COMPLETE GAME NOTES
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College football team will try to avenge last season's heartbreaking home loss to Assumption College when it meets the Greyhounds at Multi-Sport Stadium on Friday, Sept. 7 at 7 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 Assumption holding an 8-5 record, which included seven straight wins in the series. The Greyhounds hold a 4-3 mark at home against the Hawks and have won three straight there, not losing since Sept. 11, 2004. In the most recent meeting, despite a 69-yard touchdown run by senior WR Marc Wilson that gave his team a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter, the Hawks suffered a 24-20 defeat against Assumption on Homecoming at a snowy Grappone Stadium on Oct. 29. 2011.
The Hawks fell to 1-7 on the season, including 1-5 in Northeast-10 play, while the Greyhounds evened their record at 4-4, 3-3 NE-10.
Leading 13-10 with 12:25 to play in the fourth, the Hawks widened their lead when Wilson – in at quarterback with snow beginning to blanket the Grappone Stadium turf – broke a run straight up the middle before cutting to the left sideline and racing 69 yards for the score. The extra point by junior K Shea Cerio gave Saint Anselm a 10-point lead.
Assumption responded with a six-play, 70-yard drive that lasted just 1:37, however, to make it 20-17. After Gabe Homiski hit Paul Perez for a 35-yard gain, Matt Pedone picked up 15 yards to set up Hominski to Perez again – this time for 20 yards and the touchdown. Brian Nowak's point-after was good.
Saint Anselm was forced to punt on its ensuing possession and junior QB Mike Pierce delivered a 47-yard punt that pinned the Greyhounds down at their own four-yard line. Assumption responded again, however, moving the ball 96 yards on nine plays in just 2:23. Pedone's 39-yard run up the left side gave the Greyhounds their first lead of the game at 24-20 after Nowak's extra point with 4:31 to go.
After a quick three-and-out, Cerio's 52-yard punt cornered Assumption in at its own five-yard line, but the Greyhounds were able to pick up a first down and run out the clock on their come-from-behind victory.
The Hawks jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after their first drive of the game in which they went 54 yards in 10 plays. Cerio capped the drive with a field goal from 25 yards out at the 10:33 mark.
The game stayed that way through most of the opening half until Saint Anselm engineered a 10-play, 74-yard drive in just 1:26 that made it 10-0 with 16 seconds on the clock before the break. Following passes to sophomore WR Eric Feehan and freshman TE Brian DeAngelis for 15 and 11 yards, respectively, Pierce looked for Feehan on first- and second-and-goal from four yards out, but came up empty. The third time was a charm, however, as Pierce found Feehan near the left pylon for the touchdown, which was followed by a Cerio extra point.
Following Pierce's interception on the first play of the second half, Assumption went 46 yards in nine plays, with Nowak's 22-yard field goal putting the Greyhounds on the board at 10-3 with 11:37 left in the third.
Later in the quarter, Perez brought a Cerio punt back 40 yards to the Saint Anselm 15-yard line, with Homiski's 14-yard touchdown pass to Scott Simonson on the second play of the drive pulling Assumption even at 10-10 after the extra point with 5:26 to play in the third.
After the teams swapped unsuccessful drives, Saint Anselm took advantage of a short field after a 26-yard punt. Pierce connected with Feehan on a 47-yard pass play that brought the Hawks down to the seven-yard line, but they were forced to settle for a Cerio 26-yard field goal that made it 13-10 with 1:26 to go in the third.
With Assumption driving on its next possession, junior LB Chris Bent snuffed out the drive with a hit on Homiski that knocked the ball loose. Sophomore DE Cam Foster fell on the football at the Hawks' 20-yard line and Saint Anselm had the ball back.
Sophomore RB Greg Bell ate up 12 yards on three rushes to start the drive before Wilson broke his second long touchdown run in as many weeks to put the Hawks up 10. Wilson also ripped off a 71-yard touchdown run in the team's 47-21 victory at Pace on Oct. 22.
Feehan recorded his second career 100-yard receiving day as he matched a career best with nine catches and amassed 106 yards. Wilson rushed for 76 yards on five carries, while Pierce was 17-for-45 for 180 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions. Pierce also ran for 30 yards on 11 carries. Cerio had a solid day as he was 2-for-2 on field goals and extra points, in addition to downing three punts inside the 20. Cerio also matched his career high, which he set last week, with a 58-yard punt that is the third longest in school history.
Bent led the way defensively with 12 tackles, including two for a loss of 13 yards, and his forced fumble. Senior LB Shane O'Donnell recorded 11 tackles, including one for a three-yard loss. The Hawks saw their interception streak snapped as they had intercepted at least one pass in 10 consecutive games heading into today, dating back to an Oct. 30, 2010 matchup against Stonehill.
Pedone rushed for 155 yards and a score on 23 carries, while Adam Gruschow caught six passes for 100 yards.
LAST TIME OUT
Kevin Morton threw six touchdowns as 12th-ranked Kutztown defeated the Hawks, 58-6, Aug. 30 at University Field in both teams' season opener.
The Hawks dropped to 0-1 on the season, while the Golden Bears captured their fifth straight season opener against Saint Anselm to improve to 1-0.
Morton got the scoring started midway through the first quarter when he snuck into the endzone from five yards out to give Kutztown a 7-0 lead. Morton then doubled the lead when he hooked up with Josh Mastromatto on a 45-yard touchdown pass that capped a four-play, 75-yard drive that lasted just 1:18 with 6:06 left.
Just over a minute later, the Golden Bears nudged the lead to 21-0 when Anthony Kelly hauled in a 59-yard pass from Morton – the only play of the seven-second drive. Morton then connected with Colby Tuell on a pair of touchdown passes – a 33-yarder with 2:49 left and a 20-yarder with no time remaining – that made it 35-0 after the opening quarter.
The Hawks jumped on the board 2:40 into the second quarter when junior Keith Charles scored Saint Anselm's first points in three games at Kutztown with a 25-yard catch-and-run off a pass from junior Ray Doucette. The extra point was no good and the Hawks were within 35-6.
A Jack Ruggieri 28-yard field goal with 7::48 remaining pushed the lead to 32 before Morton found Mastromatto from 15 yards out with seven seconds left in the half to make it 45-6.
Kutztown made it 52-6 1:50 into the third quarter when Matt Pirolli snagged an 11-yard TD pass from Morton. The Bears closed the scoring 2:45 later when Curtis Wortham broke out for an 81-yard touchdown run down the left sideline. The two-point conversion try failed and Kutztown led it 58-6.
Sophomore Stephen Cuipa started at quarterback for the Hawks and went 6-for-17 for 45 yards, while Doucette was 5-for-8 for 52 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Junior Greg Bell rushed seven times for 37 yards. Charles reeled in a pair of passes for 39 yards and a score, while rushing six times for 10 yards.
On defense, junior Joey Polverini led all tacklers with 16 stops. Junior Trevor Jessie recorded 11 tackles, senior Chris Bent tallied 10 and classmate Tyler Williams had nine.
Morton was 31-for-45 for 409 yards and his six TDs.
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.
SETTING THE SCENE
Despite a 1-9 season a year ago, the Saint Anselm College football team took some strides it will look to build upon in 2012. While the Hawks will need to do this without arguably the program's best player of all-time in the graduated Marc Wilson, fifth-year head coach Patrick Murphy has a number of returning veterans on the offensive side of the ball and a solid defensive nucleus back, to go along with a pool of talented newcomers.
The offense put points on the board as it's accustomed to, with a pair of Northeast-10 All-Conference players, including the All-American, Wilson. Defensively, the Hawks had 25 takeaways, including 18 interceptions, which was one shy of the program record. The unit gave up a lot of points, however, as it allowed too many big plays. Now, Murphy thinks his squad is more balanced.
Another recruiting class deeper and with leadership from captains OL P.J. Senatore (Norwell, Mass.), RB Keith Charles (Laurel, Md.), LB Chris Bent (Dracut, Mass.) and LB Ethan Sylvain (E. Montpelier, Vt.), the Hawks, who Murphy says are deeper than at any point during his tenure, have the experience to compete in the competitive Northeast-10.
Quarterback
The Hawks will have a new quarterback running the team this season as 2011 back-up, sophomore Stephen Cuipa (Merrimack, N.H.), and a junior transfer from Bryant University, Ray Doucette (Cambridge, Mass.), have battled it out in camp for the starting nod. Cuipa tossed six of the 11 throws that didn't come from starter Mike Pierce, completing five of them (83.3%), while throwing an interception. Doucette did not see any action with the Bulldogs.
Offensive Line
Senatore, the senior left tackle, will anchor an offensive line that features three sophomore starters and a freshman. One of those sophomores is Northeast-10 All-Rookie Teamer, Zach Lombard (Manchester, Conn.), who will line up next to Senatore at guard. Classmate James Gibbons (Brick, N.J.) will be snapping the ball at center, with the other sophomore, James Murphy (Nashua, N.H.), holding down the right tackle spot. Freshman Jared Anderson (E. Longmeadow, Mass.) will start the year at right guard, while 2010 NE-10 All-Rookie Team member, junior Dave Boardman (Westfield, Mass.), recovers from injury.
Running Back
The Hawks have plenty of consistency in the backfield with the junior, Charles, and classmate Greg Bell (Liverpool, N.Y.) back. A 2010 NE-10 All-Rookie Teamer, Charles is coming off a campaign in which he carried the ball 113 times for 349 yards and six touchdowns, running behind a banged up offensive line. He also reeled in 24 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown. Bell, who Murphy calls one of the best all-around players on the team, ran for 126 yards and a pair of scores on 35 touches.
Wide Receiver
With the departure of Wilson, who signed a contract with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals after the season, junior Justin Bernard (Cambridge, Mass.) will step into the top-target spot after missing most of last year with an injury. Bernard caught 30 balls for 270 yards and two TDs in just three games last season, after putting up an NE-10 All-Rookie Team campaign in 2010 that saw him nab 49 passes for 614 yards and three scores. Murphy believes that, while there are things Wilson did that Bernard can't do, the latter might be a better pure wide receiver than the former. Junior Eric Feehan (Bedford, N.H.) returns off a surprise campaign that saw him become the team's second leading receiver after Bernard went down. Feehan racked up 41 receptions for 561 yards and three touchdowns. Junior Brandon Gomes (Providence, R.I.) sat out last season after making seven catches for 141 yards and two TDs in 2010. Sophomore Ahkeen Williams (DeWitt, N.Y.), who Murphy says the sky is the limit for, is back off a nine-catch, 106-yard first year in a Saint Anselm uniform.
Tight End
With sophomore Brian DeAngelis (Peabody, Mass.) dealing with an injury, Mike Lombard (Pelham, N.H.), a 6-3, 235-pound freshman, has emerged as the starter, after putting together a great camp in which he showed tremendous physicality. Sophomore Jon Bak (So. Windsor, Conn.) will be the No. 2 tight end after playing on the defensive line as a freshman.
Defensive Line
Murphy believes that when healthy, the defensive line is the strength of the defense. Sophomore Andrew Lebowitz (Andover, Mass.), who was coming off a Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team campaign in which he played every defensive snap for the Hawks, played in only four games last year after suffering an injury. Lebowitz will be joined up front by seniors Mike Hobbs (Medford, Mass.) and Tyler Williams (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), as well as junior Lou Licciardi (E. Falmouth, Mass.) and sophomore Josh Cheever (Lynn, Mass.). A year after wreaking havoc in the backfield, Hobbs missed all of last season with an injury and is looking to make a big impact in his return. Williams recorded 26 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss and a pair of sacks, while Licciardi made 11 stops and had two tackles for a loss a year ago. Cheever, who Murphy believes could be a star in the conference, tallied 39 tackles, including five for a loss and a sack.
Linebacker
Despite losing their leading tackler in Northeast-10 First Teamer, Shane O'Donnell, the Hawks remain solid in the middle of their defense at linebacker. Bent, the team's second leading stopper from a year ago, will anchor the unit. Bent tallied 79 tackles, including 11 for a loss and 1.5 sacks, while also forcing a pair of fumbles and recovering one. Sylvain, a fellow captain, returns his 51 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss and a sack, as well as his team-leading five interceptions. Senior Brendan Timmons (Franklin, Mass.) will further bolster the linebacker corps. He was the team's third leading tackler last season with 71, including six for a loss and a sack, while recording both a forced and recorded fumble. Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team member, sophomore Isaac Jorgensen (Eldersburg, Md.), also returns after ranking fifth on the team with 54 tackles, including six for a loss. Jorgensen forced a fumble and impressively returned three interceptions for 36 yards, including in the season's opening game against Kutztown on Sept. 3. Jorgensen became the first Saint Anselm linebacker to intercept three passes in a season since senior Anthony Barese picked off three passes in 2004 and is the first freshman to amass three INTs since Sylvain tallied four in 2009. Sophomore Mike Harper (Methuen, Mass.), who did not see time last year, will also figure into the linebacking mix.
Safety
Junior Joey Polverini (Longmeadow, Mass.) returns as the most experienced member of the safety crew, after putting together a 2011 season that saw him make 29 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss, intercept a pass and break up four others. Polverini is joined at the other starting safety spot by Jack Hopkins (Brandywine, Md.), a 6-2, 190-pound freshman, who had an impressive camp. Sophomores Sam Walker (Cumberland, Md.) and Ian Lynch (Campbell, Calif.), who sat out all of last season, will also see time at safety.
Cornerback
The Hawks, according to Murphy, are the most athletic in the secondary they have ever been, and that is thanks in large part to a young and talented crop of cornerbacks. Junior Trevor Jessie (Cumberland, Md.) will hold down one of the corner spots after picking off four passes last season and breaking up four more, to go along with 33 tackles. Sophomore Tyrel McDonald (Leominster, Mass.) and freshman Tyler Lindsay (Temple Hills, Md.) are pushing each other for the other starting nod. McDonald made five tackles and broke up a pair of passes in limited action last season, while Lindsay is a 6-0, 190-pounder out of Bishop McNamara High School. Senior Tyler Crawford (Lamoine, Maine) and freshman Carroll Bailey (Clinton, Mass.) will also see plenty of action as they strengthen the depth at corner. Crawford made 46 tackles, intercepted two passes and forced a fumble a year ago. Bailey is 6-1 and 180 pounds out of Nashoba Regional High School.
Special Teams
Senior Shea Cerio (Canastota, N.Y.) will handle the punting duties this season and is being backed up by freshman Shane Grayson (Ormond Beach, Fla.), who is also pushing him for the kicking job. Last season, Cerio made 5 of 7 field goals and was 22-for-24 on extra point attempts. Cerio also averaged 36.8 yards on 61 punts, 11 of which wound up inside the 20-yard line. Junior Daniel Ruiz (Framingham, Mass.) will once again handle the long snapping duties, while Cuipa will hold for either Cerio or Grayson. Jessie will return both punts and kicks, and Charles will also be back deep on kickoffs. Jessie returned five kicks for an 18.2-yard average, as well as a punt for nine yards, while Charles brought back nine kicks for 17.2 yards per.
Coaching Staff
While Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Rob Eggerling, Defensive Line/Special Teams Coach John Trisciani and Running Backs Coach Allistair Sebastien are back, four new assistants join Murphy's staff for the 2012 campaign. Yon Boone will serve as the Defensive Backs Coach and Recruiting Coordinator, while Eric Yuen comes aboard to work with the offensive line and serve as Video Coordinator. Zach Dickson will coach the wide receivers and serve as the Director of Football Operations and Patrick Graham is the new Linebackers Coach after working with the Hawks in the spring.
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.
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.
