Conference

Monmouth won the lone league game on the Week 3 slate, triumphing over Outer Bridge rival Wagner on a day that the field at Wagner College Stadium was named in head coach Walte Hameline's honor.  Saint Francis (PA) rolled to a second straight win as did Duquesne with both NEC members topping Pioneer League foes.

Monmouth 38, Wagner 17
Monmouth’s defense bottled up its opponent for a second straight week and allowed the Hawks to control the tempo of a 38-17 victory over Outer Bridge rival Wagner. One week after holding CAA member Rhode Island to six points, the Hawks’ defense limited Wagner’s offense to nine first downs and 10 points.  Monmouth quarterback Kyle Frazier, who won the NEC Offensive Player of the Week award for his efforts against URI, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another.  Frazier opened the game’s scoring with his 16-yard run to the left pilan 9:57 into the first period. Julian Hayes ran 20 times for 103 yards for Monmouth. Dominique Williams ran eight times for 47 yards and a second-quarter touchdown for Wagner, which also received an 89-yard kickoff return for a score by Otis Wright on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Duquesne 45, Valparaiso 17
Duquesne outscored Valparaiso 38-0 over the game’s final three quarters to post its second win in as many weeks over a member of the Pioneer Football League.  Preseason all-NEC running back Larry McCoy rushed 29 times for 171 yards and three touchdowns, doing so all in the first three quarters.  Sean Patterson went 20-of-25 passing for 260 yards and two scores. All-American safety Serge Kona made two interceptions for a Duquesne defense that was led by Dorian Bell’s nine tackles.

Saint Francis (PA) 57, Morehead State 23
Saint Francis (PA) erased a double-digit deficit and stormed back to defeat Morehead State for a second straight season.  The Flash, who came back from a 49-31 fourth-quarter deficit in last year’s meeting, fell behind 17-0 and trailed 23-7 with under 2:00 remaining in the second period.  Saint Francis reeled off 50 unanswered points, doing most of its damage on the ground.  The Flash ran for 457 yards highlighted by Keion Wade’s 246-yard day.  SFPA receiver AJ Alexander caught two passes, both for touchdowns.

No. 5 Youngstown 31, Albany 24
Albany scored the game’s first touchdown and gave the No. 5 team in the nation a scare on its home field Saturday afternoon.  Youngstown State had to work to prevail, 31-24, in a game that was even at halftime. The Great Danes Albany pulled even at 21-21 on Andrew Smith’s nine-yard touchdown catch right before the break. The game remained tied until David Brown’s 25-yard field goal with 2:15 remaining in the third quarter.  Youngstown all but sealed the victory by cashing in on a short field following a blocked punt late in the fourth quarter.

Dayton 20, Robert Morris 14
Robert Morris’ comeback bid came up short when Matt Pfleger intercepted Jeff Sinclair at Dayton’s 43-yard line with 1:33 remaining. Sinclair had pulled Robert Morris within 20-14 only a few minutes earlier when he hooked up with Donte Jeter on a 77-yard pass play. Playing in his first game since Week 10 of the 2011 season, the Colonials’ quarterback threw two touchdown passes but was also picked off twice. Academic All-American Nolan Nearhoof recorded a sack and moved within two of tying Robert Morris’ career record.