All seven NEC teams took to the gridiron in Week 2 highlighted by the conference opener out in Loretto. While the defending champions prevailed in the lone league game on the docket, Duquesne and Sacred Heart scored non-conference road wins.


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Facing the team that spoiled its perfect NEC record last fall, SAINT FRANCIS used a disruptive defensive effort to notch a 31-6 win over WAGNER. First-year starting quarterback Bear Fenimore threw for 293 yards and three touchdowns while running back Jymere Jordan-Toney totaled 125 yards from scrimmage in the triumphant conference opener.

Extending its non-conference win streak to eight games, SACRED HEART stormed back from an early 10-0 deficit to take a 31-10 lead in a road win over Patriot League member Lafayette. Running backs Jordan Meachum and Ose Imeokparia each gained more than 100 yards from scrimmage for the Pioneers while the defense limited Lafayette to only 1.5 yards per rushing attempt.

Quarterback Tommy Stuart accounted for four touchdowns in his second start for DUQUESNE, a wire-to-wire road win over Pioneer League member Valparaiso. In a game that featured nearly 1,000 yards of total offense, Dukes receiver Nehari Crawford caught nine passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns while running back AJ Hines carried eight times for 88 yards and two scores.

CENTRAL CONNECTICUT shot out to a 17-0 lead in the game's first 2:46, but Fordham completed its come-from-behind victory when Lawrence Menyah broke a 31-31 deadlock by returning an interception 29 yards for a touchdown with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. Tajik Bagley returned the game's opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and Tymir Hinton put the Blue Devils back into the endzone 2:27 later when he took a fumble recovery 31 yards to paydirt.

Maine intercepted five passes and piled up 381 rushing yards to seize control in its home win over BRYANT. The visiting Bulldogs handily won the time of possession battle, but were unable to find the endzone until midway through the third quarter.

No. 6 Youngstown State, the 2016 FCS national runner-up, proved too much for ROBERT MORRIS. The Penguins, who allowed only 147 yards of offense, kept the visiting Colonials out of the redzone.