COMPLETE GAME NOTES
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College football team will try and string together a pair of wins when it hits the road to take on Merrimack College at Martone-Mejail Field on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 1 p.m. Links to live stats and live video are available on the football schedule page.
This will be the 14th meeting between the two teams, with the Warriors leading the all-time series, 9-4. After Saint Anselm captured three of the first four meetings, Merrimack has won eight of the last nine, including three straight. Merrimack is 5-2 at home against the Hawks and has won five of the last six there. In the most recent meeting Oct. 1 of last season, senior WR Marc Wilson racked up 303 all-purpose yards, but the Hawks suffered a 58-7 defeat at the hands of Merrimack on a rainy afternoon at Grappone Stadium.
The Hawks fell to 0-4, including 0-3 in Northeast-10 play, while the Warriors improved to 3-1, 2-0.
Wilson caught nine passes for 124 yards, returned nine kickoffs for 168 yards and had two rushes for 11 yards.
Merrimack, which was coming off its bye week after setting a program record for points in a game in a 63-7 rout of Pace two weeks earlier, put up 649 yards of total offense, including 428 on the ground.
The Warriors built a 30-0 lead midway through the second quarter on a trio of rushing touchdowns by RB Jimon Hill, a safety in which the Hawks fumbled the slippery ball out of the back of their own end zone, and a rushing score by QB James Suozzo.
Saint Anselm stopped the bleeding with 4:20 to play in the opening half when junior QB Mike Pierce found sophomore WR Eric Feehan down the left sideline for a 64-yard touchdown play that made it 30-7.
Merrimack answered back with rushing touchdowns by Suozzo and Andrew DiCarlo in the third quarter, followed by a 36-yard touchdown pass from Joe Clancy to Isaiah Voegeli and a touchdown scamper by Casey Koperniak in the fourth.
Hill ran for 156 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries, while Suozzo rushed for 131 yards and a pair of scores on 17 carries. Suozzo was also 13-21 for 164 yards and three interceptions. Voegeli reeled in seven passes for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Pierce passed for 257 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 31 yards, but was just 15-for-42 through the air with three interceptions.
With picks by redshirt-sophomore DB Ethan Sylvain, sophomore DB Joey Polverini and senior LB Kyle Hayes, the Hawks had 11 interceptions on the season through four games, which matched their total from all of last season.
LAST TIME OUT
Junior RB Keith Charles amassed nearly 300 all-purpose yards, including 119 on the ground, to lead the Hawks to a 48-21 victory against Pace on Oct. 13 at Grappone Stadium on Homecoming.
The win was the first of the season for the Hawks, who improved to 1-6, including 1-5 in Northeast-10 play. The Setters dropped their fifth straight against Saint Anselm to remain winless at 0-7, 0-6 NE-10.
The 48 points matched the program record that was set in a 48-42 win at Merrimack on Oct. 10, 2008 and is also a school record for points in a home game for the Hawks.
Charles led an offensive attack that put up 430 yards, including a season-high 267 in the ground game. The quad-captain rushed 11 times for a career-best 119 yards (10.8 avg) and a touchdown, which catching a pair of passes for 21 yards. Charles, who totaled 288 all-purpose yards, also returned three kicks for 148 yards, including a career-high 82-yard return for a touchdown in the opening quarter. Fellow junior RB Greg Bell ran for a career-high 90 yards on 12 carries (7.5 avg) and a score.
After the defense forced Pace to punt on the game's opening drive, the offense moved the ball 77 yards in eight plays, with sophomore QB Stephen Cuipa finding junior WR Justin Bernard for a six-yard score. Playing in his first game in nearly a month, Cuipa went 4-for-5 for 48 yards on the Hawks' first drive. After a 25-yard catch-and-run by Charles moved the Hawks into Pace territory, a 21-yard run by Charles set up the Bernard score. The extra point by senior K/P Shea Cerio was good and Saint Anselm led, 7-0, at the 10:29 mark of the first quarter.
The Saint Anselm defense once again forced the Setters to punt, but the muffed punt was recovered by Pace, which took over at the Hawks' 11-yard line and tied the game at seven when Blair Wynn ran in from a yard out with 5:29 on the clock. The Reza Zoroufie kick was good.
On the ensuing kickoff, Charles picked up the ball on the right hash and raced 82 yards up the sideline for a quick score that made it 14-7 in favor of Saint Anselm after the Cerio PAT.
Pace was forced to punt again on its next drive, but another fumbled punt gave the Setters excellent field position at the Saint Anselm 30-yard line. QB Jordan Raynor capped the short drive with a 16-yard run that knotted things at 14 after the Zourofie extra point with 3:23 left.
The Hawks struck again at the 10:36 mark of the second quarter when Bell ripped off a 45-yard run down the right sideline on the third play of the drive. Cerio's point-after was good and Saint Anselm led, 21-14.
Saint Anselm received the kickoff to start the second half and marched 54 yards in five plays and 1:40 to take a 28-14 lead when freshman QB Andrew Murphy lofted up a pass that was tipped by a Pace defender right into the hands of sophomore WR Ahkeen Williams, who was standing in the end zone, for a 27-yard touchdown just 1:47 into the third quarter. Cerio's extra point was good.
On the ensuing Pace drive with the Setters threatening, senior LB Chris Bent picked off Raynor at the Saint Anselm 23-yard line and ran down the right sideline for what appeared to be a touchdown. Officials called back the score due to an inadvertent whistle and placed the ball at the Pace 34-yard line. The Hawks did not seem to be fazed as Cuipa rushed for 14 yards and then handed to Charles, who scampered another 21 for the score. Cerio's kick was no good and Saint Anselm led 34-14 with 8:36 remaining in the third.
Later in the quarter, the Hawks pieced together an eight-play, 53-yard drive that was capped by a Williams four-yard run with 1:58 on the clock. The Hawks kept the drive alive when Cerio rushed for 24 yards on a fake punt attempt with the team facing a fourth-and-12 from its own 45. A botched snap and hold forced Cuipa to keep it himself on the extra point and he was taken down in the backfield, keeping it a 40-14 game.
On the third play of the ensuing Pace drive, senior DL Mike Hobbs strip-sacked Raynor at the Setters' 26-yard line and junior DL Lou Licciardi scooped up the ball and ran it back 24 yards for the touchdown. The Hawks then faked the extra point as Cerio rolled out to his left and hit freshman TE Mike Lombard on the left side of the end zone for the two-point conversion that made it 48-14 with 10 seconds left in the third.
Pace then put together a five-play, 80-yard drive that culminated in a Patrick Lupfer 14-yard run that cut it to 48-21 after the Zoroufie PAT.
Cuipa finished 8 of 14 for 127 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing 10 times for 35 yards. Murphy was 4 of 7 for 36 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Senior WR Craig Dennis made three catches for 76 yards, while Bernard snagged four passes for 27 yards and the score.
Senior LB Ethan Sylvain made a game-high 10 tackles, including one for a loss. Senior LB Matt Gordon and Bent each recorded nine stops. Licciardi made six tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and a sack, in addition to his fumble recovery for a touchdown. Junior DL Andrew Lebowitz was blowing up plays in the backfield all day as he tallied six tackles, including three for a loss and 1.5 sacks, while also recovering a fumble. Senior DL Tyler Williams also made six tackles, including 2.5 for a loss and half a sack.
BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN
After 357 days and nine straight losses, the Hawks captured their first victory of 2012 with a complete 48-21 win against Pace on Homecoming Oct. 13. The Hawks, whose last W came in a 47-21 win at Pace on Oct. 22 of last season, matched the program record for points in a game that was set in a 48-42 win at Merrimack on Oct. 10, 2008.
ALL THREE FACETS COMING THROUGH
In their 48-21 Homecoming victory against Pace on Oct. 13, the Hawks received a touchdown from their offense, defense and special teams. It is just the second time in program history the Hawks have achieved the feat and the first time since Sept. 29, 2001 when they did it against Assumption.
CHARLES IS SPECIAL
Junior RB Keith Charles broke out as he amassed nearly 300 all-purpose yards in a 48-21 win against Pace on Oct. 13. Charles carried 11 times for a career-best 119 yards (10.8 avg) and a touchdown, while also making two catches for 21 yards. Charles also returned three kicks for 148 yards, including a career-high 82-yard return for a touchdown in the opening quarter, which netted him both Northeast-10 and ECAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Charles ranks 26th in the country with 155.7 all-purpose yards per game.
MORE ON THE CHARLES TD RETURN
Junior RB Keith Charles' 82-yard kickoff return against Pace on Oct. 13 was just the sixth special teams return for a touchdown, including the fourth kick return for a score, in team history. Oddly enough, both punt returns and two of the four kick returns have come against Assumption.
WHAT A RUSH
After not cracking the century mark in the first six game of the season, the Hawks amassed a season-high 267 yards on the ground in their 48-21 victory against Pace on Oct. 13. Junior RB Keith Charles led the way with a career-best 119 yards on 11 carries (10.8 avg) and a touchdown, while fellow junior RB Greg Bell ran for a career-high 90 yards on 12 carries (7.5 avg) and a score.
HEY, DON'T FORGET ABOUT US...
The Hawks' defense came up big in their 48-21 win against Pace on Oct. 13, holding the Setters to season lows of 21 points and 375 yards of total offense. The Hawks recorded a season-high 14 tackles for a loss and matched their season best with four sacks. Junior DL Lou Licciardi recovered a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown after senior DL Mike Hobbs' strip-sack, while senior LB Chris Bent brought an interception back 73 yards for a score that was eventually called back when the final 34 yards were wiped out due to an official's inadvertent whistle.
TRIPLE THREAT
Senior P/K Shea Cerio did a little bit of everything in the Hawks' 48-21 win against Pace on Oct. 13. Cerio booted four extra points, punted once, ran for 24 yards on a fake punt and tossed a two-point conversion to freshman TE Mike Lombard on a fake extra point. Cerio's fake punt with the Hawks facing a fourth-and-12 kept the drive alive and allowed the offense to come back on the field to finish the drive with a touchdown that made it 40-14 with 1:58 left in the third quarter. Cerio struck again 1:48 later when he received the snap on a fake extra point, rolled out to his left and hit Lombard on the left side of the end zone for a two-point conversion that made it 48-14.
OFFENSE HEATING UP
After averaging just 235.5 yards per contest through the first four games of the season, the Hawks have averaged 436.0 yards over the last three contests.
RANDOM MUSINGS...
Sophomore WR Justin Bernard is 19th in the country and second in the Northeast-10 in receptions per game (6.9), as well as 46th in the nation and third in the conference in receiving yards per game (81.0) ... senior P Shea Cerio ranks second in the conference in punting average (38.1). His career-high 61-yard punt against Kutztown on Sept. 3, which is a yard shy of the school record, is the second longest this season in the conference, while his 10 punts that have been downed inside the 20-yard line are tied for the conference lead.
BENT, BUT DON'T BREAK
Senior LB Chris Bent has been a bright spot, defensively, so far this season. Bent has registered a team-leading 77 tackles, including 41 solo stops, and ranks 15th in the nation, as well as second in the conference, in tackles per game (11.0).
YOU CAN'T BE CERIO!
Senior P/K Shea Cerio, who matched Saint Anselm's single-game record of 13 punts in the season opener at Kutzown on Sept. 3, needs just 15 more punts to become the school's career leader in that category. Jeff Dandurand tallied 181 punts from 1999-02.
MURPHY NABS NORTHEAST-10 ROOKIE OF THE WEEK...AGAIN
Freshman QB Andrew Murphy produced a solid follow-up to his collegiate starting debut Oct. 6 against Bentley. In his first home start under the lights, Murphy connected on 32 of 48 passes for 293 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Bentley defense had entered the game only allowing 9.3 ppg, including 1.5 ppg after halftime. Murphy helped the Hawks put 28 points on the board - all after the intermission.
COPY CATS
Senior LB Chris Bent and Freshman DB Jack Hopkins each tallied a game-high 13 tackles against Bentley on Oct. 6, in addition to recording their first career interceptions.
OFFENSE BACK ON TRACK?
After putting up 351.1 yards per game over the previous three seasons, the Hawks' offense was averaging just 235.5 yards per contest this season before it erupted for 500 yards and four touchdowns at Southern Connecticut State on Sept. 29.
D-LIGHTFUL
The defense also got into the act at Southern Connecticut on Sept. 29, recording a season-high four sacks, as well as a pair of interceptions. The Hawks' D held the Owls without a third-down conversion in the first half (0-7) as it helped the squad take a 17-16 lead into the break.
MOVE OVER, MARC
Sophomore WR Justin Bernard caught 13 passes for 226 yards and a career-high two touchdowns at Southern Connecticut on Sept. 29. The 226 yards eclipses the school record of 187 set by Marc Wilson against Plymouth State on Sept. 5, 2009. Bernard earned Beyond Sports Network (BSN) Offensive Player of the Week honors as one of six Division II players on the squad, including one of two wide receivers.
HE'S A FRESHMAN?!
In his first collegiate start at Southern Connecticut on Sept. 29, freshman QB Andrew Murphy completed 29 of 43 passes for 405 yards and four touchdowns, while throwing just one interception. The 405 yards are the most in program history for a freshman, surpassing Michael Pierce's 397 against New Haven on Oct. 3, 2009, and just three yards short of matching Pierce's overall school record of 408 that he set against Pace on Sept. 25, 2010. The four touchdowns match Pierce's four against Plymouth State on Sept. 5, 2009 for most by a Saint Anselm freshman and are also the most in school history for a true freshman. Murphy was named the Northeast-10 Rookie of the Week for his efforts.
CAREER HIGHS FOR 'KEEN
Sophomore WR Ahkeen Williams put together his best game in a Saint Anselm uniform at Southern Connecticut on Sept. 29 as he set personal career bests in receptions (9), receiving yards (96), receiving touchdowns (2), rushing attempts (8) and rushing yards (82).
DOING IT ALL
Sophomore WR Justin Bernard had a game to remember in the Hawks' home opener against Stonehill on Sept. 14. Bernard caught seven passes for 113 yards (the second highest total of his career) and a touchdown. In addition, Bernard tossed a 52-yard touchdown pass to fellow sophomore WR Brandon Gomes that gave Saint Anselm a 13-7 lead midway through the second quarter. Bernard is the first non-QB ever to throw a touchdown pass of that length for the Hawks and the first to complete a TD since K/WR Michael Garcarz connected on a 19-yard score against Assumption on Sept. 11, 2004.
PICKING AND CHOOSING
The Hawks' two interception leaders from a year ago, sophomore LB Ethan Sylvain (5) and junior DB Trevor Jessie (4), each picked off a pass against Stonehill. It marked the first two INTs of the year for Saint Anselm. Sylvain ran his interception back 45 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter that gave the Hawks a 20-14 advantage.
THREE FOR ME
The Hawks have found the end zone three times in their first two games, with junior running back Keith Charles scoring all three touchdowns – a receiving score at Kutztown and a pair of rushing TDs at Assumption.
CUIPA BREAKS RECORD
Sophomore QB Stephen Cuipa broke a nearly 12-year-old record when he completed 80 percent (16-20) of his passes at Assumption on Sept. 7. The previous record was held by Keith Comeau, who connected on 76.9 percent (20-26) of his throws at Stonehill on Nov. 4, 2000.
ALL-PURPOSE BACK
Junior running back Keith Charles amassed 194 all-purpose yards at Assumption on Sept. 7. Charles rushed 13 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns, made four catches for 37 yards and returned four kickoffs for 81 yards.
PERFECT 10
Junior wide WR Eric Feehan, who broke out a year ago as the team's second leading receiver, continued his solid play with a career-best 10 catches for 91 yards at Assumption on Sept. 7.
FIRST IN
For the second straight year, junior running back Keith Charles scored Saint Anselm's first touchdown of the season. Charles caught a 25-yard touchdown pass at Kutztown on Aug. 30, one year after scampering in from two yards out at home against Kutztown on Sept. 3, 2011.
PREDICTING THE FUTURE
The Hawks were picked to finish eighth in the Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released Aug. 20. New Haven was chosen as the favorite to win the conference after collecting seven-first place votes and point total of 63 to beat out Southern Connecticut, which earned one first-place vote and 53 total points. AIC, which received the other first-place vote, came in third with 50 points. With 41 points apiece, Bentley and Merrimack tied for the fourth-place slot, as Assumption (29) edged out Stonehill (24) for sixth place. Saint Anselm (15) and Pace (8) rounded out the poll.
WGAM PARTNERSHIP
The Saint Anselm College Department of Athletics has partnered with WGAM 'The Game' Radio for the upcoming 2012-13 season. As part of the agreement, WGAM 'The Game' will feature the Saint Anselm Coaches' Show once per week. The Saint Anselm Coaches' Show will air every Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. as part of "The Nick Anastos Show," which runs from noon-2 p.m. Anastos, a Bedford, N.H., native, has served as the color analyst for the Hawks' Pack Network broadcasts of football, men's and women's basketball and men's and women's ice hockey since 2010. The show will highlight what is happening in the world of Saint Anselm athletics, as Anastos will chat with both a head coach and student-athlete during the 30-minute segment.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
Saint Anselm Athletics and Pack Network will once again team up for the 2012-13 season to offer an industry-leading streaming video solution. The service will feature live event productions that include multiple cameras, an on-screen scoreboard and graphics so that fans can still be part of the action even when they can't make it to the game. And starting this season, fans can stream games live on their ipad or iphone. This season, all football, men's and women's basketball, and men's and women's hockey games will be streamed live at SaintAnselmHawks.tv. The Hawks All-Access Pass, available for $69.95, gives fans the opportunity to watch not only all the live coverage of various Saint Anselm home athletic events, but also premium content not available to view without the All-Access Pass. The premium content includes an in-depth archive section of all video available. Single-event subscriptions for all live events will be available throughout the season for $6.95.
