September 16th, 2019 3:00am
Non-Conference
With the departure of Merrimack and LIU Post after the 2018 season, the remaining members of the NE-10 were left one game short. So, like in 2007, the league decided to play an extra game against a league member but not count it in the league standings.
That is what happened in Week 2 last weekend. NE-10 teams played each other, and the results will not count in the league standings. They are considered out of conference games and count just in the overall record.
Those teams that played last weekend will meet again in the last week of the regular season. Those games will count in the league record and will be revenge for the four teams that lost.
On Pace
It was a disappointing start for a team that had high hopes for 2019. Pace fell to Millersville and it was not the result that the Setters had hoped for. And they did their job last Friday night.
They jumped out quickly and defeated Southern Connecticut 31-14. Pace scored the first 31 points of the game and never looked back. The offense scored on their first four drives of the game and the defense prevented the Owls from feeling comfortable.
Carlton Aiken is a dynamic quarterback who amassed over 200 yards of total offense in the victory. He threw for 166 yards and a score. He rushed for 59 yards and another score. He has a bunch of weapons at his disposal and the Pace offense looks like one of the better ones in the league.
The Setters will go as far as their defense will take them. They have been good this year and will face several challenges this year. If they are able to keep the opposing offense in check and out of the end zone, this team has a chance to make a run at the league title.
Pace makes their first road trip of the season as they go to Franklin Pierce Saturday night.
First of Many
It was a historic weekend in Rindge, NH. Franklin Pierce won their first NCAA football as they defeated Curry College 29-27. The victory comes in just the second-ever game in program history and allowed the team to sing the school’s fight song after the game.
They scored their first touchdown in school history as Chazz Bryant will go down in the record books as he rushed from nine yards out. Lo Jackson then scored the first two-point conversion in school history on the ensuing point-after attempt.
The Ravens had a comfortable lead in the fourth quarter before Curry made a furious comeback. They scored two touchdowns in the final five minutes, but an unsuccessful two-point try and Franklin Pierce recovered the onside kick to seal the victory.
Drew Campanale also threw the first passing touchdown in Raven history when he found Nathan Selby from 10 yards out in the second quarter. He threw another touchdown in the third quarter.
The Ravens were much better in all phases of the game. It seems like they put the opening weekend jitters behind them and played much better this past weekend. Yes, the victory was over a Division III school, but it helps them build confidence as they head into league play.
Franklin Pierce will host Pace next Saturday night in their first NE-10 league game.
More History for the Ravens
If winning their first NCAA football game was not enough for Franklin Pierce, you need to look at their kicker and what she was able to accomplish. I did say she.
Morgan Smith is the kicker for the Ravens and drilled three extra points in the 29-27 victory over Curry. She was denied a chance on Franklin Pierce’s first touchdown as they decided to run a two-point conversion.
But on the next score, Smith was called upon and calmly kicked the extra point. The kicking team mobbed her on the field after the kick.
And then she did it two more times in the game.
She is the first female in NE-10 history to be credited with scoring points in a football game.
The Sting
It has been five years since American International was a factor in the NE-10. They have struggled to find consistency in their offense and it has shown in the results.
But last Saturday was much, much better. They turned the offense over to redshirt sophomore Jayson Demild and the results were encouraging.
The Yellow Jackets defeated Bentley 28-23 to grab their first win over the Falcons since 2014. But back to Demild.
He threw for 180 yards and a score. He rushed for another 77 yards and two scores and led American International to their most points in a while. They scored over 21 points just once last year in a victory over Stonehill and it has been a couple of years since the Yellow Jacket offense was this efficient.
The offense had over 404 yards and was very balanced in the victory.
American International will look for more of the same as they travel to New Haven this weekend.
Running Strong
Assumption spotted St Anselm a 13-0 advantage before they ran over them literally and figuratively. The Greyhounds amassed 384 yards on the ground in their 54-23 victory over the Hawks.
Khaleed Exum-Strong led the rushing attack with 191 yards and four scores. Right on his heels was Doug Santos with 163 yards and two scores. The duo was completely unstoppable as they averaged 10 yards per rush today.
Santos busted off a 73-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that gave Assumption the lead for good in the game. Not to be undone, Exum-Strong opened the second half scoring with an 80-yard touchdown run.
It was a nice rebound for the Greyhounds as they were crushed in the opening weekend at Kutztown.
Assumption travels to Southern Connecticut this Friday night.
Running Strong Part II
New Haven struggled in the first half of the game against Stonehill. They were not able to move the ball and the offense looked lost at times.
But in the second half, their running game stepped up and carried them to a 31-9 victory for their first win of the season.
The duo of Shamar Logan and Zach Mauro sliced up the Stonehill defense. Logan finished with 157 yards and two scores. Mauro had 72 yards and a score and helped the Chargers offense run off 31 straight points after the Skyhawks took the early lead.
“Shamar Logan is a good football player and will be for the next four years,” New Haven coach Chris Pincince said. “Zach Mauro did a wonderful job.”
Running back depth was called upon for the Chargers early this year. One guy left the team late in training camp and another starter was not able to play in the game.
“I thought we had six guys going into training camp that could carry the ball for us,” Pincince said. “We are drawing up plenty of things with two back, three backs sets and the next thing you know, we have 1 ½ guys that can walk and play this week.”
The New Haven defense was awesome in the final three quarters. They allowed just 61 yards of total offense for Stonehill and just completely dominated the line of scrimmage.
“Our defense kept us in the game with some timely turnovers and big plays,” Pincince said. “You need to find # 18 when you play Stonehill. On the first drive, our linebackers didn’t read the plays. We got caught inside and they bounced a couple of plays. We learned for that.”
New Haven definitely learned from the first couple of drives and adjusted nicely. They swarmed the ball carriers and pressured the quarterback.
New Haven will have their home opener this weekend as they host American International.