PRICE WILSON, BRYANT
QB, Jr., 6-1, 241 lbs, Marietta, GA/Louisiana Tech
STAT LINE: 393 passing yards, 2 Pass TD, 8.93 yards per pass attempt
Wilson set Bryant's single-game program passing record during a 45-40 triumph over Patriot League member Fordham. Completing 26 of 44 attempts, the first-year starter threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns as the Bulldogs moved to 2-0 at home. His second-half touchdown passes of 62 and 80 yards helped Bryant turn an 11-point deficit into an 11-point lead during a 14:05 stretch that bridged the third and fourth quarters. After Fordham took its largest lead of the game at 27-16, the 6-foot-1 signal caller's 62-yard pass play to Tom Kennedy kicked off Bryant's second-half run with 9:35 left in the third quarter. With Bryant looking to build on a 38-34 lead in the early stages of the final quarter, Wilson delivered an accurate pass to Jean Constant who flew past the defender for an 80-yard touchdown. Wilson was also responsible for three of Bryant's five fourth-down conversions during the Week 4 win. On Bryant's second possession, which ended with the Bulldogs taking a 7-0 lead on Isaac McCray's TD rush, Wilson converted two fourth downs. He ran for 10 yards on a 4th-and-4 from the Fordham 49-yard line and completed an 11-yard pass four snaps later as Bryant faced a 4th-and-3. In the third quarter, he connected with Jean Constant for 11 yards on a 4th-and-4 play, keeping alive a drive that resulted in a go-ahead touchdown.
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TOM COSTIGAN, BRYANT
LB, Jr., 6-3, 216 lbs., Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic
STAT LINE: 10 total tackles (7 solo), 1.0 sack, INT
Not only did the junior linebacker finish as Bryant's leading tackler in a Week 4 home win, he made two plays that derailed potential Fordham scoring drives in Bulldogs' territory. Costigan, who is tied for the FCS national lead with 5.5 sacks this season, first etched his name onto the play-by-play when he intercepted a pass from Kevin Anderson, ending Fordham's opening drive at the Bryant 6-yard line. With Fordham looking at a 1st-and-10 at Bryant's 42-yard line late in the first quarter, Costigan sacked the quarterback for an eight-yard loss. Three snaps later, he stuffed the call carrier short of the sticks on a 4th-and-3. Five of Costigan's tackles resulted in a gain of two yards or fewer for the opposition.
NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
EZEKIEL ENNIS, SACRED HEART
WR, Fr.., 5-8, 170 lbs, Millville, NJ/St. Augustine Prep
STAT LINE: 171 KOR yards, 42.8 ypr average, KOR TD
Ennis provided a boost for the Pioneers' kick return game in a last-second road loss to Patriot League member Bucknell. He ran back four kicks for a total of 171 yards while also scoring his first collegiate touchdown. With Sacred Heart facing a 17-10 deficit at the break, Ennis returned the opening kickoff of the second half 98 yards to paydirt to pull the Pioneers even in a game they initially trailed by a 17-0 margin. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown for Sacred Heart since Nate Chavious ran one 99 yards to paydirt in the 2016 NEC opener at Wagner. Ennis' scoring play also became the longest return in the NEC thus far this season, surpassing the 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that CCSU's Tajik Bagley logged against Fordham in Week 2.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
ISAAC McCRAY, BRYANT
RB, Fr., 5-11, 195 lbs, Middletown, RI/St. Georges School
STAT LINE: 175 yards from scrimmage, 2 rush TD, 21 carries, 123 rush yards, 3 receptions, 52 receiving yards
The freshman enjoyed a breakout performance against Patriot League member Fordham, a team that began the season in the Top 25. McCray gained 175 yards from scrimmage and reached paydirt twice on 24 total touches. The Ocean State product, who is the younger brother of former NEC Offensive Player of the Year Ricardo McCray, averaged 5.86 yards per carry en-route to becoming the first-ever true freshman in Bryant's Division I history to post a 100-yard rushing game. The elusive rookie also gained 52 yards on a trio of receptions. His 26-yard scoring scamper gave Bryant a 31-27 edge with 4:36 left in the third quarter. He rushed for 31 yards on a scoring drive that gave the Bulldogs the lead for good with 13:16 left in the contest.
PRIME PERFORMERS (WEEK 4)
The following athletes earned #NECPrimePerformer status for their effort this past week...
PRICE WILSON (BRYANT)
The transfer quarterback threw for 393 yards to set the Bulldogs’ single-game program record in a thrilling 45-40 triumph over Fordham.
CAMERON NASH (CCSU)
The veteran tailback needed only 14 carries to produce a 100-yard rushing day and two TDs in the Blue Devils’ 57-6 Week 4 romp
ISAAC McCRAY (BRYANT)
The rookie running back produced a breakout performance to the tune of 175 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns vs. Fordham.
TOM COSTIGAN (BRYANT)
The junior linebacker was Bryant’s leading tackler in a win over Fordham. He also used a sack and an interception to kill a pair of potential scoring drives.
EZEKIEL ENNIS (SACRED HEART)
The SHU rookie accounted for 171 kick return yards during the last-second setback at Bucknell. His 98-yard kickoff return touchdown tied the score at 17-17 early in the second half.
JEAN CONSTANT (BRYANT)
The second-year Bulldog piled up 191 all-purpose yards, including 101 on four receptions, against Fordham. He went 80 yards for the eventual game-winning touchdown.
COURTNEY RUSH (CCSU)
The 6-foot-2 receiver needed only two receptions to gain 103 yards in a runaway winover Walsh. His 62-yard TD catch came with 5:59 in first half.
KEVIN BARRY (SACRED HEART)
The senior linebacker totaled 10 tackles and dialed up a PICK-6 to provide the Pioneers’ first toucdhown in a 34-31 road defeat to Bucknell.
AROUND THE NEC IN 7 SENTENCES
BRYANT, which ran at least 90 offensive plays for the second week in a row, posted a win on Homecoming Weekend for the fourth year in a row as it piled up 608 yards and 29 first downs against Fordham.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT’s 57-6 win over Walsh represents the program’s highest single-game point total since 2006 when the Blue Devils put 62 points up against Saint Francis.
DUQUESNE, which has scored a touchdown during 80 percent of its redzone trips this season, takes aim at a third consecutive victory when West Virginia Wesleyan visits Rooney Field for what will be the latest scheduled Dukes’ home opener since 1970.
ROBERT MORRIS had committed only two turnovers through the season’s first three games, but North Dakota State registered four takeaways when the Colonials visited Fargo in Week 4.
SACRED HEART, which ended a three-game road swing in Week 4, will put the NEC’s top-ranked rushing attack (193.5 ypg) to the test at home against NEC rival Central Connecticut.
SAINT FRANCIS, which has yet to allow a passing touchdown this season, comes off its bye week to kick off a four-game road swing at Liberty.
WAGNER, which owns the NEC’s second-best turnover margin (+3), returns to Grymes Hill following three road games in a row.
TWEET SHEET
@SportsInCT
(Sep 23) #CCSU football gets first win in blowout over Walsh
@BillKoch25
(Sep 23) Bryant 45, Fordham 40: Bulldogs ride record-setting offense to victory
@IanSteeleABC6
(Sep 23) After Fordham took a 34-31 lead, Bryant responds with a Constant TD, giving Bulldogs 38-34 lead. 1st of 2 TDs on the day
@GoLocalProv
(Sep 23) Bryant Snaps 2 Game Losing Streak, Rallies to Beat Fordham 45-40
@BillKoch25
(Sep 23) Isaac McCray up over 100 yards -- first time in his career -- with a run inside the Fordham 10. Bryant with 1st and goal trailing 34-31.
@FoxSports
(Sep 23) Burdick’s field goal lifts Bucknell past Sacred Heart 34-31
@Funk_pafb
(Sep 23) Sacred Heart is right back in this thing. Bucknell is stunned.
@SHUBigRed
(Sep 23) TD SHU! Ezekiel Ennis returns the kickoff 98 yds for a TD! Freiria’s XP is good. Just like that, the score is tied 17-17
@Funk_pafb
(Sep 23) Pick 6, Sacred Heart. Kevin Barry picks off the Bison field general, and returns it 60 yards untouched.
@WesternHerald
(Sep 25) Bronco’s running game turns up the heat against Wagner
@MLive
(Sep 24) Western Michigan rolls to 49-14 win over Wagner
@NickJBuckley
(Sep 23) Wagner’s Denzel Knight gets the Seahawks on the board w/ 2-yard TD run - Western Michigan 21, Wagner 7 - :19 2nd qtr #WMUvsWagner
@DomIzzoWDAY
(Sep 23) It’s over; #NDSU defeats Robert Morris 56-0. Bison now 3-0, begin conference play next week. Outscored opponents 168-20 to start year.
@vnlsports
(Sep 23) Bison with three takeaways. They all lead to points. 28-0 NDSU lead over Robert Morris.
@DanSlaubaugh
(Sep 23) 72 and sunny for NDSU - Robert Morris, who return to the Fargodome for the first time since falling to the Bison 43-17 in the 2010 playoffs.
NEC PLAY RESUMES WITH CT RIVALRY GAME
Sacred Heart and Central Connecticut have already played four games apiece this season, but none of them carried more importance than Saturday’s upcoming meeting between the two Nutmeg State rivals.
Facing one another for the 20th time, SHU and CCSU will kick off their conference schedules at Campus Field. The Blue Devils, who own an 11-8 series lead, have defeated Sacred Heart in each of the past two seasons. Last November in New Britain, SHU took a late 35-34 lead before Ed Groth nailed the game-winning field goal for CCSU with 00:15 remaining.
Sacred Heart ranks first amongst NEC team leaders in rushing offense (193.5 ypg) and second in rushing defense (119.2 ypg). Meanwhile, CCSU paces the circuit in a pair of special teams categories. The Blue Devils are averaging a league-high 31.3 yards per punt return and also boast the NEC’s top-ranked kickoff coverage unit.
This year’s CT Clash will double as the #NECFB Game of the Week on ESPN3. Dave Popkin (play-by-play) and Kevin Gilbride (color) will be on the call with kickoff slated for 5:00 pm ET.
ROAD WARRIORS
It’s been awhile.
In Duquesne’s case, it’s been a really long while.
Jerry Schmitt’s Dukes, who opened the season with three consecutive non-conference road contests prior to a Week 4 bye, will play at Rooney Field for the first time since defeating Sacred Heart on November 12, 2016.
Duquesne’s Week 5 contest against West Virginia Wesleyan will mark the program’s latest scheduled home opener since 1970.
Jerry Schmitt’s team, which has called Rooney Field home since 1993, has the chance to secure its 100th victory on its current home field on September 30. Duquesne is 99-27-0 all-time at Rooney Field. Under Schmitt, DU has won 23 of 26 non-conference home contests.
Like the Dukes, Sacred Heart has already played three straight non-league games one the road, but that span began after the Pioneers posted a 42-3 win over Stetson at Campus Field in Week 1.
SHU returns home for the first time since Opening Day, lifting the lid off its NEC slate against rival Central Connecticut in Week 5. The host Pioneers will look to win on Homecoming Weekend for the third year in a row.
Wagner also returns home in Week 5 following a three-game road swing. After kicking off their conference slate at Saint Francis in Week 2, the Seahawks remained on the road for non-league contests against Columbia and Western Michigan.
Meanwhile, Saint Francis, which played its first three games in Loretto prior to a Week 4 open date, will begin a four-game road trip at Liberty. The back half of the road swing features conference games against Bryant (Oct. 14) and Duquesne (Oct. 21).
DUQUESNE
Week 1 at South Dakota State (Brookings, SD)
Week 2 at Valparaiso (Valparaiso, IN)
Week 3 at Dayton (Dayton, OH)
Week 4 BYE
SACRED HEART
Week 1 vs. Stetson (Fairfield, CT)
Week 2 at Lafayette (Easton, PA)
Week 3 at Stony Brook (Stony Brook, NY)
Week 4 at Bucknell (Lewisburg, PA)
WAGNER
Week 1 vs. Saint Anselm (Staten Island, NY)
Week 2 at Saint Francis (Loretto, PA)
Week 3 at Columbia (New York, NY)
Week 4 at Western Michigan (Kalamazoo, MI)
WAGNER AND LEHIGH BATTLE IN RUBBER MATCH
Wagner’s Week 5 battle with Lehigh will decide the 2017 season series between the NEC and Patriot League (currently tied 2-2).
Sacred Heart (Bucknell) and Bryant (Fordham) have posted victories on the NEC’s behalf this season.
Wagner, which will face a PL member (Lafayette) for the first time since Sept. 26, 2015, has yet to meet Lehigh. The Seahawks have battled all current Patriot League members at least once except for Lehigh and Bucknell.
NEC vs. Patriot League (2017)
Week 2 – Fordham 38, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 31
Week 2 – SACRED HEART 38, Lafayette 24
Week 4 – BRYANT 45, Fordham 40
Week 4 – Bucknell 34, SACRED HEART 31