FIRST ROUND PLAYOFFS SCHEDULE
Saturday, November 30
Central Connecticut (7-5, 5-1 NEC) at 10/12 Rhode Island (10-2, 7-1 CAA)
Meade Stadium (6,555) Kingston, R.I.
12 p.m. TV: ESPN+
23/20 UT Martin (8-4, 6-1 BS-OVC) at 19/24 New Hampshire (8-4, 6-2 CAA)
Wildcat Stadium (11,015) Durham, N.H.
1 p.m. TV: ESPN+ |
22/ Eastern Kentucky (8-4, 6-2 UAC) at 12/11 Villanova (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
Villanova Stadium (10,500) Villanova, Pa.
2 p.m. TV: ESPN+
Lehigh (8-3, 5-1 PL) at 9/7 Richmond (10-2, 8-0 CAA)
Robins Stadium (8,700) Richmond, Va.
2 p.m. TV: ESPN+
CAA FOOTBALL WEEK 12 AWARDS
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Malik Grant | RB | Rhode Island
Grant ran for a season-high 204 yards and three TD’s and added two catches for 16 yards and a TD as Rhode Island defeated Bryant, 35-21, to earn a share of its first CAA Football championship since 1985. The graduate had scoring runs of 13, 1 and 2 yards and his 4-yard TD catch was his first of the season. The 204 yards were the most by a CAA back in 2024.
Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Derek Robertson | QB | Monmouth
Robertson repeats as Player of the Week after completing 28-of-45 passes for a program-record 536 yards and three touchdowns in Monmouth’s 55-47 win over #18 Stony Brook. The yardage total was the 8th-highest in CAA history and his seventh game this season with 350+ yards. Robertson set MU season marks for pass yards (3,937) and TD’s (31).
Defensive Player of the Week
Quantraill Morris-Walker | LB | Richmond
Morris-Walker recorded a career-high 11 tackles, 2.0 TFL’s and a sack to lead a dominant defensive effort in Richmond’s 27-0 win over William & Mary. The linebacker was part of a defense that held the nation’s 4th-ranked rushing attack to 64 yards and 164 yards overall while posting a shutout.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Sean O’Haire | PK | Richmond
O’Haire booted two field goals and three extra points in Richmond’s 27-0 win over William & Mary. The freshman kicked a career-long 50-yard field goal in the 1st quarter, which tied for the 7th-longest in UR history, and added a 30-yarder in the fourth quarter. O’Haire was 9-for-9 on field goals in 2024.
Rookie of the Week Tra Neal | WR | Monmouth
Neal contributed touchdowns receiving and passing in Monmouth’s 55-47 win at Stony Brook. The redshirt freshman had three catches for a career-high 94 yards, including a 51-yard TD grab in the first quarter. He then sealed the victory by throwing a 40-yard TD pass on a gadget play to Jack Neri with 3:07 remaining.
CONFERENCE NOTES:
FOUR CAA TEAMS EARN FCS PLAYOFF BERTHS:
For the second consecutive season, four CAA teams earned berths in the FCS playoff s. Richmond was seeded #9 and hosts Patriot League champ Lehigh, #10 Rhode Island hosts NEC champ Central Connecticut State, #11 Villanova hosts Eastern Kentucky and #16 New Hampshire hosts UT MarƟ n. It’s the 14th time that at least four CAA teams have been selected for the playoffs.
CAA PLAYOFF HISTORY:
CAA teams are 59-40 (.596) all-time in first round games in the FCS playoffs, including 5-1 over the past two seasons. New Hampshire is in the playoffs for the 18th time and second in the past three years. Rhode Island is making its first FCS playoff appearance since 1985 and fourth all-Ɵ me. Richmond is in the playoffs for the third straight year and 14th time overall. Villanova is in the playoff s for the fourth Ɵ me in the last six years and has made 16 playoff appearances.
RICHMOND, RHODE ISLAND SHARE CAA TITLE:
Richmond and Rhode Island shared the 2024 CAA championship. The back-to-back CAA titles are a first for the Spiders and they are currently on a 10-game winning streak after an 0-2 start. Rhode Island earned a share of the CAA title for the first time since 1985. The Rams set a program record for regular-season victories (10).
STRENGTH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM:
The CAA has often been considered the strongest top-to-bottom league in FCS football, and this year is no exception. Eight of the CAA’s 16 teams had winning overall records and 12 teams had at least five victories.
FIVE CAA TEAMS RANKED IN TOP 25:
Five CAA teams are ranked in the FCS Top 25 this week, which is tied for the most of any FCS conference. Richmond is ranked #7 in the AFCA poll and #9 in the Stats poll, while Villanova is ranked #11 by the AFCA and #12 by Stats. Rhode Island moved up to #10 in the Stats poll and #12 in the AFCA poll, New Hampshire is ranked #19 by Stats and #24 by the AFCA, and Stony Brook is ranked #24 by Stats and received votes in the AFCA poll.
TEAM NOTES
UALBANY 4-8 Overall/2-6 CAAFB
• Rallied from a 28-0 deficit to defeat Hampton, 41-34, in their season finale. • Alex Jreige rushed for a career-high 110 yards and a TD vs. Hampton. He entered the game with 87 rushing yards for the season. • Dontae Lunan had 13 tackles, 2.0 TFL’s, a forced fumble and fumble recovery vs. HU. He led the CAA with 131 tackles and has double-digit stops in nine of UA’s 12 games. • Ibrahim Sanogo contributed six tackles, 3.5 TFL’s and a sack against Hampton. UA had 9.0 TFL’s in the game.
BRYANT 2-10 Overall/0-8 CAAFB
• Landon Ruggieri had 8 catches for 105 yards and a TD vs. URI. He tops FCS in receiving TD’s (15) and is 6th in receiving yds (1091). • Ruggieri set program records for catches and TD’s in a season and is the 2nd BU player with 1,000+ yards in a season. • Dylan Kedzior ran for a team-high 80 yards and a TD vs. URI and had 276 rushing yards over the final four contests. • Colin Elliott tallied six tackles and 0.5 TFL vs. URI and finished the season with a team-high 69 stops.
CAMPBELL 3-9 Overall/1-7 CAAFB
• Sincere Brown had 4 catches for 64 yards and a TD vs. Towson. He ranks 12th in FCS in receiving yards (1028). His 12 TD catches are a CU record and rank 4th in FCS. • QB Mike Chandler II passed for 135 yards and a TD and ran for 39 vs. Towson. The Camels Ɵ ed a program record with 23 passing TD’s this season. • Jalen Brooks had a team-high 13 tackles and a fumble recovery vs. TU. He led Campbell with a program-record 118 stops and reached double digits in four games.
DELAWARE 9-2 Overall/6-2 CAAFB
• Marcus Yarns ran for 100 yards and a TD and had 3 catches for 74 yards and a TD at Villanova. It was his fifth 100+ yard rushing effort in the final seven games. • Phil Lutz had 4 catches for 47 yards vs. VU. He ranks 6th in FCS in receiving TD’s (11) and had a team-high 863 yards. • Nick Minicucci threw for 198 yards and 2 TD’s at VU. He had multiple TD passes in 3 of his last four games. • Gavin Moul had 8 tackles and 1.5 TFL at VU and finished with a team-high 71 stops.
ELON 6-6 Overall/5-3 CAAFB
• Rushawn Baker ran for 106 yards at NC A&T. He closed the year with four straight games with 100+ rushing yards. • Matthew Downing threw for 203 yards and 2 TD’s at A&T. He has passed for 1068 yards and 10 TD’s during EU’s 4-game win streak. • Chandler Brayboy is 2nd in FCS in kickoff returns (35.3 avg) and ranks 5th in all-purpose yards (151.4 ypg). He topped Elon with 59 receptions for 979 yards and 8 TD’s. • Elon’s offense averaged 38.0 points and 448.4 yards over the final four games.
HAMPTON 5-7 Overall/2-6 CAAFB
• Hampton ranks 20th in FCS in rushing (195.8 ypg). The Pirates rushed for over 170 yards in eight of their 12 games. • Tymere Robinson ran for a season-high 80 yards and scored four first-half touchdowns at UAlbany. • HU’s defense held five of its last six opponents under 325 total yards and gave up less than 100 rushing yards four times. • Freshman Michael Matthews-Canty had a team-high 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble at UAlbany.
MAINE 5-7 Overall/3-5 CAAFB
• Carter Peevy passed for 168 yards and a TD vs. UNH. He ranks 15th in FCS in completion pct. (66.7%) and threw a TD pass in his final nine games. • Montigo Moss had 5 catches for 50 yards and a TD vs. UNH. He led UM in receptions (61), receiving yards (722) and TD’s (7). • Christian Thomas made a team-high 12 tackles with 2.0 TFL’s against UNH. • Xavier Holmes ranked among CAA leaders with 6.0 sacks and 12.5 TFL’s. He also topped Maine with 72 total tackles.
MONMOUTH 6-6 Overall/4-4 CAAFB
• MU ranks second in FCS in total offense (489.9 ypg), passing offense (332.5 ypg) and scoring offense (39.0 ppg). • Derek Robertson leads FCS in passing yards (3,937) and is 3rd in passing TD’s (31). He set Monmouth single-season records for passing yards and TD’s. • Sone Ntoh leads FCS with a school-record 25 rushing TD’s and he has at least one TD in 12 straight games. • Ryan Moran led MU with 85 tackles and ranks 8th with 255 career stops.
UNH 8-4 Overall/6-2 CAAFB
• Seth Morgan has passed for 200+ yards six times and has 7 games with multiple TD’s. • Caleb Mead ran for a team-high 113 yards and a TD in the victory over Maine. • Logan Tomlinson ranks 9th in FCS in catches (6.3 pg) and 18th in rec. TD’s (9). • Josiah Silver ranks 5th in FCS in sacks (11.5) and 11th in TFL’s (17.5). He has 58 tackles. • Ryan Toscano recorded a team-high 11 tackles vs. Maine and moved up to 8th in career tackles (313) at UNH.
NORTH CAROLINA A&T 1-11 Overall/0-8 CAAFB
• Justin Fomby passed for 190 yards and a TD vs. Elon. He threw for 175+ yards in six games and had six games with a TD pass. • Shimique Blizzard rushed for 97 yards and a TD vs. Elon and finished the season with a team-high 431 rushing yards. • Kade Moledor had 7 tackles vs. Elon. He recorded 9 or more stops in 4 of the last 6 games and topped the team with 84 tackles. • Cortez Lane returned a kickoff 97 yards for a TD against Elon. It was A&T’s second KOR for a TD this season.
RHODE ISLAND 10-2 Overall/7-1 CAAFB
• Set a program record for regular-season wins and earned a share of their first CAA title since 1985. URI recorded six victories when trailing in the 4th quarter. • Marquis Buchanan made 8 receptions for 84 yards vs. Bryant. It was his 7th game with 75+ receiving yards. • Malik Grant ran for 204 yards and 3 TD’s vs. BU. He has six 100+-yard outings and has scored 13 TD’s in the past 9 games. • A.J. Pena ranks 9th in FCS in sacks (10.5) and 10th in TFL’s (18.0).
RICHMOND 10-2 Overall/8-0 CAAFB
• Won back-to-back CAA titles for the 2nd Ɵ me in program history and Ɵ ed the program record for regular-season wins. • Zach Palmer-Smith ran for 129 yards and a TD vs. W&M. He is the Spiders’ first 1,000- yard rusher since 2015. It was his 5th game with 100+ rushing yards. • UR’s defense held W&M to 164 total yards, including 64 rushing. UR shut out the Tribe for the first time since 1973. • Jeremiah Grant tallied 3.0 TFL’s vs. W&M and has 12.5 sacks and 16.5 TFL’s.
STONY BROOK 8-4 Overall/5-3 CAAFB
• Billy Cosh was named the AFCA Region 1 Coach of the Year after guiding SBU to the biggest turnaround in FCS this season. • Roland Dempster ran for 95 yards vs. Monmouth. He’s 4th in FCS in rushing (1,332 yds) and 3rd in rushing TD’s (18). • Tyler Knoop passed for a career-high 408 yards and 3 TD’s vs. MU. He threw for 1,743 yards and 16 TD’s over the last six games. • Stony Brook forced 26 TO’s, which is the 8th-most in FCS, and they are +10 in TO margin, which ranks 11th nationally.
TOWSON 7-5 Overall/5-3 CAAFB
• Towson’s defense held Campbell to 270 yards. The Tigers allowed just 281.7 ypg and 15.3 ppg over the final three games. • Devin Matthews ran for 134 yards and a TD at CU. He ranks 7th in career rushing yards (2,301) at Towson and his 28 career TD’s rank 6th on TU’s all-Ɵ me list. • Sean Brown passed for 156 yards and a TD at CU. It was his 5th straight game with a TD and he threw for 230+ yards in 5 games. • Will Middleton had 7 tackles and an interception at CU and led TU with 87 stops.
VILLANOVA 9-3 Overall/6-2 CAAFB
• Beat Delaware, 38-28, for the 17th in the past 19 meetings and extended their home fi eld winning streak to 15. • VU is 15th in FCS in scoring defense (18.8 ppg) and 24th in total defense (320.3 ypg). • Connor Watkins threw for 203 yards and a TD and ran for 79 yards and a TD vs. MU. He has accounted for 19 TD’s in 2024. • Brendan Bell had a team-high 13 tackles and a 38-yard pick six vs. UD and added a 6-yard rushing TD. He has 104 stops and a team-high 14.0 TFL’s
WILLIAM & MARY 7-5 Overall/4-4 CAAFB
• W&M ranks 4th in FCS in rushing (232.8 ypg) and 25th in total offense (413.2 ypg). W&M rushed for 200+ yards in 8 games. • Bronson Yoder recorded his 2nd career 1,000-yard season (1,115 yds). He’s 3rd on W&M’s career rushing list. • Jalen Jones leads FCS in PBU’s (20) and passes defended (22). • Hollis Mathis became the 2nd player in college football history with over 1,000 career yards passing, rushing and receiving.
