WEEK 13 SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 23
Stonehill at Robert Morris 12:00 p.m.
Duquesne at Central Connecticut 12:00 p.m.
LIU at Wagner 12:00 p.m.
Saint Francis U at Mercyhurst 1:00 p.m.
NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Darius Perrantes, Duquesne
Quarterback, Senior, 6-0, 220 lbs., Los Angeles, CA/St. Francis (LIU)
Week 12 Stats: 27-for-46 completions, 58.7 completion percentage, 393 passing yards, 6 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions
Week 12 Notables: Perrantes rose to the challenge in another pivotal game and led Duquesne past Wagner by a 42-21 final on Saturday. With their eighth-straight victory, the Dukes, who improved to 5-0 in NEC play, clinched a share of the league title for the second straight season. They will play for the NEC’s AQ to the FCS Playoffs this weekend at Central Connecticut. Perrantes threw for 393 yards and six touchdowns, the most scores by an FCS signal caller this season. In addition, he became the only quarterback in the nation to toss five-or-more touchdowns in three games (vs. DI competitors) this season. The Los Angeles, CA native capped off his day by earning a “Helmet Sticker” on ESPN’s College Football Final. With 27 touchdown throws, Perrantes enters the final week of the regular season ranked fifth in the FCS. In addition, he has accounted for 18.7 points per game to rank third in the nation. This is Perrantes’ third NEC Offensive Player of the Week award of the year.
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut
Defensive Back, Redshirt Freshman, 5-9, 170 lbs., Rochester, NY/Rochester
Week 12 Stats: forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 49-yard fumble recovery, 2 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Week 12 Notables: Jean had two timely defensive plays on Saturday to help Central Connecticut take down conference foe Robert Morris in double overtime and keep the Blue Devils’ NEC title hopes alive. The redshirt freshman defensive back from Rochester, NY had two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, a pair of tackles and one pass breakup to fuel a comeback that saw Central Connecticut erase a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter and come away with the crucial win. In the final moments of the third quarter, Jean forced a fumble on the 50-yard line on a Robert Morris 2nd-and-5 to give his team possession to start the fourth. On the quarter-opening drive, the Blue Devils made it a one-possession game at 24-17 on a Peter Cleary touchdown catch. Less than three minutes later, Jean recovered a fumble forced by linebacker Malachi Wright and returned it 49 yards for the game-tying touchdown with 7:26 left in regulation. With the honor, Jean is the fifth Blue Devil to win an NEC Defensive Player of the Week award this season.
NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rob Carter Jr., Robert Morris
Defensive Back, Senior, 5-10, 175 lbs., Danville, VA/Dan River (UVA Wise)
Week 12 Stats: 92-yard kickoff return for TD, 131 kickoff return yards (3 returns), pick 6 (50 yards), 1 tackle, 2 pass breakups
Week 12 Notables: Carter Jr. took home his first-ever NEC weekly award on Monday after he had two impressive plays in Robert Morris’ hard-fought 35-33 double overtime defeat at Central Connecticut. The senior defensive back first gave the Colonials a 10-7 lead after he returned a kickoff 92 yards to the house at the 10:17 mark of the second quarter. That kick return was the longest of his Robert Morris career and the third-longest in the NEC this season. Just over five minutes later, the Danville, VA native delivered another clutch play when he intercepted a Central Connecticut ball and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to make it a 10-point advantage for his team. On the afternoon, Carter Jr. finished with a season-high 131 kickoff return yards, one tackle and a pair of pass breakups. With the award, he became the first Colonial to earn NEC Special Teams Player of the Week distinction.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Christopher Jean, Central Connecticut
Defensive Back, Redshirt Freshman, 5-9, 170 lbs., Rochester, NY/Rochester
Week 12 Stats: 1 forced fumble, 2 fumble recoveries, 49-yard fumble recovery, 2 tackles, 1 pass breakup
Week 12 Notables: Jean was all over the field against Robert Morris, and he proved to be in the right place at the right time in what was a pivotal win for Central Connecticut on Saturday. With 7:26 remaining in regulation, the Rochester, NY native recovered a fumble and returned it 49 yards to the house to help the Blue Devils complete a comeback from what was a 24-10 fourth-quarter deficit. Prior to that, Jean forced a fumble and recovered the ball on a Colonials 2nd-and-5 at midfield to set up an 11-play, 64-yard drive that pulled Central Connecticut within seven points (24-17) with 10:00 to go. With four fumble recoveries this season, Jean leads the NEC and is tied for second in the nation in the category. In addition, Jean is second in the circuit with seven pass breakups.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS (WEEK 12)
Elijah Howard, CCSU (RB, Jr.)
Crossing the goal line for the game-tying touchdown in the second overtime period, Howard put up 99 all-purpose yards in Central Connecticut’s thrilling 35-33 win over Robert Morris. The junior running back ran the ball 21 times for 66 yards and tacked on 33 receiving yards.
Christopher Jean, CCSU (DB, R-Fr.)
Jean kept Central Connecticut’s title hopes alive on Saturday after he stuffed the stat sheet with two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, two tackles and a pass breakup in a double overtime defeat of Robert Morris. Forcing a fumble in the final minutes of the third that led to a Blue Devils’ touchdown in the fourth quarter, the redshirt freshman recovered another fumble and returned it 49 yards for the game-tying score. Jean was also pegged the NEC Defensive Player of the Week and the NEC Rookie of the Week.
Malachi Wright, CCSU (LB, Jr.)
Wright racked up five tackles, 0.5 tackles-for-loss and one pass breakup in Central Connecticut’s thrilling 35-33 double-overtime victory over visiting Robert Morris on Saturday. The junior linebacker also added a crucial forced fumble that completed the Blue Devils’ furious comeback and tied the game at 24-all midway through the fourth quarter.
Tedy Afful, DUQ (WR, Sr.)
Afful became the first Duquesne player in four years to eclipse 200 receiving yards in a single game after he hauled in 10 catches for an NEC-best 208 yards. Accounting for six of the Dukes’ seven third down conversions, the senior wide receiver put the finishing touches on Duquesne’s eighth straight win — a 42-21 defeat of Wagner — with a touchdown.
John Erby, DUQ (WR, Gr.)
Highlighted by a one-handed touchdown catch that landed the No. 3 spot on ESPN’s Top Plays and SportsCenter’s Top-10 countdown, Erby finished with two touchdowns to pace the unbeaten Dukes in their 42-21 win over Wagner. The graduate wide receiver has put up multiple scores in back-to-back games for Duquesne, which clinched a share of the NEC title with the win.
Joey Isabella, DUQ (WR, Gr.)
Isabella was on the receiving end of two of quarterback Darius Perrantes’ six touchdown throws on Saturday in Duquesne’s 42-21 win over Wagner. With his second multi-score game this season, the graduate wide receiver has registered at least one touchdown in seven consecutive outings for the Dukes, who have won eight-in-a-row.
Darius Perrantes, DUQ (QB, Sr.)
Perrantes threw for a career-high six touchdowns on Saturday to help Duquesne remain unbeaten and NEC play and claim at least a share of the regular season title for the second straight year. The senior completed 27-of-40 passes and accumulated 393 yards in the air in the 42-21 defeat of Wagner.
Rob Carter Jr., RMU (DB, Sr.)
Registering a 50-yard pick 6, Carter returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown in Robert Morris’ double-overtime defeat at Central Connecticut. The senior defensive back’s 92-yard scamper marked the third-longest kick return in the NEC this season. Carter was also named the NEC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Keon Freeman, RMU (LB, Gr.)
Freeman registered a team-high 12 tackles in Robert Morris’ double-overtime defeat at Central Connecticut on Saturday. The graduate linebacker leads the Colonials and is ranked second in the NEC with 9.5 stops per contest.
Eddie Bierals, SFU (DL, Sr.)
Bierals recorded a season-high six tackles and had 2.5 sacks to lead Saint Francis U to its second-straight victory by way of a 34-27 road win at LIU. His 2.5 sacks were a personal-best effort for the senior defensive lineman.
Gavin Thomson, SFU (WR, R-Sr.)
Thomson caught six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown to help Saint Francis U come back to claim a 34-27 win at LIU. His fifth score of the season with 7:30 left in the third tied up the game at 24-all.
Mo Seide, STO (DB, Jr.)
Seide became the first Skyhawk in 11 years to register multiple picks in the same game on Saturday after he intercepted two passes at Lafayette. The junior defensive back added five tackles, including three solo stops.
AROUND THE NEC IN 8 SENTENCES
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT will take on Duquesne in its regular season finale with a share of the NEC’s title and the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs on the line.
DUQUESNE, which clinched at least a share of the NEC crown for the second time in as many years with its eighth-straight victory over Wagner, will be playing for the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs when it heads to Central Connecticut on Saturday.
LIU senior Michael Love returned a kickoff 96 yards to the house against Saint Francis U on Saturday for the NEC’s longest kick return this season.
MERCYHURST senior Adam Urena enters Saturday’s season finale ranked third in the FCS with 28 touchdown throws in the Lakers’ inaugural Division I campaign.
ROBERT MORRIS looks to end its 2024 campaign — and its first as an NEC member since 2019 — by securing its ninth-straight home win against an NEC opponent.
SAINT FRANCIS U, which was blanked by league opponents in consecutive games, has bounced back to put up 34 points in each of its NEC victories against Stonehill and LIU.
STONEHILL concludes the 2024 season with the program’s first-ever matchup against Robert Morris.
WAGNER’s defense ranks second in conference play after holding league foes to just 18.8 points per game.
TWO-SENTENCE GAME SUMMARIES
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 35, ROBERT MORRIS 33 (2ot)
Junior quarterback Brady Olson caromed a pass off of the helmet of senior offensive lineman Isaiah DeLoatch and into the arms of graduate wide receiver Isaac Boston in the second overtime to lead Central Connecticut to a 35-33 victory over visiting Robert Morris on Saturday. Trailing by as many as 14 in the third quarter, the Blue Devils, who kept their NEC title hopes alive with the win, tied up the game in the final overtime session on an Elijah Howard 12-yard touchdown run before converting on the big two-point attempt.
#21/22 DUQUESNE 42, WAGNER 21
Duquesne scored 28 unanswered points to erase an early deficit and clinch at least a share of the NEC regular season title for the second-straight year with a 42-21 win against Wagner. Finding graduate students Joey Isabella and John Erby two times apiece in the end zone, senior quarterback Darius Perrantes threw for 393 yards and six touchdowns for the Dukes, who have won eight-in-a-row and are perfect in NEC play with a 5-0 mark.
SAINT FRANCIS U 34, LIU 27
Redshirt sophomore linebacker Mercury Swaim fueled a game-ending goal-line stand with 11 seconds left and sealed a come-from-behind 34-27 win for Saint Francis U with a sack of LIU quarterback Ethan Greenwood following an errant snap in Brookville on Saturday. Redshirt sophomore Nick Whitfield Jr. threw for 268 yards and a pair of touchdowns to pace a Red Flash offense that featured four different scorers.
Lafayette 42, STONEHILL 10
A quick start that featured three touchdowns in the opening quarter propelled Lafayette past Stonehill by a 42-10 final in Easton, PA on Saturday. Junior Zavion Woodard capped a seven-play, 73-yard drive with a one-yard rush into the end zone to pace the Skyhawks’ offense in their non-conference finale.
SLANT ROUTES
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT will take on Duquesne in its regular season finale with a share of the NEC’s title and the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs on the line.
DUQUESNE, which clinched at least a share of the NEC crown for the second time in as many years with its eighth-straight victory over Wagner, will be playing for the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs when it heads to Central Connecticut on Saturday. LIU senior Michael Love returned a kickoff 96 yards to the house against Saint Francis U on Saturday for the NEC’s longest kick return this season. MERCYHURST senior Adam Urena enters Saturday’s season finale ranked third in the FCS with 28 touchdown throws in the Lakers’ inaugural Division I campaign.
ROBERT MORRIS looks to end its 2024 campaign — and its first as an NEC member since 2019 — by securing its ninth-straight home win against an NEC opponent.
SAINT FRANCIS U, which was blanked by league opponents in consecutive games, has bounced back to put up 34 points in each of its NEC victories against Stonehill and LIU.
STONEHILL concludes the 2024 season with the program’s first-ever matchup against Robert Morris.
WAGNER’s defense ranks second in conference play after holding league foes to just 18.8 points per game.
TEAM REPORTS
CCSU BLUE DEVILS (6-5, 4-1 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • Scoring a pivotal double overtime win over Robert Morris, Central Connecticut remains in the driver’s seat heading into Saturday’s season finale. • Facing undefeated Duquesne, the Blue Devils can clinch a share of the NEC title and claim the league’s AQ to the FCS Playoffs with a win. • The title would be the Blue Devils’ first since 2019, and their fourth overall. • Four of Central Connecticut’s five setbacks have been decided by four points or fewer this season. • With 15 fumble recoveries, the Blue Devils are lead the nation in the category. • In addition, Central Connecticut is fourth in the FCS in sacks per game (3.18) and ninth in tackles-for-loss per game (7.3). • The Blue Devils’ offensive line has allowed just 0.45 sacks per game to lead the FCS. Six times this season, Central Connecticut has not allowed a sack against Fordham, Saint Francis U, UMass, Dartmouth, LIU and Stonehill.
UP NEXT: Central Connecticut hosts undefeated Duquesne in a winner take all showdown on Saturday
DUQUESNE DUKES (8-2, 5-0 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • For the second time in as many years, Duquesne will be playing in a winner take all season finale on Saturday. • The Dukes clinched at least a share of the NEC regular season title for the second time in as many seasons with Saturday’s win over Wagner. • The Dukes improved to 5-0 for the first time since joining the NEC in 2008, while their current eightgame win streak is tied for the fourth-longest in the nation. • Saturday’s win marked Duquesne’s 10th-straight against the Seahawks. • Coming off his fifth 100+ rushing yard game of the season, JaMario Clements leads the NEC in rushing yards per game (96.3). He is one of two running back in the nation with multiple 75-yard touchdown runs this season. • Darius Perrantes is the only FCS quarterback to have three games with five-or-more touchdowns this season (vs. DI opponents). His 27 passing TDs are good tied for fifth in the FCS. • Holding NEC opponents to 17.8 points while leading the circuit with 41.2 points per game, the Dukes are outscoring conference opponents by an average of 23.4 points per game.
UP NEXT: The NEC’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs is on the line when Duquesne heads to Central Connecticut for the 2024 regular season finale on Saturday.
LIU SHARKS (3-8, 2-3 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • Senior Michael Love returned a kickoff 96 yards to the house for LIU on Saturday against Saint Francis U, marking the longest kick return by an NEC player this season. • LIU’s most targeted receiver by a long shot with 50 catches, Love, who is averaging 58.6 receiving yards per game, has seven touchdown catches this season. • Redshirt sophomore quarterback Ethan Greenwood is just one of three FCS quarterbacks to have three 100-plus rushing yard games to his name (184 yards vs. Stonehill; 147 against Robert Morris; 140 vs. Sacred Heart).
UP NEXT: LIU crosses the Verrazzano Bridge to take on Wagner in its season finale on Saturday
MERCYHURST LAKERS (3-7 OVERALL)
FIRST DOWNS: • With 28 touchdown passes, including 11 to graduate student Cameron Barmore, senior Adam Urena is tied for third in the FCS in the category. • Barmore’s 11 touchdown catches are tied for fourth-most in the FCS. • The NEC’s most targeted receivers with 63 receptions, Barmore leads the circuit with 78.4 receiving yards per game. His 6.4 receptions per contest are good for 10th in the FCS. • Coming off his second six-touchdown outing of the season against Lincoln earlier this month, Urena paces the conference with 253.3 passing yards per game, 247 completions and 2,533 passing yards. His 67.3 percent completion rate also leads all conference signal callers.
UP NEXT: Mercyhurst concludes its inaugural Division I season looking to pick up its first win against an NEC opponent when it hosts Saint Francis U
ROBERT MORRIS COLONIALS (6-5, 3-2 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • Robert Morris’ chance of clinching the NEC title and the league’s AQ to the NCAA FCS Playoffs diminished after its double-overtime loss at Central Connecticut on Saturday. • The Colonials have pitched an NEC-leading three shutouts this season, the most for the program since 1996. • Robert Morris is allowing 20.82 points per game this season, the fewest by the Colonials since they held opponents to 17.55 points per contest in the 2009 campaign. • Averaging 29.5 points per game against league foes this season, the Colonials rank second in the NEC behind Duquesne’s 41.2 ppg. • The Colonials have won eight straight games against NEC opponents at home, dating back to 2019.
UP NEXT: Robert Morris concludes its first season back in the NEC with the program’s first-ever matchup against Stonehill on Saturday.
SAINT FRANCIS U RED FLASH (4-6, 2-4 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • After suffering back-to-back shutout defeats, Saint Francis U has lit up the scoreboard with 34 points in each of its past two games, both of which have been wins against Stonehill and LIU. • Nick Whitfield Jr. registered his second-straight multi-touchdown outing to help lead the Red Flash to the 34-27 come-from-behind win over the Sharks on Saturday. • Whitfield Jr.’s career-high 268 yards through the air marked the most by a Saint Francis U quarterback since Nov. 19, 2022. • The Red Flash defense racked up eight sacks in the win, the most since registering eight against Robert Morris on Oct. 7, 2016.
UP NEXT: Saint Francis U closes out the season with a road trip to Mercyhurst.
STONEHILL SKYHAWKS (1-9, 0-5 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • Charles Battaglia is making a strong case to run away with the NEC Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He ranks eighth overall and is first among NEC rookies in tackles per game (6.3). • Jordan Irvine also ranks among the league leaders in tackles as he is fourth with 7.1 per contest. • Stonehill has been playing without starting quarterback Ashur Carraha for the past five games. In the Skyhawks’ first five games, he averaged 94.2 passing yards and 28.2 rushing yards per game.
UP NEXT: Stonehill concludes the 2024 season with the program’s first-ever matchup against Robert Morris.
WAGNER SEAHAWKS (4-7, 2-3 NEC)
FIRST DOWNS: • With a 4-6 overall record, Wagner has matched last season’s win total. One more triumph would mark the Seahawks’ most fruitful season since going 6-5 in 2016. • The Seahawks are coming off a loss to first-place Duquesne that saw them concede 42 points, the most in an NEC game this year. • Defense has been Wagner’s calling card in NEC play, as the Seahawks rank second at 18.8 points per game. • Wagner held Saint Francis U scoreless last month for its first shutout since Sept. 10, 2016 (Concordia, 38-0) and its first against an NEC opponent since Nov. 3, 2012 (UAlbany, 30-0). • Jaylen Bonelli is second in the conference in receiving yards per game (69.6). The sophomore has 696 receiving yards and five touchdown catches on 47 receptions.
UP NEXT: Wagner closes out the season by hosting local rival LIU on Saturday at noon.
