The game also kicks off the Northeast-10 Conference�s weekly Game of the Week coverage on Teamline Radio, which can be accessed via the NE-10 website at http://www.northeast10.org.
The game should prove to be a tough challenge for the Hawks, who have not won a season opener since 1999. The last two openers for the Hawks have come against these same Bentley Falcons, who ended last year second in the NE-10.
Series Notes:
Bentley leads the all-time series, 2-0. Last season, the Falcons handed Saint Anselm a 28-0 shutout as their defnese controlled the game by allowing just 14 rushing yards on 38 carries and sacking the Hawk signal callers 10 times.
In 2001, Bentley came from behind to win, 27-24, after a 49-yard touchdown pass with just 2:39 remaining in the game. The scoring play capped a wild fourth quarter that featured four lead changes in front of nearly 2,000 fans.
About Saint Anselm:
After losing 40 letterwinners and 11 starters, Saint Anselm will be extremely young and will rely on a host of underclassmen to keep the program at the forefront of the playoff hunt in 2003.
The team has named seniors Kevin Ridgley (Amesbury, Mass./ Amesbury), James Ward (Westerly, R.I./ Westerly), and junior Derek DiMartino (Amherst, N.H./ UMass Amherst) as captains this season.
DiMartino, the all-time leading rushing in New Hampshire high school football (4,500 yards), will most likely have to sit out the opener due to a hamstring inury, putting the pressure on Ridgley, and sophomore Mike Donoghue (Newbury, N.H./ Kearsarge).
Ridgley, who has battled a number of injuries over his career, was second on the roster in rushing last season with 280 yards and three touchdowns. He has been a valuable back, having rushed for an average of 4.0 yards per carry with over 1,400 all-purpose yards in his stay at Saint Anselm. He also hauled in 24 catches last season and has 44 for his career.
Donoghue opened eyes last season with some impressive runs and a 5.3 yard per carry average.
The Hawks will also see a new face at signal caller in Sophomore quarterback Shane Dinagen (Harrisville, R.I./ Burrillville).
Matt Santiago (Clinton, Mass./ Clinton) will highlight the receiving corps this year. The 5-foot-8 speedster was second on the team last year with 43 receptions for 422 yards. He will look to improve on his touchdown mark after scoring just once last season.
Junior tight end Mike Smith (Chelmsford, Mass./ Chelmsford) started all ten games at the position last season, pulling in 10 receptions for 116 yards and distinguishing himself as a solid run blocker.
Joe Ferrulle (Marshfield, Mass./ Marshfield) and Patrick Chilabato (Portsmouth, R.I./ Portsmouth Abbey) will again start as the defensive line. Chilabato started eight games in 2002 with 22 tackles, including 4.0 for a loss. Ferrulle, who has been an on-and-off again starter for three years, is one of the strongest players on the team and an excellent run stopper.
Junior Dave Heiner (Farmington, Conn./ Farmington) and sophomore Josh Ahlquist (Gorham, Maine/ Cheverus) are also expected to start in the trenches. The 6-foot-5 Heiner had his first healthy season in 2002, playing in nine games and recording 14 total tackles including 3.0 for a loss. Ahlquist appeared in all ten games as a true freshman and has come back bigger and stronger this season.
Ward will be charged with the task of leading a young front seven, starting his third season at middle linebacker. Considered one of the hardest-hitters in the conference, Ward placed third in the nation last year with five forced fumbles. He also led the defense with 86 tackles (40 solo).
Junior Jim Malone (Leominster, Mass./ Leominster), who played in nine games and started three in the defensive backfield last season, will see action both there and at linebacker after a 27-tackle effort a year ago.
Junior cornerback Michael DeMasi (New Canaan, Conn./ New Canaan) will lead the secondary after setting a school record and leading the Northeast-10 with six interceptions last season. DeMasi, a pre-season All-America selection, was also tied for the lead among DBs in tackles last season with 51, including 29 solo efforts.
Junior safety Aaron Jeanson (Acton, Mass./ Univ. of Rhode Island) was a welcome addition to the unit last season, starting the last seven games and recording 51 tackles (25 solo).
About Bentley:
Bentley comes into the season as one of the preseason favorites in the Northeast-10, picked narrowly to finish second by the coaches. The Falcons have been ranked in several preseason polls and will welcome back many familiar faces.
Bentley quarterback Marc Eddy and his favorite target, Dallas Mall, both enter their junior season well within reach of a couple records. Eddy, 159 yards shy of 5,000 career passing yards, has 54 TD passes, four shy of the school�s all-time record (Ted Larkin, 1997-2000). Mall, with 38 career TD receptions, begins the season three away from the New England record (all divisions), a mark held by former Bentley All-America and current assistant coach Mark DeBrito.
Mall is also just 18 points away from the Bentley career scoring record of 252 (Greg Novarro, 1990-92). Bentley�s season-opener against Saint Anselm is the first of five Friday night games on the Falcons� schedule. Bentley�s probable starters for the opener include 12 seniors and seven juniors.
Saint Anselm Injury Report:
The Hawks have had a number of injuries coming out of preseason camp. The most notable:
OT Ryan Santangelo-Knee-Probable
P/K Mike Garcarz-Leg-Probable
RB Derek DiMartino-Hamstring-Doubtful
Memorabilia Collectors:
This season, the Office of Sports Information will be producing four different editions of the "Saint Anselm Gameday" magazine. Each home game will feature a different member of the 2003 team. Pick up a copy at each game, along with the 84-page 2003 Football Media Guide.
