is #13 in both sets of rankings. UAlbany is ranked #15 by the AFCA and #17 by Stats, and Elon is ranked #22 by Stats and receiving votes from the AFCA. Campbell and Richmond were among others receiving votes in both polls and New Hampshire and Rhode Island picked up votes in the AFCA poll. The CAA’s four ranked teams trails only the Missouri Valley (8) and Big Sky (6).
SUCCESS AGAINST THE FBS:
CAA Football has posted 42 wins over FBS foes in its history and has won at least one game against an FBS team in 12 of the past 16 years. Since 2013, 10 different teams have recorded at least one FBS victory and the CAA has had multiple wins over FBS opponents five times since 2016, including two of the past three seasons.
TEAM NOTES
UALBANY 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• QB Myles Burkett passed for 306 yards and a TD at Big 12 foe West Virginia last week. He ranks 18th in FCS in passing (235.5 ypg). • WR Seven McGee had 4 catches for 90 yards at WVU and tops UA with 9 receptions for 209 yards. He’s 12th in FCS in receiving yards and 18th in yards per catch (23.2). • LB Dontae Lunan is Ɵ ed for the CAA lead in tackles with 24, making 13 in the opener at LIU and adding 11 at WVU. • UA returns to Idaho, where it beat the Vandals 30-22 in the 2023 FCS quarterfinals.
BRYANT 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Landon Ruggieri had five catches for 129 yards and 3 TD’s against Franklin Pierce, including a game-winning 9-yard grab with 4:02 left. It was his 2nd career 3-TD game. • QB Jared Guest was 26-of-41 passing for 282 yards and 3 TD’s vs. Franklin Pierce. It was the third 200+ yard outing of his career. • DL Beau Shugarts recorded a career-high 8 tackles and added his first sack vs. FPU. • Cole Nilles is Ɵ ed for the CAA lead in tackles for loss with three. He’s also second on the team with 16 tackles.
CAMPBELL 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Defeated #17 Western Carolina 24-16 last week for the first win in program history over a nationally ranked FCS opponent. • Sincere Brown had four catches for 108 yards at WCU, which was his 2nd straight game with 100+ receiving yards. • Chad Mascoe, Jr. threw for 306 yards and 2 TD’s at WCU, which was his second career game with 300+ passing yards. • Campbell’s defense forced five turnovers, held WCU to 287 total yards an d didn’t allow an offensive touchdown.
DELAWARE 1-0 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Scored TD’s on five consecutive first-half possessions in a 48-17 victory over Bryant. • QB Ryan O’Connor was 29-of-41 passing for 245 yards and 4 TD’s vs. BU. The 29 completions were a career-high. • All-America RB Marcus Yarns ran for 62 yards and a TD and had 4 catches for 34 yards and a TD vs. BU. He had 3 games in 2023 with a rushing and receiving TD. • DL Keyshawn Hunter made four tackles and had two sacks against Bryant.
ELON 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• The Phoenix moved into the Top 25 at #22 this week by Stats Perform after a 41-19 win at NC Central last Saturday. • TJ Thomas rushed for 163 yards and a TD in the win at NCCU, becoming the first EU freshman since 2018 to top 100 yards. He leads all FCS true freshmen in rushing. • Elon intercepted three passes last week, including a 40-yard pick six by Jesse Powell. • Onuma Dieke (6 rec., 109 yds) and Jamarien Dalton (6 rec., 83 yds, 1 TD) set career highs for catches and yards at NCCU.
HAMPTON 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Elijah Burris rushed for 145 yards and two 4th-quarter TD’s in last week’s win over Virginia Union. Burris topped the 100-yard mark five times during the 2023 season. • QB Chris Zellous passed for 177 yards and added 37 yards and 2 TD’s on the ground in the win over VUU. • Hampton’s defense held VUU scoreless over the final 28 minutes and limited the Panthers to 282 yards and 11 first downs. • Jordan White made seven tackles and intercepted his first pass of the year last week.
MAINE 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• The Black Bears are looking to start 2-0 at home for the first time since 2018, which was also the last Ɵ me they started 1-0 in CAA play. • Carter Peevy was 18-of-31 passing for 224 yards and 2 TD’s at #3 Montana State last week. He ranks 4th in the CAA in completion percentage (65.4%) for the season. • UM has 11 different receivers with at least one catch, led by Montigo Moss (10). • Kesean Dyson contributed a team-high 8 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble at MSU.
MONMOUTH 0-2 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Derek Robertson ranks 3rd in FCS in passing yards (372.5 ypg) and passing TD’s (7). He threw for 390 yards and 3 TD’s at EWU and followed with 355 yards and 4 TD’s vs. LC. • Sone Ntoh scored his 16th rushing TD in 13 career games vs. Lafayette. He has found the end zone in all but two career games. • TJ Speight has 8 catches for 194 yards and a TD this season. He’s averaging 24.3 yards per catch, which ranks 14th in FCS. • Deuce Lee made a career-high 12 tackles vs. EWU and is Ɵ ed for the team lead with 15.
UNH 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Issac Seide rushed for a career-high 161 yards in last week’s 21-20 win at Holy Cross, including a 1-yard TD run with 9:18 left. • Logan Tomlinson caught a pair of TD passes at Holy Cross and leads UNH with 14 receptions for 158 yards for the season. • Josiah Silver, who is on the Buchanan Award Watch List for the third Ɵ me, has 16 tackles, a team-high 3.0 TFL’s and a sack in 2024. • Wande Owens is Ɵ ed for the CAA lead in tackles with 24, which ranks as the 8th-most in FCS.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• A&T rushed for 234 yards in last week’s win over WSSU and is averaging 209.5 ypg, which leads the CAA and ranks 10th in FCS. • Wesley Graves rushed for 106 yards against WSSU, including a game-winning 16-yard TD run in OT. Kenji Christian added 80 yards and tops the CAA in rushing (100.5 ypg). • Kevin White threw for 174 yards vs. WSSU and is completing 66% of his passes. • Andrew Brown Ɵ ed a program record with a 52-yard FG vs. WSSU and made a 51-yarder in the opening game at Wake Forest.
RHODE ISLAND 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• URI has posted a .500 or better record in CAA play for the past four seasons and has won its conference opener in all of them. • LB Cole Brockwell made a career-high 13 tackles last week at Minnesota and leads the team with 19 stops for the year. • Devin Farrell was limited to 76 yards passing at Minnesota but threw for 287 yards and 2 TD’s and added 54 rush yards vs. Holy Cross. • Marquis Buchanan had a team-best 5 catches for 64 yards at Minnesota and leads URI with 9 receptions for 152 yards.
RICHMOND 0-2 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• WR Nick DeGennaro, who is on the Payton Award Watch List, tops the Spiders with 10 catches for 93 yards in 2024. • Jabril Hayes made a career-high 9 tackles vs. Wofford and tops UR with 14 stops. • QB Kyle Wickersham struggled passing (97 yds., 3 int.) vs. Wofford, but ran for a team-best 100 yards on 15 carries. • UR is 0-2 to start the season for the 2nd straight year. In 2023, the Spiders rallied to finish 9-4 and earn a share of the CAA title.
STONY BROOK 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Defeated Stonehill, 37-10, last week for their first victory since the 2022 season. • Roland Dempster matched his career-high with 160 yards on 19 carries and scored a career-best 3 TD’s vs. Stonehill. • Freshman Malachi Marshall was 9-of-16 passing for 161 yards and a TD in his first career start against Stonehill. • Freshman Sebastian Regis recorded three tackles and a sack vs. Stonehill and returned a fumble 69 yards for a touchdown.
TOWSON 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Beat Morgan State, 14-9, to win their 7th straight Battle for Greater Baltimore. • Carlos Davis was 21-of-28 passing for 209 yards and a TD vs. MSU. He has thrown for over 200 yards in TU’s first two games. • Devin Matthews ran for 95 yards on 11 carries vs. MSU and leads TU with 165 yards. • Towson’s defense held Morgan State to just 86 rushing yards and 249 yards overall. • Rion Roseborough blocked a fi eld goal and extra point in the victory over MSU.
VILLANOVA 2-0 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Downed Colgate, 28-3, last week for their 18th consecutive win over an FCS non-conference opponent in the regular season. • Connor Watkins passed for 247 yards and 2 TD’s at Colgate and added a rushing TD. He leads VU with 125 rushing yards. • Transfer WR Devin Smith made 6 catches for 116 yards and 2 TD’s at Colgate, including a 71-yarder for a score in the 1st quarter. • VU’s defense held Colgate to just 264 total yards and a fi eld goal. The Wildcats lead the CAA and rank 5th in FCS in scoring defense.
WILLIAM & MARY 1-1 Overall/0-0 CAAFB
• Darius Wilson threw for 165 yards and a TD and ran for a TD at CCU. He tops the CAA and is 7th in FCS in pass efficiency (171.4). • W&M is 18th in FCS in pass defense (187.5 ypg) and 4th in pass efficiency defense. • Quinn Osborne made 8 tackles at CCU and tops the Tribe with 14 stops for the season. • Hollis Mathis tallied 117 yards of total offense in the opener vs. VMI, which included a 4-yard TD run and a 26-yard TD reception. He also completed a 27-yard pass.
