NEC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KEVIN DUKE, SACRED HEART
QB, Sr., 5-11, 180 lbs, Wappinger Falls, NY/Roy C. Ketcham
STAT LINE: 236 yards total offense, 4 total TD, 81.2 completion pct., 9.7 yards per pass attempt, 81 rush yards, 3 rush TD
Making his first career start, Duke powered the Pioneers' offense to a 42-3 lead over Pioneer League member Stetson through three quarters of play on Saturday night. Prior to watching the final 15:00 from the sideline, the veteran signal caller completed 81.2 percent of his pass attempts and put his running ability on display. Out-gained by only one NEC running back in Week 1, Duke totaled 81 net rushing yards and used his legs to find paydirt thrice. Duke began his day by going 2-for-2 passing for 29 yards on the game's opening possession and proceeded to cap the six-play scoring drive with a two-yard touchdown rush. The Empire State product completed his first 12 pass attempts, including a 9-for-9 clip as the Pioneers quickly built a 21-0 edge. Adding to SHU's 7-0 advantage, Duke hooked up with Andrew O'Neill through the air for a 26-yard scoring strike midway through the first quarter. The quarterback's third touchdown came on a 10-yard scamper with 42 second remaining in the opening period. Following an early second-quarter field goal by Stetson, Duke directed the Pioneers' on fourth touchdown drive. With the Pioneers facing a 4th-and-1 from the Stetson 26, Duke hurried the offense up to the line of scrimmage and took a quick snap all the way to paydirt with 8:45 to go before halftime. In addition to being ony one of three NEC players to rush for at least 80 yards, Duke posted the highest pass completion percentage in the league during Week 1.
NEC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
GERALD FERGUSON, ROBERT MORRIS
LB, Sr., 6-2, 220 lbs, Delray Beach, FL/West Boca
STAT LINE: 8 total tackles (5 solo), 1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack, 1 FR, 1 QBH
Ferguson finished as the Colonials' leading tackler in the 13-10 come-from-behind win over perennial Pioneer League contender Dayton. Among his team high eight stops (5 solo) were 1.5 TFL and 1.0 sack. Ferguson also logged one quarterback hurry and one fumble recovery. The senior linebacker ended Dayton's opening drive of the game by pouncing on a fumble at the RMU 47-yard line. His second-quarter hit dropped the ball carrier for a 4-yard loss on a first down play and helped derail a potential Dayton scoring drive in the redzone. With RMU having evened the score at 10-10, Ferguson delivered another impactful hit when he sacked the Dayton quarterback on 2nd-and-9 with just under 10:00 remaining in the game.
NEC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
NICK BISCEGLIA, ROBERT MORRIS
PK, Fr., 5-11, 160 lbs, New Kensington, PA/Kiski Area
STAT LINE: 7 points, 2-for-3 FG, 1-for-1 PAT, Game-winning FG w/ 00:04 left
Bisceglia missed the first kick of his collegiate career, but bounced back in a big way to push Robert Morris past Dayton for the first time since the 2000 season. The freshman, who accounted for more than half of the team's points, put RMU on the scoreboard by connecting on a 28-yarder 34 seconds prior to halftime. His first career extra point attempt was true, officially tying the game following a 72-yard touchdown pass with 6:07 into the third quarter. Bisceglia later untied the score by hitting a 26-yard attempt with 00:04 remaining in the contest.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
TAVIN ALLISON, ROBERT MORRIS
WR, R-Fr., 6-1, 195 lbs, Detroit, MI/Eastern Michigan
STAT LINE: 2 receptions, 76 receiving yards, TD
The redshirt freshman was a key contributor to the Colonials' first season-opening win since 2008. Displaying his speed, Allison beat his defender down the left sideline and raced to paydirt for a 72-yard touchdown that allowed Robert Morris to tie the game on its second possession of the second half. His first career catch, a 4-yard gain, moved the sticks on a 4th-and-3 play and gave the Colonials a fresh set of downs at the Dayton 32-yard line on their opening possession of the contest. Allison finished with two receptions for 76 yards and one tackle. The rookie made a touchdown-saving stop on an interception return late in the second quarter, dropping the returner at the RMU 12-yard line and giving the Colonials' defense an opportunity to hold Dayton to a field goal attempt.
FINE LINES (WEEK 1)
The following players accounted for noteworthy statistiscal accomplishments last week and were awarded #NECPrimePerformer status for their efforts. Here are some fine stat lines...
KEVIN DUKE (SACRED HEART)
The senior QB, who totaled four touchdowns in SHU’s win over Stetson, led all NEC passers in completion percentage while out-rushing all but one running back in Week 1.
DELONDO BOYD (SAINT FRANCIS)
The senior safety accounted for a PICK-6, one PBU, one forced fumble and nine tackles in a season-opening romp.
GERALD FERGUSON (ROBERT MORRIS)
The senior linebacker forced a first-quarter fumble that was recovered by RMU and proceeded to total a team-high eight tackles, including 1.5 TFL and 1.0 sack, in the dramatic win over Dayton.
PRICE WILSON (BRYANT)
Making his first start as a Bulldog, the junior transfer passed for 378 yards and four touchdowns while engineering a comeback win.
BEAR FENIMORE (SAINT FRANCIS)
Completing 68 percent of his passes, the transfer quarterback recorded 280 yards and three touchdowns in his Red Flash debut.
D’ERREN WILSON (WAGNER)
The UCF transfer’s first game wearing Green & White yielded 136 yards and one touchdown on 10 receptions.
NICK BISCEGLIA (ROBERT MORRIS)
The rookie kicker’s field goal with 00:04 left lifted Robert Morris to its first win over Dayton since 2000.
KAMRON LEWIS (SAINT FRANCIS)
The reigning NEC Offensive Player of the Year totaled 153 yards and one TD on eight catches in the Flash’s rout of Lock Haven.
MATT SEWALL (BRYANT)
The senior receiver scored two touchdowns and piled up 214 yds from scrimmage, including 68 yards rushing on three carries, in the Bulldogs’ wild win over Merrimack.
AROUND THE NEC IN 7 SENTENCES
BRYANT improved its record to 12-0 against Division II opponents since elevating to the Division I FCS level in 2008.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT, which played in front of 15,718 during a 2007 trip to Western Michigan, saw the largest crowd in its FCS history with an official announced attendance of 30,273 for the Week 1 bout at Syracuse.
DUQUESNE, which will play four of its five scheduled non-conference contests on the road this season, continues its season-opening three-game road trip in Indiana where the Dukes will face Valparaiso for the first time since 2012.
ROBERT MORRIS defeated perennial Pioneer League contender Dayton for the first time since 2000 when the Colonials posted a 17-13 road win at Welcome Stadium.
SACRED HEART, which won its season opener for the fifth consecutive year, held Stetson to 18 rushing yards on 34 attempts while the Pioneers’ offense averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
SAINT FRANCIS, which owned a +8 turnover margin through 12 games in 2016, opened the season by earning four takeaways (3 INT, fumble) while its offense played turnover-free football in the rout of Lock Haven.
WAGNER opened its season with a home win over Division II Saint Anselm for the second year in a row, limiting the NE-10 member to only 10 pass yards in the 37-7 triumph.
TWEET SHEET
@IanSteeleABC6
(Sep 3) .@BryantUFootball and Portsmouth's Matt Sewall makes @SportsCenter with his third quarter TD catch vs. Merrimack! @ABC6
@Branden_Mello
(Sep 3) All-purpose maven Matt Sewall and transfer quarterback Price Wilson lead @BryantUFootball to a comeback win Satu
@FCS_STATS
(Sep 2) .@RMUFootball uses its strong defense to stun @PFLNews power @DaytonFootball 13-10. Nick Bisceglia 26-yard FG with 4 seconds left the winner
@BrianMacWriter
(Sep 2) Don't know how much we will talk about Robert Morris this year, but big win for RM to knock off one of the Pioneer's best in Dayton.
@RMUSentryMedia
(Sep 2) The Robert Morris football team upset one of the winningest teams in the FCS, the Dayton Flyers.
@connpost
(Sep 2) Sacred Heart routs Stetson to open season
@WingWarpReplay
(Sep 2) Amazing @NECFootball! 240+ plays run @BryantUFootball v Merrimack. Amazing @NECFB replay refs ... fast and furious! #technology
@WJACTV
(Sep 2) St. Francis routs Lock Haven 69-3 behind Fenimore.
@masty81
(Sep 2) The @RedFlashFB is clicking on offense, defense, special teams. Another TD pass by Bear Fenimore makes it 38-0 over Lock Haven 2nd QT
@PAGMETER
(Sep 2) Former Edison Tiger Kam Lewis off to a great start with 8 catches, 153 yards.
Way to go KAM! @RedFlashFB
@ccarlsononSU
(Sep 1) Babers says Central Connecticut State geared up to stop the run but he was still disappointed with how SU ran the ball.
@SyracuseOnScout
(Sep 1) Babers: "I thought the contest was a very good contest." Calls CCSU a fine football team
@BrentAxeMedia
(Sep 1) .@Cuse lists official attendance for @CuseFootball vs. @CCSUBlueDevils as 30,273.
@LarsLondot
(Aug 31) Great way to start the season @Wagner_Football!! Great win!!
@argusmattz
(Aug 31) Final: @GoJacksFB 51, Duquesne 13. Jake Wieneke with 4 TD catches and becomes all-time catches leader at SDSU.
@argusmattz
(Aug 31) The Jacks held AJ Hines to 34 yards on 13 carries. Impressive performance by the defense tonight.
@argusmattz
(Aug 31) Touchdown Duquesne. 2-yards on a fade from Tommy Stuart to Nehari Crawford.
QUARTERBACK QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN WEEK 1
Five men took their first snaps as a NEC starting signal caller this week and all five accounted for multiple noteworthy plays.
Four of the five quarterbacks are transfers from Division I FBS members and were not on their current teams’ rosters last year. Sacred Heart senior Kevin Duke is the lone member of the group to have already appeared in a NEC game.
Here’s how the five first-year starters fared in the 2017 season debuts…
KEVIN DUKE, SACRED HEART
236 yards total offense, 81.3 pass completion pct., 1 pass TD, 3 rush TD
After sitting behind RJ Noel, the NEC’s all-time leader in total offense, the past few seasons, Duke finally received his chance and he looked extremely comfortable at the controls in a wire-to-wire win over Stetson.
BEAR FENIMORE, SAINT FRANCIS
280 pass yards, 67.7 completion pct., 3 pass TD
The Houston transfer arrived in Loretto only two months ago, but he already has a great rapport with All-American pass-catcher Kamron Lewis. Fenimore, who connected with Lewis eight times, completed passes to eight different receivers in a runaway win over Lock Haven.
PRICE WILSON, BRYANT
378 pass yards, 4 pass TD
Replacing the man (Dalton Easton) who set the NEC single-season record for touchdown passes last fall, Wilson fired four scoring strikes of his own during his debut as Bryant’s starting signal caller. The Bulldogs’ first-year starter played sparingly at Louisiana Tech prior to arriving in Smithfield.
JIMMY WALKER, ROBERT MORRIS
198 pass yards, 72-yard TD pass tied game
The San Diego State transfer engineered a comeback victory during his RMU debut, leading the Colonials past a rival opponent that they hadn’t beaten since 2000. His 72-yard scoring strike to Tavin Allison down the left sideline helped turn the tide in RMU’s favor
TOMMMY STUART, DUQUESNE
175 pass yards, 2 pass TD
Nothing like having to face a FCS juggernaut in your first start. Stuart, who transferred to Duquesne from Boise State, hooked up with Nehari Crawford and Kareem Coles for the Dukes’ lone touchdowns in a setback at No. 4 South Dakota State.
RETURNING STARTERS TOSS WEEK 1 TDs
All seven NEC starting quarterbacks threw at least one touchdown pass apiece during Week 1, including Wagner’s Alex Thomson and Central Connecticut’s Jacob Dolegala.
Thomson, a preseason all-NEC selection who made 20 starts prior to the 2017 campaign, went 21-of-28 passing for 256 yards and one touchdown. His 6-yard scoring strike to D’Erren Wiilson bumped Wagner’s lead to 20-0 in an eventual 37-7 win over Saint Anselm.
Dolegala, who led the NEC in passing yardage (2,934) last season, connected with Jose Garcia on a 24-yard scoring strike for CCSU’s lone touchdown in a season-opening setback at ACC member Syracuse.
EARLY AND IMPORTANT BATTLE KICKS OFF ESPN3 SLATE IN LORETTO
Saint Francis and Wagner, which both cruised past Division II opponents at home last week, meet in Loretto on Saturday for the Northeast Conference opener.
Defending NEC champion Saint Francis officially kicks off its title defense against a Wagner team that returned 16 of 22 starters from the 2016 season and was pegged for a third-place finish in the 2017 NEC Coaches’ Preseason Poll. The Red Flash (6) and the Seahawks (5) combined to place 11 athletes on the 27-member Preseason All-NEC Team.
Both sides feature dynamic receivers. SFU junior Kamron Lewis, the reigning NEC OPOTY, went for 153 yards vs. Lock Haven while Wagner junior D’Erren Wilson, a transfer from UCF, caught 10 passes for 136 yards in his Seahawks’ debut.
The 6-foot-3 Wilson’s arrival on Grymes Hill gives Wagner a second tall target behind preseason all-NEC pick John Williams, who averaged nearly 20.0 yards per catch last fall.
Meanwhile, Saint Francis has a transfer of its own in the receiving corps with Jorge Solano, who made five catches and scored one touchdown in Week 1, having come to Loretto from Fordham.
WatchESPN / ESPN3 will carry the Saint Francis vs. Wagner bout beginning at 12:00 pm ET.
Adding another wrinkle to the important matchup, Wagner was responsible for SFU’s lone conference loss in 2016.
The Seahawks jumped out to a 31-0 lead on Grymes Hill in last year’s regular season finale before the Flash scored 24 unanswered points as part of an unsuccessful comeback bid. SFU triumphed, 43-14, during the most-recent meeting in Loretto.
NEC VS. PFL
They followed different scripts, but the Week 1 result was the same for Robert Morris and Sacred Heart.
The Colonials and the Pioneers posted season-opening home wins over Pioneer League members on Saturday.
RMU used a late field goal to complete its comeback victory over Dayton, which was pegged for a second-place finish in the PFL preseason coaches’ poll. For Robert Morris, the dramatic 13-10 win marked the team’s first triumph in its long-running series with the Flyers since 2000.
Later in the day, Sacred Heart rolled to a wire-to-wire victory over Stetson. Opening with a win over the Hatters for the second straight season, SHU enjoyed a much easier ride this time. When the two sides
The Pioneers went 3-0 against Pioneer League members in 2016, but the 2017 opener marked SHU’s lone matchup with a PFL foe this fall.
With the NEC holding a 2-0 edge, its 2017 series with the Pioneer League features two more contests this season and Duquesne will play in both of them. The Dukes visit Valparaiso in Week 2 before heading to Dayton the following week. In its last two meetings with Valpo (2011, 2012), the Dukes have out-scored the Crusaders by a 94-31 margin.
Duquesne has faced Dayton every single season since becoming a NEC member in 2008. The Dukes triumphed, 34-20, in the most-recent meeting as AJ Hines ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns on Sept. 17, 2016 at Rooney Field.
NON-LEAGUE OPPONENTS SERIES FACTS
> There was only one meeting between Duquesne and South Dakota State prior to the 2017 season opener. The Dukes won, 34-12, on Nov. 11, 1932 in Pittsburgh.
> MVFC member South Dakota State is 2-0 against NEC opponents at the FCS level. The Jackrabbits posted a 34-10 triumph over Robert Morris in the 2015 Beef Bowl.
> Robert Morris is 0-2 all-time versus Youngstown State as the teams will meet for the third consecutive season at Stambaugh Stadium.
> Sacred Heart leads the all-time series against Lafayette, 2-1, with the Pioneers having won the two most-recent meetings in 2013 and 2014.
> Central Connecticut will face Fordham for the first time ever. The Blue Devils last hosted a Patriot League member when Lafayette posted a 24-10 victory in the 2016 season lid-lifter.
> Bryant and Maine will meet for the sixth time since 2011. The Bulldogs’ lone win in the first five affairs came by a 13-10 score during the 2014 season in Smithfield. Last fall, Bryant raced out to a 21-0 lead before suffering a 35-31 defeat.
OUT-OF-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE ROAD TEST HEAVY
Duquesne’s first three games of the season all come on the road against non-league opponents. After, opening at home vs. Stetson, Sacred Heart hits the road for three consecutive non-conference contests, including two bouts at Patriot League members.
Central Connecticut is the lone NEC team to play more than two of its five non-league games at home; the Blue Devils welcome three out-of-conference foes to New Britain.
NO CAKEWALKS AWAITING CCSU
The Blue Devils play a quartet of prime opponents during their non-conference schedule. After opening the season at ACC member Syracuse, the Blue Devils host Patriot League power Fordham before a visit to 2016 FCS national runner-up Youngstown State in Week 3. CCSU’s final out-of-conference contest comes against defending Ivy League champion Pennsylvania in Week 6.
STEPPING UP
Wagner will face a FBS opponent for the sixth consecutive season. The Seahawks visit Western Michigan on September 23.
Central Connecticut’s season opener at Syracuse marked the second time ever that the Blue Devils, who played at Western Michigan in 2007, faced a FBS foe.
Wagner has played more FBS games (7) than any NEC program. CCSU and Duquesne are the only other league members to have faced a FBS opponent prior to the 2017 season. NEC teams are 0-10 all-time in such contests.
NEC vs. FBS Results
2017 - Syracuse 50, CENTRAL CONNECTICUT 7 (Syracuse, NY)
2016 - Massachusetts 34, WAGNER 10 (Amherst, MA)
2016 – Boston College 42, WAGNER 10 (Chestnut Hill, MA)
2015 – Brigham Young 70, WAGNER 6 (Provo, UT)
2015 – Rice 56, WAGNER 16 (Houston, TX)
2014 – Buffalo 38, DUQUESNE 28 (Buffalo, NY)
2014 – Florida International 34, WAGNER 3 (Miami, FL)
2013 – Syracuse 54, WAGNER 0 (Syracuse, NY)
2012 – Florida Atlantic 7, WAGNER 3 (Boca Raton, FL)
2007 – Western Michigan 51, CCSU 14 (Kalamazoo, MI)