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NEC Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Barthelette, BRY
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: CJ Parvelus, SHU
NEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Austin Crimmins, DUQ
NEC Rookie of the Week: AJ Hines, DUQ
Previous NEC Releases: Week 1 |
Preseason Poll Release |
#NECFB on ESPN3 Schedule
NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TAYLOR BARTHELETTE, BRYANT
WR, Sr., 6-1, 188 lbs., East Longmeadow, MA/Avon Old Farms
WEEK 2 STATS: 8 receptions, 161 receiving yards, TD
Barthelette was a key reason why Bryant owned a significant advantage in total offense over Big Sky member Montana State. The veteran receiver pulled in eight passes for 161 yards and one touchdown as the Bulldogs out-gained the Bobcats by a 452-to-265 margin. After totaling 109 yards during Bryant’s Week 1 win, Barthelette became the first player in school history to start the season with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. The 6-foot-1 senior produced three big-gainers during the second quarter of the eventual 27-24 setback. Barthelette’s 64-yard reception set the Bulldogs up deep inside the red zone with just over 4:00 remaining in the opening half. Following a Bryant turnover and a subsequent three-and-out by Montana State, Barthelette was the go-to target for quarterback Dalton Easton during a fruitful two-minute drill. After gaining nine yards with a first-down grab, the fourth-year Bulldog hauled in a 36-yard completion on 2nd-and-1. Barthelette capped the drive by converting a 4th-and-12 situation with a 27-yard touchdown reception.
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CJ PARVELUS, SACRED HEART
LB, Jr., 6-0, 215 lbs, Everett, MA/Everett
WEEK 2 STATS: 13 total tackles (5 solo), 5.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 QBH
Parvelus spearheaded a stifling defensive effort that limited Valparaiso to 11 rush yards in a runaway 42-14 victory. Taking up a residence in Valpo’s backfield, the junior linebacker recorded 5.5 hits for a loss en-route to logging a career-high 13 tackles. Parvelus’ stat line also included 1.0 sack and one quarterback hurry. The Massachusetts product wasted no time in making an impact, derailing Valparaiso’s opening possession of the contest. With Valpo facing a 1st-and-10 at its 49-yard line, Parvelus dropped the ball carrier behind the line of scrimmage on back-to-back plays to force a punt two snaps later. He snuffed out a screen pass later in the first quarter, pushing Valpo back into a 2nd-and-12 situation. All 13 of Parvelus’ tackles stopped the opponent shy of the first down marker.
NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
AUSTIN CRIMMINS, DUQUESNE
PK/P, Sr., 5-11, 193 lbs., Ebensburg, PA/Central Cambria
WEEK 2 STATS: 12 points, 3-for-4 FG, 3-for-3 PAT, 43.0 punting average
Crimmins accounted for 12 points, including a milestone kick, in Duquesne’s wire-to-wire win over Patriot League member Bucknell. The senior placekicker opened the game’s scoring by nailing a 25-yard field goal with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter. The conversion moved Crimmins into a tie for first place on the NEC’s all-time field goals list. Crimmins extended Duquesne’s lead to 13-0 when he booted a 22-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. He tacked on a 38-yarder with 11:43 left in the game. Crimmins (48), who also handled punting and kickoff duties for the Dukes during Week 2, leads Saint Francis kick Lance Geesey (46) in the race for the NEC’s career record in field goals made.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
AJ HINES, DUQUESNE
RB, Fr., 5-11, 220 lbs., Wilson, NC/Fike
WEEK 2 STATS: 10 carries, 74 rush yards, 3 TD, 7.4 ypc
Hines tallied all three of Duquesne’s touchdowns in a 30-19 triumph over Bucknell. Leading the Dukes’ ground game, the 5-foot-11 freshman averaged 7.4 yards per carry and became the first DU running back since Larry McCoy (2012) to tally three rushing touchdowns in a game. Hines carried 10 times for 74 yards, including 27 yards on the team’s first touchdown drive. With the Dukes holding a 3-0 advantage early in the second quarter, the rookie running back ripped off a 16-yard scoring scamper on a 2nd-and-10 play. Hines broke free for a 41-yard touchdown burst that bumped Duquesne’s lead to 13 points 1:05 into the final quarter. He dealt a dagger to Bucknell on a two-yard touchdown plunge that extended the advantage to 30-13 with 6:17 remaining.
AROUND THE NEC IN SEVEN SENTENCES
BRYANT, which eclipsed 450 yards of total offense for the second week in a row, ran 75 plays for 452 yards during the program’s first-ever meeting with a member of the Big Sky Conference (at Montana State).
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT will host the annual Harmony Classic for the third time since the game was established in 2008 as Bowie State makes a Week 3 trip to New Britain.
DUQUESNE, which defeated Patriot League member Bucknell for the fourth time in the last five meetings between the two, won its home opener for the ninth consecutive season.
ROBERT MORRIS has logged seven quarterback sacks over the season’s first two weeks and freshman linebacker Gee Stanley has accounted for 4.0 of those takedowns.
SACRED HEART, which piled up 279 yards on the ground in a Week 2 rout of Valparaiso, has rushed for at least 200 yards in each of its past four games dating back to last November.
SAINT FRANCIS, which is averaging 29.5 points per game, continues its season-opening four-game road swing with a Week 3 date at Ivy League member Columbia, which has yet to begin its 2016 slate.
WAGNER, which will next face ACC member Boston College on September 24, is off to a 2-0 season start for the first time since 2006.
DUQUESNE AND SACRED HEART HAPPY TO BE HOME, OTHERS NOT SO FORTUNATE
The top two finishers from the NEC preseason coaches’ poll posted convincing non-conference victories in their home openers on Saturday.
Defending NEC champion, and 2016 preseason favorite, Duquesne was in control throughout a 30-19 triumph over Patriot League member Bucknell. It was the first of three consecutive non-conference home games for the Dukes.
Sacred Heart, which was tabbed for a second-place finish, out-classed Pioneer League member Valparaiso. The Pioneers, who posted a 3-3 league record last fall, won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015. SHU, which won at Stetson in Week 1, will play a Pioneer League member for the third straight week when Marist visits Campus Field on Sept. 17.
Meanwhile, Saint Francis and Bryant, which were picked third and fourth, respectively, in the NEC preseason coaches’ poll, suffered one-score defeats against prime opponents on the road.
Saint Francis, which gave No. 13 Montana a scare during a Week 1 visit to Missoula, raced out to a 28-10 lead at CAA member Towson before dropping a 35-28 heartbreaker. Towson is the first of two CAA teams on SFU’s non-league schedule. The Flash, who will not see their home field until Week 5, travel Albany (Sept. 24) in Week 4 after a September 17 date with Ivy Leaguer Columbia.
Bryant flashed its offensive firepower out in Big Sky country, but five turnovers led to a 27-24 defeat at Montana State. The daunting non-conference road tests aren’t over for the Bulldogs, who must travel to CAA member Maine and FCS independent Coastal Carolina (transitioning to FBS) later this season. First, Marty Fine’s team will host an Ocean State rivalry game against Brown (Sept. 17). The all-time series between Bryant and Brown is tied, 1-1, after the Bulldogs took the 2015 meeting in Providence.
Central Connecticut did not have it easy during Week 2, either. The Blue Devils dropped a 56-21 decision at CAA member James Madison, which entered the game with the No. 12 national ranking.
“They’re as good as any team in the country,” CCSU head coach Pete Rossomando told the New Britain Herald prior to the trip. “We’re really going to have to go in there and play well to stay in that game.”
Robert Morris and Wagner have yet to face top-tier opponents, but that will change during their next time out on the gridiron. RMU travels to nationally-ranked Youngstown State in Week 3. Wagner, which is idle on September 17, will meet a FBS foe for the sixth time in program history when it travels to Boston College (Sept. 24).
CCSU’S RETURN THREAT
Central Connecticut safety Najae Brown (Mount Vernon, NY) is proving to be dangerous with the ball in his hands.
The junior defensive back has returned five punts thus far this season, accounting for a conference-high 16.4 yards per return.
Brown put his return prowess on display during a defensive play in CCSU’s Week 2 setback at CAA member James Madison. After intercepting a pass, Brown scooted 15 yards into the end zone with 1:22 left in the third quarter.
Brown, who ranks fourth amongst NEC leading tacklers this season with 20 stops, has had one kickoff return opportunity in the season’s first two weeks (30 yards vs. Lafayette).
TWEET SHEET
@ChrisShanafelt
(Sep 11) It’s incredible how dangerous two of the better DBs in FCS David Jones (Richmond) & Lorenzo Jerome (SFU) are when the ball is in their hands
@jwaggzsi
(Sep 11) Wounded Warrior brings message of hope to college football team! @wwp @Wagner_Football via @siadvance
@CCurti_Trib
(Sep 11) District FB top performers: @DuqFB freshman RB AJ Hines rushed for three TDs in a win over Bucknell
@PDsports
(Sep 11) Duquesne freshman RB and Fike High grad A.J. Hines runs for 74 yds, 3 TDs in Dukes’ 30-19 win over Bucknell on Sat.
@BrianBatko
(Sep 10) Pitt and Duquesne took care of a couple Central Pa. teams today in PSU and Bucknell. That’s Pittsburgh solidarity.
@jwaggzsi
(Sep 10) Wagner College uses quick strikes for 38-0 football victory!
@CCurti_Trib
(Sep 10) .@Numeroluno_1 (Lorenzo Jerome) of @SFU_Football is at it again. 85-yard fumble recovery returned for a TD. SF leads 7-0 over Towson
@gregrachac
(Sep 10) Taylor Barthelette is legit. Easton hits him in stride for 27 yard TD on 4th down. Bulldogs not going away
@jwaggzsi
(Sep 7) Dominique Williams signed to Jets’ practice squad! via @siadvance
QUOTABLE
MARTY FINE (BRY), Head Coach
“We did some things that gave us a chance. You’ve got to try and steal possessions. We had to try and keep our defense off the field. We had chances to make some plays and didn’t make them. And then the turnovers ... you can’t win a game of this magnitude.”
- he told the Billings Gazette following a 27-24 road loss at Montana State
(Sep 7) Dominique Williams signed to Jets’ practice squad! via @siadvance
#NECFB IN FCS TOP 5
The following players rank amongst the top-five Division I FCS national leaders in their respective statistical categories...
> LORENZO JEROME (SFU): 2nd - KOR Average (39.2 ypr)
> GEE STANLEY (RMU): 2nd - Sacks (2.0/g)
> TAYLOR BARTHELETTE (BRY): 3rd - Receiving Yards (270)
> DENZEL KNIGHT (WAG): 4th - Rushing Yards (251)
FINE LINES (WEEK 2)
The following players earned “NEC Prime Performer status” after accounting for noteworthy statistiscal accomplishments last week. Here are some fine stat lines...
CJ PARVELUS (SACRED HEART)
The junior linebacker logged a career-high 13 stops and made 5.5 TFL during the Pioneers’ triumphant home opener vs. Valpo.
LORENZO JEROME (SAINT FRANCIS)
The veteran safety, who was coming off a performance at Montana that earned him the STATS FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week award, recorded nine tackles and an 89-yard fumble return for a touchdown at CAA member Towson.
CARTER HENDERSON (DUQUESNE)
The junior linebacker was rather disruptive against Patriot League member Bucknell, logging eight tackles, four quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery.
TAYLOR BARTHELETTE (BRYANT)
Competing in Big Sky country, the senior receiver logged NEC single-game season highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (161) to go along with a touchdown at Montana State.
DILLON BUECHEL (DUQUESNE)
Recording his 11th career 300-yard passing game, the senior quarterback threw for 342 yards in a wire-to-wire win over Bucknell.
AJ HINES (DUQUESNE)
The rookie rusher averaged 7.4 yards per carry against Bucknell and became the first Duke since 2012 with 3 TD runs in a game.
JEAN CONSTANT (BRYANT)
The sophomore receiver, who also recovered an onsides kick, totaled 99 yards while making the first four receptions of his career in a 27-24 setback at Montana State.
KAMRON LEWIS (SAINT FRANCIS)
The Red Flash receiver accounted for 104 all-purpose yards and two receiving touchdowns in a 35-28 loss to Towson.
ALEX THOMSON (WAGNER)
The second-year starter passed for a career-high 239 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-0 shutout of Concordia (MI).
JORDAN MEACHUM (SACRED HEART)
The rookie running back scored his first career touchdown, which broke a 7-7 tie, and logged 139 all-purpose yards against Valpo.
ZACH DRAYER (SAINT FRANCIS)
The senior quarterback was responsible for three touchdowns (2 pass, 1 rush) at Towson.
MILESTONES, FIRSTS, ETC.
ANDRE YEVCHINECZ (WAGNER)
The senior wide receiver became the first Seahawk to return a punt for a touchdown since October 16, 2004 when Al Phillips took one 48 yards to the house during a 27-14 victory home win over Iona. Yevchinecz’s 77-yard punt return TD gave Wagner a 14-0 lead over Concordia (MI) with 7:07 left in the second quarter.
DALTON EASTON (BRYANT)
The senior signal caller had a historic day as he set the single-game passing record and also eclipsed 5,000 career passing yards. He finished 26-of-44 for 368 yards, two scores and three interceptions. The 368 yards broke the previous record of 350 that was set by Mike Westerhaus in 2012 against Robert Morris.
WAGNER SEAHAWKS
For the first time in program history, Wagner lined up against a team that competes in the NAIA. Similarly, Concordia (MI), the Seahawks’ Week 2 opponent, had never before faced an opponent from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) classification. The Seahawks’ 38-0 win also marked the first time that Wagner met a team that hails from the state of Michigan.
RICKY PEREZ (BRYANT)
The senior kicker set Bryant’s program record for longest field goal when he nailed a a 51-yarder to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead over Montana State. It was the longest make by a NEC kicker since Oct. 18, 2014 when Saint Francis’ Lance Geesey converted from 52 yards against Bryant.
AUSTIN CRIMMINS (DUQUESNE)
His 25-yard FG with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter made him Duquesne’s all-time leading scorer with 235 career points. He finished the day with 244 career points.