CFB-FCS: Northeast Conference Week 2 Release & Preview

NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jeff Hoenstine, Saint Francis U
Quarterback, Redshirt Freshman, Martinsburg, PA/Central Martinsburg
Week 2 Stats: 11-of-22, 195 passing yards, 1 TD pass, 0 interceptions, 50 rushing yards, 10 rushes, 1 rushing TD
Hoenstine was impressive in his first-ever collegiate appearance at Kent State on Saturday. Earning the nod to start at quarterback in place of an injured Nick Whitfield, Jr., the Martinsburg, PA native answered the call and navigated the Red Flash to the program’s first-ever win over an FBS program. Converting on 11-of-22 attempts, Hoenstine passed for 195 yards — including a first-half 64-yard touchdown to redshirt senior Gavin Thomson — and zero interceptions to lead his team to the 23-17 triumph and the NEC’s second victory against a team from the FBS. The rookie’s running game also played a key role in the win, as his three-yard scamper into the end zone in the opening quarter put Saint Francis U up by a 10-0 count. Hoenstine is the second Saint Francis U quarterback to garner both NEC Offensive Player of the Week and NEC Rookie of the Week honors in the same week, joining current teammate Whitfield, who pulled off the weekly award double on Oct. 30, 2023.

NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Malachi Wright, Central Connecticut
Linebacker, Junior, 6-1, 225 lbs., West Haven, CT/West Haven (Choate Rosemary)
Week 2 Stats: 7.0 tackles (4.0 solo), 3.5 tackles-for-loss (27 yards), 1.0 sack (8 yards), 1 quarterback hurry
Wright was all over the gridiron on Saturday. The junior wreaked havoc on visiting Fordham’s offense after delivering 7.0 tackles — including four solo stops — 3.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.0 sack and one quarterback hurry. In addition, Wright single-handedly pushed Fordham back 27 yards as Central Connecticut’s defense held the Rams to just 188 total yards of offense in the commanding, 33-3 home-opening win. On the evening, the Blue Devils had nine sacks — the most by an FCS squad in a single game this season — to go along with13 tackles-for-loss, four quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. Wright is the first Blue Devil to garner NEC Defensive of the Week honors since current teammate Kimal Clark, who received the award on Oct. 23, 2023. Wright and the Blue Devils conceded just three points to the Rams, marking the best defensive performance by Central Connecticut against a Division I non-conference opponent. In addition, Central Connecticut’s 30-point triumph was the program’s largest margin-of-victory against a Division I opponent since a 43-10 victory over Duquesne on Nov. 23, 2019.

NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mac Plummer, Saint Francis U
Kicker, Redshirt Junior, 5-10, 175 lbs., Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona
Week 2 Stats: 3-for-3 FG (50, 33, 46 yards), 339 kickoff yards, 6 kickoffs, 56.0 yards per kickoff, 2 touchbacks
Plummer’s right foot played a big part in helping Saint Francis U make history on Saturday afternoon in the Buckeye State. The Keystone State native became the first NEC kicker this season to rack up double digits in points after he turned in a perfect day at Kent State. Converting on each of his three field goal attempts and both of his PATs, he helped the Red Flash score the program’s first-ever victory over an FBS opponent. Plummer gave Saint Francis U a lead it would not relinquish just five minutes into the game when he booted a career-long 50-yard field goal. With the field goal, which was the 10th longest in the FCS this season, he became the fifth Red Flash kicker — and the 24th in NEC history — to convert from 50 yards out. Later in the first half, Plummer gave Saint Francis U its largest lead of the game — a 13-point advantage — with a 33-yarder. A redshirt junior, Plummer also kept the Golden Flashes at bay after he averaged 56.0 yards per kickoff with a pair of touchbacks. Saint Francis U’s victory marks the second time in conference history that an NEC team knocks off an FBS opponent, as the Red Flash join Duquesne, which defeated Ohio, 28-26, in a road game on Sept. 11, 2021.

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Jeff Hoenstine, Saint Francis U
Quarterback, Redshirt Freshman, Martinsburg, PA/Central Martinsburg
Week 2 Stats: 11-of-22, 195 passing yards, 1 TD pass, 0 interceptions, 50 rushing yards, 10 rushes, 1 rushing TD
Hoenstine’s impressive play in his first-ever collegiate appearance — and start — at Kent State led to the redshirt freshman becoming the second Red Flash quarterback in as many seasons to pull off the NEC Player of the Week and NEC Rookie of the Week award double. Earning the starting nod in place of an injured Nick Whitfield, Jr., the Keystone State native answered the call. Hoenstine had a hand in each of Saint Francis U’s two first-half touchdowns and after he helped put the Red Flash up by a 17-0 count, he ultimately propelled his team to the program’s first-ever win over an FBS team on Saturday. Extending the Red Flash advantage to 10-0 on a three-yard rush into the end zone, he connected with redshirt senior Gavin Thomson for a 64-yarder touchdown throw that made it a 17-point lead with 10:56 left in the second quarter. Hoenstine, who recorded 50 rushing yards on 10 carries, finished the game 11-of-22 with 195 passing yards and zero interceptions.

#NECFB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week 2)

Kimal Clark, CCSU (DB, Jr.)
Clark was a big contributor to a Central Connecticut defense that held Fordham to three points and 188 total yards while racking up nine tackles, 13.0 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks, four quarterback hurries and three pass breakups. The All-NEC preseason team member was the Blue Devils’ leading tackler with 13.0, including six solo stops.

Brady Olson, CCSU (QB, Jr.)
Olson threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns to lead Central Connecticut past visiting Fordham, 33-3, on Saturday. The junior went 15-of-31 for the Blue Devils, who held a 284-188 advantage in total yards in the home-opening victory.

Vincent Thomas, CCSU (LB, Sr.)
Thomas recovered two fumbles as part of Central Connecticut’s block/return unit to help lead the Blue Devils to a commanding 33-3 home win over Fordham on Saturday. Notching his first recovery on a muffed punt, Thomas, who added 3.0 tackles and one pass breakup, dove on an errant snap on a Fordham punt attempt in the end zone to put the first six points of the game on the board for the Blue Devils with the touchdown. 

Malachi Wright, CCSU (LB, Jr.)
Wright had a monstrous game on the defensive line, helping Central Connecticut hold Fordham to just three points in a 30-point victory after delivering 7.0 tackles, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss that pushed the Rams back 27 yards. The linebacker also added a quarterback hurry and one sack for the Blue Devils, who notched the most sacks in a single game in the FCS this season (9). Wright was also named the NEC Defensive Player of the Week.

Adam Urena, MU (QB, Sr.)
Urena racked up 200-plus passing yards for the second straight outing on Saturday in Mercyhurst’s hard-fought, last-second defeat at reigning MEAC champion Howard. Going 23-of-34 with zero interceptions, the veteran quarterback brought the Lakers out of a deficit and put them in front late with a pair of touchdown throws to senior Cameron Barmore.

Jeff Hoenstine, SFU (QB, R-Fr.)
Hoenstine was up for the challenge in his collegiate debut at FBS and MAC opponent Kent State on Saturday. Converting on 11-of-22 attempts for 195 yards and one touchdown, the redshirt freshman also ran for 50 yards and a score on 10 rushes to lead the Red Flash to the historic victory. Hoenstine was also tabbed the NEC Offensive Player of the Week and the NEC Rookie of the Week.

Trey McLeer, SFU (DB, R-So.)
McLeer delivered two key plays in crunch time at Kent State on Saturday to help Saint Francis U secure the program’s first-ever win over an FBS opponent. A redshirt sophomore defensive back, he recorded the Red Flash’s first pick of the season to prevent a Golden Flashes touchdown in the fourth quarter before he recovered Kent State’s onside kick attempt and sealed the victory in the final moments of the game.

Mac Plummer, SFU (K, R-Jr.)
Plummer’s right foot helped pad Saint Francis U’s lead en route to the program scoring its first-ever victory against an FBS program on Saturday. The redshirt junior kicker went 2-for-2 on PATs and 3-for-3 on field goals, converting from 50, 33 and 46 yards to lead the Red Flash past Kent State by a 23-17 final. Plummer also took home NEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Mercury Swaim, SFU (LB, R-So.)
Swaim played an integral role on defense in Saint Francis U’s first-ever win over an FBS opponent on Saturday. The redshirt sophomore linebacker from Bedford, PA notched 7.0 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss, one forced fumble and a pass breakup in the Red Flash’s 23-17 triumph at Kent State.

Gavin Thomson, SFU (WR, R-Sr.)
Entering Saturday’s game at FBS opponent Kent State with 83 career receiving yards, Thomson caught for a career-high 124 yards on five receptions in Saint Francis U’s 23-17 win. The redshirt senior hauled in a 64-yard touchdown from NEC Player of the Week and NEC Rookie of the Week honoree Jeff Hoenstine with 13:33 remaining in the second quarter to put the Red Flash up by a 17-0 count.

Ashur Carraha, STO (QB, Sr.)
Carraha accounted for a career-high 306 yards of offense on Saturday at Stony Brook after he ran for a career-best 70 yards on 10 carries while completing 18-of-36 passes for 236 yards. In addition to accounting for more than 80.0 percent of the Skyhawks’ total yardage on the day, the senior threw for one score to move into sixth all-time in program history with 27 career touchdown passes.

AROUND THE NEC IN 8 SENTENCES

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT’s defense was on lockdown against Fordham on Saturday, tallying 13 tackles-for-loss, four quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and nine sacks, the most by an FCS squad in a game this season. 

DUQUESNE opened the season against back-to-back FBS opponents for the second time since 2021 after kicking off 2024 at Toledo and Boston College.

LIU, which played in front of 44,000 fans at FBS opponent TCU on Saturday, opens its home slate with back-to-back games in Brookville against Lehigh and Rhode Island.

MERCYHURST came just shy of becoming the third transitioning NEC program to win its first-ever game against a Division I opponent after dropping a heartbreaking 32-31 decision at Howard on Saturday.

ROBERT MORRIS senior running back Tyvon Edmonds Jr. has picked up right where he left off in 2023, as he leads the NEC with 176 rushing yard and 76.5 yards on the ground per contest.

SAINT FRANCIS U has conceded just four touchdowns and 17.5 points per game to Dayton and Kent State to lead the conference in both statistical categories.

STONEHILL senior quarterback Ashur Carraha combined for the 306 total yards (236 passing, 70 rushing), the most by an NEC player since former Saint Francis U quarterback Cole Doyle registered 412 yards in the air against Merrimack on Nov. 19, 2022.

WAGNER sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Bonelli, the reigning NEC Offensive Rookie of the Year, has registered at least one touchdown in each of Wagner’s two games this season. 

2024 NEC FOOTBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Ludovick Choquette (LIU) 
Sept. 9: Jeff Hoenstine (Saint Francis U)

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Tyris Harvey (Robert Morris) & Paul Tangelo (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 9: Malachi Wright (Central Connecticut)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Jack Barnum (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 9: Mac Plummer (Saint Francis U)

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Taveon Wheeler (LIU)
Sept. 9: Jeff Hoenstine (Saint Francis U)