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NEC Offensive Player of the Week: Ose Imeokparia, SHU
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Kevin Barry, SHU
NEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Lorenzo Jerome, SFU
NEC Rookie of the Week: Da'Jon Lee, SFU
Previous NEC Releases: Preseason Poll Release | #NECFB on ESPN3 Schedule

NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
OSE IMEOKPARIA, SACRED HEART
RB, Sr., 5-10. 180 lbs, New Castle, DE/Northfield Mount Hermon School
WEEK 1 STATS: 115 scrimmage yds, 13 rush att, 112 rush yds, 1 reception, 3 receiving yds, game-winning TD
Imeokparia helped the Pioneers escape the Sunshine State with a victory. The starting tailback averaged 8.6 yards per carry and produced the deciding touchdown in an 18-14 road win over Pioneer League member Stetson. The junior carried 13 times for 112 yards and also made one reception for three yards. With SHU facing a 14-12 deficit, Imeokparia broke free for an 80-yard scoring scamper on the fourth quarter’s first play from scrimmage. The performance marked the second time in his career that Imeokparia exceeded the 100-yard rushing mark.

NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KEVIN BARRY, SACRED HEART
LB, Sr., 6-1, 220 lbs, River Edge, NJ/River Dell
WEEK 1 STATS: 13 tackles (6 solo), 3.0 TFL, 1.0 sack, FF, FR
Barry put his playmaking ability on display during Sacred Heart’s season-opening win at Stetson. After losing the last eight games of the 2015 season due to injury, Barry’s triumphant return to the field featured a career-high 13 tackles. The senior linebacker made 3.0 hits for a loss, none more meaningful than his strip sack of Stetson quarterback late in the fourth quarter of the 18-14 victory. With the Hatters attempting to erase a four-point deficit late in the fourth quarter, quarterback Gavin DeFilippo took a first-down snap from his own 27-yard line, but was quickly mauled by Barry. The SHU linebacker forced the ball free and recovered it at the Stetson 13-yard line with 2:23 remaining. Overall, Barry was in on eight tackles that limited the offense to no more than a two-yard gain on the play.

NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
LORENZO JEROME, SAINT FRANCIS
DB/KR, SR., 6-0, 195 lbs, Sunrise, FL/J.P. Taravella
WEEK 1 STATS: 237 all-purpose yds, 4 kick returns, 196 KOR yds, KOR TD, 2 punt returns, 41 PR yds
Jerome looked more than worthy of the Preseason All-America status he received from numerous publications this past summer. The veteran safety’s kick return ability helped Saint Francis put a scare into No. 13 Montana. Jerome logged 196 yards and one touchdown on four kickoff returns during the 41-31 season-opening setback in Missoula. After Montana took a 13-10 lead on the opening possession of the second half, Jerome allowed SFU to answer right back by returning the ensuing kickoff 86 yards to Montana’s 7. Later in the half, Jerome recorded the third kickoff return touchdown of his career. With the Grizz looking to pull away after a score gave them a 34-17 advantage with 6:53 remaining, the SFU senior said not so fast as he ran the ensuing kickoff back 79 yards to paydirt. Jerome, who made two interceptions from his safety position on defense, also returned two punts for a total of 41 yards.

NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
DA'JON LEE, SAINT FRANCIS
LB, Fr., 6-2, 220, Fairfax, VA/Robinson
WEEK 1 STATS: 7 tackles (2 solo), 1 QBH
Lee made his presence felt during Saint Francis’ lidlifter at No. 13 Montana. The rookie linebacker logged seven tackles and a quarterback hurry during his collegiate debut. Lee, who made four stops during the game’s first 30:00, was a key contributor to a defensive effort that limited Montana to 6 first-half points. He made a pair of hits in the second quarter, twice holding the ball carrier to one-yard gains. The Grizz gained no more than one yard on four of Lee’s seven stops during what was a 41-31 setback for the Red Flash. With SFU clinging to a 17-13 third-quarter advantage, Lee pressured Montana quarterback Brady Gustafson into a third-down incompletion.


THE QB CLIMB…
Barring unforseen circumstances, Duquesne’s Dillon Buechel and Sacred Heart’s RJ Noel will end the 2016 season as the top-two ranked passers (in terms of yardage) in NEC history.

The two fourth-year starting quarterbacks entered their Week 1 matchups fewer than 1,700 yards shy of the conference’s career passing mark (8,803), which was set by former Pioneer Dale Fink in 2010.

Both inched closer to Fink during their season-opening road contests.

Buechel, who remains in fourth place on the NEC’s all-time list, increased his career total to 7,643 yards during the Dukes’ setback at Youngstown State. The 6-foot-4 passer is 170 yards short of claiming sole ownership of third place, which is currently occupied by former Monmouth QB Brian Boland (7,812).

Noel jumped up two spots in the record book thanks to his Week 1 passing performance. Moving past Monmouth’s Kyle Frazier (7,115) and Robert Morris’ Tim Levcik (7,222), Noel (7,283) currently sits in fifth place.

Noel, who threw a pair of scorings trikes in the Pioneers’ Week 1 win at Stetson, inched closer to former Robert Morris great Tim Levcik on the NEC’s all-time list for touchdown passes. Noel (67) ranks third in league history behind Levick (76) and Fink (82).

Buechel’s 53rd career touchdown pass, which came in the second quarter at Youngstown State, moved him into a tie for eighth place in league annals.

NEC ALL-TIME PASSING YARDS
1.    8,803, Dale Fink, SHU, 2007-10
2.    8,544, Anthony Doria, SFPA, 2003-06
3.    7,812, Brian Boland, MON, 2003-06
4.    7,643, Dillon Buechel, DUQ, 2013-
5.    7,283, RJ Noel, SHU, 2013-
6.    7,222, Tim Levcik, RMU, 1998-01
7.    7,115, Kyle Frazier, MON, 2009-12
8.    6,839, Erik Cwalinski, RMU, 2005-08
9.    6,762, Sean Patterson, DUQ, 2009-12
10.   6,134, Drew Geyer, RMU, 2002-05

NEC ALL-TIME TD PASSES
1.    82, Dale Fink, SHU, 2007-10
2.    76, Tim Levcik, RMU, 1998-01
3.    67, RJ Noel, SHU, 2013-
4.    63, Sean Patterson, DUQ, 2009-12
5.    61, Anthony Doria, SFPA, 2003-06
6.    58, Brian Boland, MON, 2003-06
7.    57, Jeff Sinclair, RMU, 2010-13
8.    53, Erik Cwalinski, RMU, 2005-08
       53, Dillon Buechel, DUQ, 2013-
10.  46, Michael Croce, BRY, 2009-11
11.  45, Scott Dolch, CCSU, 2001-04


KEYSTONE KICKERS CARVING OUT LEGACY
They are both Keystone State products and they’re two of the most-accomplished placekickers in NEC history.

Either Saint Francis’ Lance Geesey or Duquesne’s Austin Crimmins will end his collegiate career as the conference’s all-time leader in field goals made.

Entering the 2016 campaign, Geesey found himself tied with Sacred Heart alumnus Chris Rogers for the all-time league lead with 46 makes. Crimmins (45) was one off that mark.   

Geesey put SFU on the scoreboard at No. 13 Montana, tying the game at 3-3 with a 25-yarder midway through the second quarter and setting the NEC career record in the process. Meanwhile, Crimmins made a 43-yarder, his lone attempt, during the Dukes’ setback at Youngstown State and sits tied with Rogers for second place on the league’s all-time list as a result.

Both men have accumulated their share of honors throughout the years.

Geesey, a two-time all-NEC first team selection (2014, 2015), was tabbed the 2015 Division I FCS ADA National Placekicker of the Year after converting on 94.2 percent of his attempts. Crimmins has twice earned a spot on the All-NEC Second Team (2013, 2015) and has won the NEC Special Team Player of the Week award on four occasions.


AROUND THE NEC IN SEVEN SENTENCES
BRYANT improved its record to 11-0 against Division II opponents since elevating to the Division I FCS level in 2008.

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT bottled up Lafayette’s rushing attack in the season opener, limiting the Leopards to 22 yards on 34 rushing attempts (0.6 ypc).

DUQUESNE returns to Rooney Field for the first time since last year’s NEC title-clinching win over Saint Francis as the Dukes kick off a three-game homestand against Patriot League member Bucknell on Sept. 10.

ROBERT MORRIS saw a program record fall during the Week 1 opening kickoff, which was returned 99 yards (the longest KOR in team history) for a touchdown by sophomore Dante Satcher.

SACRED HEART, which won its season opener for the fourth consecutive year, played in the state of Florida for the first time ever and traveled more than 2,200 miles roundtrip to face Stetson.

SAINT FRANCIS played in front of the largest crowd in its FCS program history during its visit to Montana’s Washington-Grizzly Stadium where 26,002 spectators attended the Week 1 matchup on Sept. 3.

WAGNER produced its highest single-game offensive output in nearly six years (Oct. 2, 2010), totaling 488 yards in the season-opening runaway win over Saint Anselm.


FINE LINES (WEEK 1)
The following players accounted for noteworthy statistical accomplishments last week. Here are some fine stat lines...

KEVIN BARRY (SACRED HEART)
The senior linebacker logged a career-high 13 stops and made 3.0 TFL, including a victory-clinching strip sack, at Stetson.
 
OSE IMEOKPARIA (SACRED HEART)
The veteran ball carrier averaged 8.6 ypc and scored the game-winning TD at Stetson.
 
LORENZO JEROME (SAINT FRANCIS)
Going against No. 13 Montana, the senior safety made two interceptions and returned four kickoffs for 196 yards.
 
DALTON EASTON (BRYANT)
The Bulldogs’ third-year starting quarterback threw four touchdown passes and averaged 11.15 yds per pass attempt in a Week1 win.
 
DENZEL KNIGHT (WAGNER)
The starting running back compiled 158 yards from scrimmage, including a career-high 147 rush yards, in a runaway win over Saint A’s.
 
ZACH DRAYER (SAINT FRANCIS)
The senior signal caller was responsible for three touchdowns (2 pass, 1 rush) at No. 13 Montana.