WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
Saturday, September 28
Frostburg State at Mercyhurst 1:00 p.m.
Robert Morris at Eastern Kentucky 2:00 p.m.
LIU at Villanova 6:00 p.m.
Wagner at FAU 6:00 p.m
NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jarel Washington, Stonehill
Running Back, Senior, 5-10, 190 lbs., White Plains, NY/Iona Prep
Week 4 Stats: 184 rushing yards, 23 rushes, 8.0 yards per rush, 2 rushing touchdowns
Washington surpassed 100 rushing yards for the first time in his career on Saturday after he ran for 184 yards on 23 carries to lead Stonehill past former conference mate Sacred Heart by a 35-21 final on Saturday. In addition, the White Plains, NY native reached the end zone twice in the first half, a stretch that saw him compile 173 yards on 19 rushes. Washington got off to a hot start in the Skyhawks’ home opener. On the first possession of the game, he put his team on the board with a 26-yard run just 2:19 after kickoff. With his team leading by a 14-7 count later in the half, the senior went off for a career-long 72-yard touchdown run push the Skyhawks’ lead back to two possessions in the second quarter. In the win, Stonehill finished with a season-high 354 yards on the ground. He enters Week 5 ranked third in the conference in rushing yards per game (86.0). This is Washington’s first-ever NEC Offensive Player of the Week award, and it is the first for a Skyhawk this season.
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kimal Clark, Central Connecticut
Defensive Back, Junior, 5-10, 200 lbs., Lackawanna, NY/St. Francis
Week 4 Stats: 18.0 tackles (8 solo)
Clark ascended to the top of the NEC single-game rankings on Saturday after he posted a career-high18 tackles in Central Connecticut’s hard-fought 35-31 defeat at FBS opponent UMass. Racking up eight solo stops, the junior defensive back delivered 10 of his tackles in the first half to help the Blue Devils claw back from a 14-0 deficit and force a 21-21 deadlock at the break. Just one other player in the FCS has registered more tackles in a contest this season, as Northwestern linebacker Blake Gotcher set the nation’s single-game standard with 23 against Prairie View. On the season, Clark, an All-NEC Preseason team selection, is the league’s leader in total tackles (46 and solo tackles (22), while his 11.5 tackles per game rank fourth in the FCS. He is the third Blue Devil to garner Defensive Player of the Week distinction from the NEC in as many weeks, joining fellow teammates Malachi Wright (Sept. 9) and Jalen Howard (Sept. 16).
NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jack Barnum, Central Connecticut
Kicker, Junior, 6-2, 200 lbs., Southington, CT/Southington
Week 4 Stats: 1-1 FGs (25 yards), 4-4 PATs, 283 kickoff yards (5 kickoffs), 56.0 yards per kickoff, 1 TB
Previously taking home NEC Special Teams Player of the Week distinction following a stellar season-opening performance against Central Michigan last month, Barnes becomes the NEC’s first repeat weekly award winner of 2024 after he tallied seven points in Central Connecticut’s four-point defeat at FBS opponent UMass on Saturday. A local product from Southington, CT, Barnum, who converted on all four of his PATs, kicked a 25-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to give his team a 31-28 advantage heading into the final stretch. The 6-foot-2 junior also assumed kickoff duties for Central Connecticut, averaging 56.0 yards per boot and 283 total kickoff yards with one touchback in five attempts. In addition, Barnum played a key part in helping his team take a 28-21 advantage with 10:12 left in the third. Executing a perfect on-side kick to open the stanza, he recovered the ball at the Central Connecticut 48-yard line, which led Paul Marsh, Jr. capping the ensuing eight-play, 52-yard drive with the go-ahead score less than five minutes later. The Blue Devils have dominated the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week award this season, claiming three of four. Senior punter Aidan Clark was recognized as the league’s top special teams player last week on Sept. 16.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Charles Battaglia, Stonehill
Linebacker, Sophomore, 6-1, 225 lbs., Massapequa, NY/Chaminade
Week 4 Stats: 7.0 tackles (6 solo), 1.0 tackles-for-loss (2 yards)
Battaglia delivered a solid performance for a Stonehill defense that limited Sacred Heart to 143 passing yards on Saturday in the Skyhawks’ home opener, a 35-21 triumph over their former conference mate. The linebacker from Massapequa, NY delivered a career-high seven tackles — including six solo stops — and added 1.0 tackle-for-loss in the victory. With 15.0 total tackles, Battaglia ranks second amongst fellow Seahawks behind Matthew DeVirgilio’s 19.0. This is his first career NEC Rookie of the Week award, and the first for a Stonehill first-year player since Nigel Henderson earned the distinction on Sept. 18, 2023.
#NECFB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week 4)
Kimal Clark, CCSU (DB, Jr.)
Clark recorded the most tackles by an NEC defender this season — and the second-most by an FCS player — when he delivered 18 in Central Connecticut’s hard-fought 35-31 defeat at FBS opponent UMass on Saturday. He had 10 stops in the first half to help the Blue Devils tie up the game at 21-all at the break. Clark also received NEC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Brady Olson, CCSU (QB, Jr.)
Tying up the game at 21-all before halftime , Olson gave Central Connecticut a seven-point lead early in the third quarter with his second touchdown throw of the game at FBS opponent UMass on Saturday. The junior completed 12-of-20 passes for 157 total yards.
Malachi Wright, CCSU (LB, Jr.)
Wright contributed to a Central Connecticut defense that had 88 tackles after posting 12 in the Blue Devils’ four-point defeat at UMass on Saturday. The junior linebacker had six solo and six assisted stops in his career-best outing.
Jordan Heisey, DUQ (QB, Sr.)
Heisey made the most of his first career start at QB on Saturday against West Virginia Wesleyan. Completing 17-of-23 passes for 161 yards and a trio of touchdowns, the senior piloted Duquesne to its second-straight win by way of a 35-0 shutout.
Elijah St. John, LIU (DT, So.)
St. John, a sophomore defensive tackle, compiled double digits in tackles for the first time in his career when he posted 10 in LIU’s 28-21 defeat to Rhode Island on Saturday. With the game tied at 7-7 in the second quarter, the Canadian had a key strip sack that was recovered by teammate Liam McCormick and resulted in a Luca Stanzani touchdown rush on the ensuing drive.
Luca Stanzani, LIU (QB, R-So.)
Throwing for 176 yards on a 16-of-27 effort, Stanzani bookended a rushing score with a pair of touchdown throws in LIU’s 28-21 defeat to Rhode Island on Saturday. Opening the Sharks’ scoring with a 28-yard pass before putting LIU ahead at halftime on a seven-yard touchdown run, the redshirt sophomore gave his team a 21-14 advantage with 9:13 to go in the fourth on a 42-yard touchdown pass to senior Michael Love.
Adam Urena, MU (QB, Sr.)
Against stiff competition at No. 3 Montana State, Urena registered his fourth 200-plus passing yard outing in as many games on Saturday after he threw for 213 yards, zero interceptions and a touchdown. The senior leads the NEC in passing touchdowns (9), total passing yards (917), passing yards per game (229.3) and completions (99).
Tyvon Edmonds, Jr., RMU (RB, Sr.)
Edmonds came just one yard shy of making it back-to-back 100-rushing yards games, but his two touchdown runs helped lead Robert Morris past Wagner by a 21-14 final in the Colonials’ first NEC game since 2019. The league’s top rusher at 385 total yards and 96.3 per game knotted up the contest at 7-7 with a two-yard trot in the opening quarter before he put Robert Morris in front for good with a one-yard scamper at the 12:08 mark of the third.
Noah Robinson, RMU (WR, R-So.)
Robinson hauled in four catches for 90 yards to help lead Robert Morris to a 21-14 road win at Wagner on Saturday afternoon. His 59-yard reception from redshirt junior Anthony Chiccitt on a 2nd-and-18 landed the Colonials at the Seahawks’ one-yard line and set up the go-ahead touchdown run from senior Tyvon Edmonds, Jr.
Jarel Washington, STO (RB, Sr.)
Washington, a senior, led a stout Skyhawks’ rushing attack with a career-best 184 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries in Saturday’s 35-21 victory over Sacred Heart. Capping the opening possession with a 26-yard score 2:19 into the contest, he answered the Pioneers’ first score of the game with a 72-yard touchdown run. Washington also took home NEC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Zavion Woodard, STO (RB, Jr.)
Woodard was one of two Skyhawks to rack up 100 yards on the ground in Saturday’s 35-21 win over former conference mate Sacred Heart. The junior running back compiled a career-high 110 yards on 19 carries, including a back-breaking 31-yard touchdown run that clinched the win with 38 seconds left.
Justin Reilly, WC (DB, Gr.)
Registering 1.5 tackles-for-loss, Reilly reached double figures in tackles for the first time this season in Wagner’s single-possession defeat to Robert Morris on Saturday. The veteran defensive back led all players in the category with 10 on the afternoon.
AROUND THE NEC IN 8 SENTENCES
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT quarterbacks have not been sacked in each of the Blue Devils’ past three games.
DUQUESNE head coach Jerry Schmitt, who has led the Dukes to 17-straight home-opening victories, registered the 150th win of his career against West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday.
LIU’s three setbacks to FCS opponents — then-ranked #16 UAlbany, Lehigh and Rhode Island — have been decided by a single possesssion.
MERCYHURST quarterback Adam Urena, who has thrown nine touchdowns and just one interception, is tied for sixth in the nation in touchdown passes.
ROBERT MORRIS, which has averaged 38.0 points per game in its past two wins, leads the league with 16 touchdowns and 27.8 points per game.
SAINT FRANCIS U has held each of its four opponents to 124 rushing yards and is conceding a league-leading 89.3 yards per game on the ground.
STONEHILL had two players rush for 100-plus yards in the same game since transititioning to Division I for the 2022 season on Saturday against Sacred Heart (Jarel Washington – 184 yards & Zavion Woodard – 110 yards).
WAGNER’s defense is conceding just 21.0 points per game — the program’s fewest since allowing 18.00 in 2014 — to lead the conference.
2024 NEC FOOTBALL WEEKLY AWARD WINNERS:
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Ludovick Choquette (LIU)
Sept. 9: Jeff Hoenstine (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 16: JaMario Clements (Duquesne)
Sept. 23: Jarel Washington (Stonehill)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Tyris Harvey (Robert Morris) & Paul Tangelo (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 9: Malachi Wright (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 16: Jalen Howard (Central Connecticut) & Luke Miller (Duquesne)
Sept. 23: Kimal Clark (Central Connecticut)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Jack Barnum (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 9: Mac Plummer (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 16: Aidan Clark (Central Connecticut)
Sept. 23: Jack Barnum (Central Connecticut)
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Sept. 2: Taveon Wheeler (LIU)
Sept. 9: Jeff Hoenstine (Saint Francis U)
Sept. 16: Luke Miller (Duquesne)
Sept. 23: Charles Battaglia (Stonehill)
TWO-SENTENCE GAME SUMMARIES
STONEHILL 35, Sacred Heart 21
Producing 354 yards on the ground behind the strength of a pair of 100-yard rushers, Stonehill took care of business against Sacred Heart with a 35-21 home-opening victory on Saturday afternoon. Senior Jarel Washington ran for a career-high 184 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Skyhawks to the wire-to-wire win against their former conference mate.
ROBERT MORRIS 21, WAGNER 14
Robert Morris made a statement in its first NEC game since 2019 with a 21-14 road win at Wagner on Saturday. Tyvon Edmonds, Jr. ran for 99 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Colonials and push his league-best rushing score total to four in the process.
DUQUESNE 35, West Virginia Wesleyan 0
In his first career start at quarterback, senior Jordan Heisey threw for three touchdowns for Duquesne, which pitched a shutout in its home debut with a 35-0 win against West Virginia Wesleyan. The Dukes held the Bobcats to just 11 rushing yards and outgained their competitors by a commanding 426-155 yard advantage on the afternoon.
Rhode Island 28, LIU 21
For the third time this season, LIU dropped a one-possession game to an FCS opponent on Saturday, as the Sharks came up short to Rhode Island by a 28-21 final. The Sharks held a 21-14 lead with 9:13 left in the final quarter, but the Rams returned a fumble recovery for the game-tying score before they delivered the game-winning touchdown with 68 seconds left to play.
UMass 35, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 31
Central Connecticut threw several punches and nearly knocked off FBS opponent UMass on the road on Saturday. The Blue Devils led twice in the second half thanks to a touchdown catch by senior wideout Paul Marsh, Jr. (28-21) and a 25-yard field goal by junior Jack Barnum (31-28), but the Minutemen delivered the final blow and sealed the 35-31 victory with a three-yard touchdown rush with 9:10 remaining in the game.
Eastern Michigan 36, SAINT FRANCIS U 0
Eastern Michigan ran out to a 13-0 lead at halftime and never looked back, as the Eagles took down Saint Francis U by a 36-0 final. It marked the second time that the Red Flash faced a MAC opponent this season, with that game resulting in the NEC’s second-ever win over an FBS squad at Kent State earlier this month.
#3 Montana State 52, MERCYHURST 13
Mercyhurst dropped a 52-13 decision at FCS power Montana State, the third-ranked team in the nation, on Saturday afternoon. Rookie defensive back Adonis Marshall returned a Cougars’ fumble 43 yards to the house to put the Lakers on the board before senior Adam Urena, who threw for 213 yards, tossed a touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Joe Kerbacher to round out his team’s scoring.
SLANT ROUTES
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT
Quarterbacks have not been sacked in each of the Blue Devils’ past three games.
DUQUESNE
Head coach Jerry Schmitt, who has led the Dukes to 17-straight home-opening victories, registered the 150th win of his career against West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday.
LIU’s
Three setbacks to FCS opponents — then-ranked #16 UAlbany, Lehigh and Rhode Island — have been decided by a single possession.
MERCYHURST
Quarterback Adam Urena, who has thrown nine touchdowns and just one interception, is tied for sixth in the nation in touchdown passes.
ROBERT MORRIS
Which has averaged 38.0 points per game in its past two wins, leads the league with 16 touchdowns and 27.8 points per game.
SAINT FRANCIS U
Has held each of its four opponents to 124 rushing yards and is conceding a league-leading 89.3 yards per game on the ground.
STONEHILL
Had two players rush for 100-plus yards in the same game since transitioning to Division I for the 2022 season on Saturday against Sacred Heart (Jarel Washington – 184 yards & Zavion Woodard – 110 yards). WAGNER’s defense is conceding just 21.0 points per game — the program’s fewest since allowing 18.00 in 2014 — to lead the conference.
TEAM REPORTS
CCSU BLUE DEVILS (2-2, 1-0 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS:
• The Blue Devils have three players ranked inside the NEC’s top eight in sacks, led by Jalen Howard’s 1.25 per game. That figure ranks him eighth in the FCS. • Central Connecticut leads the FCS in fumble recoveries (8) while ranking fourth in sacks per game (4.00) and eight in tackles-for-loss per game (8.3). • The Blue Devils’ offensive line has allowed just 0.50 sacks per game to rank third in the FCS. Last time out, quarterback Brady Olson was not sacked at UMass. Three times this season, Central Connecticut has not allowed a sack. • Junior Kimal Clark registered 18 tackles against the Minutemen, marking the second-most delivered by an FCS player this season. He ranks fourth in the nation with 11.5 tackles per contest.
UP NEXT: Following a bye week, the Blue Devils head to Yale for a Nutmeg State battle at noon on Oct. 5.
DUQUESNE DUKES (2-2, 0-0 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • Duquesne pitched a shutout for the first time since defeating Sacred Heart by a 27-0 final on Oct. 28, 2023 with a 35-0 victory against visiting West Virginia Wesleyan on Saturday. • The win marked the 150th of head coach Jerry Schmitt’s career. The winningest coach in Duquense program history (122 wins) tallied 28 in five seasons at Westminster (2000-05) and is now one of seven FCS coaches with 150 career victories. • With the win, the Dukes have won each of their past 17 home openers. Under Schmitt, they are 19-1 when making debut on the Bluff.
UP NEXT: Duquesne enjoys a bye weekend before it starts its 2023 NEC championship title defense at home with a 1:00 p.m. tilt against LIU.
LIU SHARKS (0-4, 0-0 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS:
• Each of LIU’s setbacks three-against FCS opponents have been decided by a single possession, including a six-point defeat to then-ranked No. 16 UAlbany, a three-point loss to Lehigh and a seven-point defeat to Rhode Island. • Preseason All-NEC pick Michael Love, a senior, has been on the receiving end of four of LIU’s seven touchdown throws this season. • LIU’s six-point loss at No. 16 UAlbany last month marked the program’s slimmest margin of defeat to a nationally-ranked FCS opponent in program history.
UP NEXT: Another challenge is on the docket for LIU, as the Sharks take on CAA preseason favorite Villanova on the road at 6 p.m. on Saturday
MERCYHURST LAKERS (1-3 OVERALL)
FIRST DOWNS:
• With nine touchdown passes, including six to graduate student Cameron Barmore, senior Adam Urena is tied for sixth in the FCS in the category. • Throwing just one pick through the first four games of the season, Urena’s 9.00 touchdown/interception ratio is tops in the nation amongst FCS quarterbacks. • Barmore, who have multiple touchdown catches in three of four games this season, leads the entire FCS with six touchdown receptions, while his 332 total receiving yards are good for 15th in the nation.
UP NEXT: Mercyhurst makes its home debut on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Frostburg State.
ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS (2-2, 1-0 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS:
• Tyvon Edmonds, Jr. registered his first multi-touchdown outing of the season at Wagner to lead the Colonials to a road win in their conference opener. • Edmonds has maintained his status as NEC rushing yard champion in the early part of this season as he leads the conference and is 14th in the nation in rushing yards (385). His league-leading 96.3 rushing yards per game are good for 17th in the FCS. • The win marked Robert Morris’ first NEC triumph since a 16-14 defeat of Sacred Heart on Nov. 23, 2019. • The past 13 games in the Robert Morris/ Wagner series have been decided by a single possession.
UP NEXT: Robert Morris looks to make it three-in-a-row on Saturday when the Colonials head to UAC member Easter Kentucky.
SAINT FRANCIS U RED FLASH (1-3, 0-1 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS:
• Saint Francis U has held opponents to 124 rushing yards or fewer in each of its four games this season. The Red Flash’s rushing defense leads the NEC and is 10th in the FCS at 89.3 yards per game. • Paul Tangelo is one of just seven FCS players to force multiple fumbles in a game this season, turning the trick in Saint Francis U’s season opener at Dayton. He ranks ninth in the nation with 0.50 forced fumbles per game. • Saint Francis U’s 11 touchdowns allowed are the fewest in the NEC this season, while its 24.5 points allowed per contest rank second in the circuit. • Adrian Mejia made his first career start at QB at FBS opponent Eastern Michigan as starting quarterback Nick Whitfield Jr. and backup signal caller Jeff Hoenstine have each suffered injuries.
UP NEXT: Saint Francis U is off next weekend before it heads to Delaware State on Oct. 5 to face an out-of-conference squad for the final time this season.
STONEHILL SKYHAWKS (1-2, 0-0 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS:
• Senior Jarel Washington (184 yards) and junior Zavion Woodard (110) became the first Stonehill tandem to rush for 100-plus yards in the same game since the Skyhawks made the jump to Division I in Saturday’s win over Sacred Heart. • With three players ranked inside the conference’s top eight in rushing yards per game, Stonehill’s rushing offense has been one of the best in the circuit this season, as the Skyhawks are averaging a league-best 225.0 yards per game. That number ranks ninth amongst all FCS squads. • Senior quarterback Ashur Carraha has established his running game this season, as he leads all NEC signal callers and is ranked sixth overall in the league with 63.7 rushing yards per game.
UP NEXT: Opening the campaign with a bye week, the Skyhawks are on hiatus once again on Saturday before they open the NEC portion of their 2024 schedule against Wagner on Oct. 5.
WAGNER SEAHAWKS (2-2, 0-1 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS:
• Wagner turned a fourth-quarter pick into a touchdown to pull within one possession, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Robert Morris in its conference opener on Saturday. • The Seahawks have made vast improvements both offensively and defensively this season, ranking second (25.8 ppg) and first (21.0 ppg) in the league, respectively. They have upped their scoring average by 8.4 ppg and have conceded 8.82 fewer points per contest. • Wagner’s 30-7 win at Delaware State earlier this month marked the program’s largest margin of victory since the Seahawks defeated Robert Morris by a 41-7 final in 2018. The seven points conceded by the defense also marks the best performance since that conference victory. • Sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Bonelli has four touchdown catches and leads the NEC with 84.5 receiving yards per contest.
UP NEXT: The Seahawks fly South on Saturday to face FBS opponent FAU at 6 p.m.
