COMPLETE GAME NOTES
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Anselm College football team will take to the road Saturday, Sept. 14 at 6 p.m. to do battle with Stonehill College in the eighth annual "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk" at W.B. Mason Stadium. Links to live stats and live video are available on the football schedule page.
This will be the 15th meeting between the two teams, with Stonehill holding a 9-5 record, which includes eight straight wins in the series and nine of the last 10. The Skyhawks are 4-2 at home against the Hawks and have won four straight there. The last time Saint Anselm was victorious in the series was Oct. 2, 2004 when it captured a 19-10 win at home. The Hawks haven't won at Stonehill since a 33-14 W on Nov. 9, 2002. In the most recent meeting Sept. 14, 2012, WR Justin Bernard caught a 35-yard touchdown and tossed a 52-yard score, but the Hawks fell to Stonehill, 35-20, in the Seventh Annual "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk" in what was the first ever football game under the lights at Grappone Stadium.
The Hawks dropped to 0-3 on the season, including 0-2 in Northeast-10 play, while the Skyhawks improved to 2-1, 2-0.
Bernard hauled in seven passes for 113 yards and a touchdown, while also completing his only attempt for a 52-yard score. The 113 receiving yards were the second most of Bernard's career behind the 129 he put up at New Haven on Nov. 6, 2010.
Stonehill went ahead 7-0 with 7:49 left in the opening quarter when Logan Meyer completed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Nate Robitaille and Steve Grzywacz added the extra point.
The Hawks responded by moving the ball 76 yards in just six plays over a span of 1:56, with a 35-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline from sophomore QB Stephen Cuipa to Bernard capping it off. The extra point was no good and the Skyhawks clung to a one-point lead.
With under eight minutes to go in the second quarter, sophomore DB Mike Harper broke free and blocked Ryan Handy's punt attempt at the Stonehill 37-yard line. Freshman RB Greg Donahue eventually recovered the loose ball at the Saint Anselm 48-yard line.
Then, on the ensuing play, junior QB Ray Doucette threw the ball behind the line of scrimmage to Bernard, who cocked back and unleashed a throw downfield that was reeled in by sophomore WR Brandon Gomes at the Stonehill 20. Gomes easily raced into the end zone when his defender dove trying to get back into position and the Hawks held a 13-7 lead with 7:27 remaining in the half after freshman K Shane Grayson kicked the extra point.
Stonehill re-gained the lead with just 36 seconds to play before the half when it strung together an eight-play, 67-yard drive that was capped by a Jermetrius Troy 1-yard touchdown run that made it 14-13 after Grzywacz' point after.
The Hawks hit back on just the third play of the second half when junior LB Ethan Sylvain undercut the receiver's route, picked off Meyer's pass and ran it back 45 yards to put the Hawks on top, 20-14, after Grayson's extra point just 1:34 into the third quarter.
The Skyhawks answered by piecing together a 10-play, 73-yard drive that ate up 4:21 of clock and ended with Tyler Williams catching a three-yard touchdown pass from Meyer to make it 21-20 after Grzywacz' extra point with 8:57 on the clock in the third.
Stonehill stretched its lead to eight just 10 seconds into the fourth quarter when Jesse Hunt found Robitaille for a 37-yard catch-and-run that ended a nine-play, 63-yard, 3:27 drive, which made it 28-20 after the extra point by Grzywacz.
After forcing the Hawks to punt following the ensuing drive that lasted just 1:12, Stonehill grinded out a 16-play, 80-yard drive that ate up 8:12 of clock and made it 35-20 following Justin Willis' five-yard touchdown run and Grzywacz' point after.
Cuipa was 7 of 12 for 133 yards, a touchdown and an interception, while Doucette completed 14 of his 30 throws for 116 yards and a pick. Sophomore WR Ahkeen Williams pulled in five catches for 72 yards, while Gomes nabbed two passes for 56 yards and the score.
In addition to the pick-six, Sylvain recorded 13 tackles. Senior LB Chris Bent made a game- and career-high 16 stops and also recovered a fumble. Sophomore DL Josh Cheever was also in double-digits with 10 tackles. Junior DB Trevor Jessie posted seven tackles and his first interception of the season. Freshman DB Jack Hopkins, in addition to his six stops, recorded a 15-yard sack.
Stonehill put together 523 yards of total offense to the Hawks' 330, including 246 on the ground. Saint Anselm recorded its first 300-yard passing game with 301 yards through the air.
LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore QB Andrew Murphy tossed three touchdowns, including a pair to junior WR Justin Bernard, and the defense forced four turnovers, but the Hawks dropped a 42-28 decision against Bowie State on Sept. 7 in both team's season opener.
The Hawks dropped to 0-1, while the Bulldogs jumped to 1-0.
Murphy finished 19 of 39 for 165 yards with three TDs and two interceptions. Bernard, meanwhile, caught seven passes for 29 yards and the two scores.
After Bowie State forced a Saint Anselm three-and-out and a punt, it moved 26 yards over nine plays, including a Jared Johnston six-yard touchdown scamper. Mario Diaz-Aviles added the extra point to put the visitors on top 7-0 with 10:16 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Hawks struck back 1:06 later as they needed just three plays to cover 40 yards and tie the game after a 60-yard kickoff return from senior RB Keith Charles. Senior WR Eric Feehan hauled in a 36-yard, one-handed grab in the middle of the end zone before sophomore K/P Shane Grayson tacked on the point-after.
Kendall Jefferson put the Bulldogs back in front with a 1-yard TD stroll that capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive and made it 14-7 after the kick with 3:35 left.
Bowie State then made another defensive stand and forced the Hawks to punt, but facing their own third-and-1 on the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs turned it over as junior DL Cam Foster laid a hit on Keith Brown that forced the ball loose at the visitor 45-yard line. Junior LB Mike Tatro scooped up the football and dashed down to the six-yard line before running out of room.
The offense took over and on the first play, Murphy hit Bernard in the right corner of the end zone to cut it to 14-13 before Grayson's extra point knotted the game with 1:22 to play in the opening stanza.
After Bowie State's 11-play, 59-yard drive stalled on fourth-and-15 at the Saint Anselm 20, the Hawks responded by going 80 yards in nine plays, with Murphy and Bernard again hooking up to cap the drive – this time from four yards out. Grayson put on the finishing touches and Saint Anselm held its first lead of the day at 21-14 with 9:42 left in the half.
Jefferson set the Bulldogs up with great field position for their next drive as his 70-yard kick return shortened the field. Bowie State moved 28 yards in five plays as Brown's five-yard run and a Diaz-Aviles extra point tied it at 21 at the 7:14 mark. BSU threatened to move ahead at the end of the half, but an interception at the Saint Anselm 6-yard line by junior LB Isaac Jorgensen helped the Hawks dodge a bullet.
Jefferson's second 1-yard touchdown run of the day capped a 10-play, 78-yard drive that opened the third-quarter scoring and gave the visitors the lead back at 28-21 after the extra point with 9:47 to go.
The Bulldogs looked to go up two scores when Tatro came up big again with an interception of Johnston that he brought back 35 yards to the Bowie State 12-yard line. Facing a third-and-goal, the Hawks punched it in on a five-yard run by Charles and things were all tied up at 28 following the Grayson kick with 7:08 left.
After each team made a pair of stops, BSU started a drive just 34 seconds into the fourth quarter that went 67 yards in 12 plays and 6:36. Johnston hit Nyme Manns in the back of the end zone before the point-after that made it 35-28 with 7:57 to play. Murphy was picked on the second play of the ensuing drive and Johnston found Ricardo Smith on the next play to make it a 14-point spread just 55 seconds after the previous score.
The teams traded stops, which gave the Hawks one more outside shot at a comeback. Murphy orchestrated a 12-play, 65-yard drive that brought his team down to the four-yard line, but the clock ran out and Bowie State escaped with the victory.
Feehan caught two passes for 43 yards and the touchdown, while junior Ahkeen Williams made four catches for 51 yards. Charles carried the ball 10 times for 50 yards and his score, while also nabbing three receptions for 19 yards.
Tatro tallied 10 tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and a pass breakup, as well as 74 yards worth of defensive returns. Jorgensen made a game-high 12 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss and an interception, while sophomore DB Carroll Bailey matched Jorgensen's 12 tackles and added both a breakup and a QB hurry.
The Hawks converted 7 of 16 third-down chances and put together 235 yards of total offense, while the Bulldogs went 10 of 18 on third down and racked up 483 yards, including 291 on the ground.
TAKING IT AWAY
The Hawks forced four turnovers with two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries in their 42-28 season-opening defeat against Bowie State on Sept. 7. It was the second straight game the defense racked up four takeaways as they intercepted three passes and forced a fumble in the 2012 season finale Nov. 10 at Merrimack on Northeast-10 Championship Weekend.
BALL HAWK
In the Hawks' 42-28 loss in their 2013 opener against Bowie State on Sept. 7, junior DB Mike Tatro made 10 tackles, in addition to a 39-yard fumble return and a 35-yard interception return. Tatro had eight total tackles in his entire career coming into the contest.
THE RUNDOWN
Balance is again the key word for the Saint Anselm College football team as it looks to get over the hump in 2013. Defensively, the Hawks had 20 takeaways a year ago, including 12 interceptions, and are looking to build on that in the upcoming season. With an improved, already-high-octane, offense sixth-year head coach Patrick Murphy thinks his squad will achieve his desired balance with a tweaked defensive scheme and a much-improved secondary.
The Hawks return 10 of 11 starters on the offensive side of the ball and will sprinkle in some impact freshmen from a recruiting class that Murphy says is the best during his time on the Hilltop. Despite losing a handful of starters on defense, the Hawks have plenty of experience and athletic bodies to pull off the balancing act they will need to make a run in the highly-competitive Northeast-10.
The Hawks have slightly altered their leadership structure and will be led by captains, senior RB Keith Charles and junior DL Andrew Lebowitz. Senior OL Dave Boardman, senior DB Trevor Jessie, junior LB Isaac Jorgensen and sophomore QB Andrew Murphy will serve as assistant captains.
QUARTERBACK
The Hawks will begin the season with a solid group at quarterback. 2012 starting QB Andrew Murphy is back and coming off a great spring, offseason and fall camp. Murphy, who started six games and earned Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year honors in 2012 after he completed 60.5 percent (222-367) of his passes, while throwing for 2,475 yards and a school-record 26 touchdowns. Murphy finished second in the conference in completions, attempts, passing yards, passing yards per game (275.6), passing touchdowns and longest completion (86). Coach Murphy is interested to see how his QB performs with a year of experience under his belt and a stronger grasp of the offense from a year ago. Murphy, the quarterback, will be backed up by senior Ray Doucette, who went 51-for-89 (57.3%) for 408 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Freshmen Yianni Gavalas and Matt Phelan both performed well in camp.
OFFENSIVE LINE
The Hawks have all five starters back that finished last season on the offensive line, which should provide added continuity to an already-potent offense. Dave Boardman will anchor the group at center and will be flanked on his left by junior Zach Lombard and on his right by junior James Gibbons at the guard positions. Junior James Murphy will return at the right tackle spot with sophomore Mike Schiavi lining up at left tackle. Junior Brian DeAngelis and freshmen Nick DeCiantis and Daniel Yoon all put together impressive camps.
RUNNING BACK
The Hawks have an intriguing backfield that has plenty of experience with Keith Charles back after leading the team in rushing for the third straight season. He ran for 482 yards (4.4 ypr) and four touchdowns, while also snagging 32 balls for 375 yards and four scores out of the backfield. Coach Murphy is happy with the depth of the group as senior Mike Flanagan and junior Jason Busfield are both healthy. Speedy 5-foot-9-inch freshman Joe Hayman has been impressive in camp and will also see time in the backfield. Freshmen Trevor Patton and Michael Cheslock should also help the cause.
WIDE RECEIVER
Wide receiver should continue to be a position of strength for the Hawks as five of their top six pass catchers are back, starting with junior All-American Justin Bernard. The Northeast-10 All-Conference First Teamer played in all 11 games and set school records for catches (97), receiving yards (1,110) and receiving touchdowns (15). Bernard stacked up well, nationally, ranking fourth in both receptions per game (8.8) and overall receptions, sixth in touchdown catches, 10th in receiving yards and 12th in receiving yards per contest (100.9). In addition to shattering the program's single-season records, Bernard is now the school's all-time leader in touchdown catches (20) and is just 35 receptions and 155 receiving yards short of the career records in both of those categories, as he has amassed 176 catches and 1,994 receiving yards in just 24 games.
Junior Ahkeen Williams is back off his 59-catch, 685-yard and six-touchdown season. He also ran it 25 times for 148 yards and a pair of scores. Senior Eric Feehan and junior Brandon Gomes are both back in the mix, as is Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team member Mike Lombard. Freshmen Zach Bartak, Ryan Monette, Mike Barry, Correy King and Shane Jackson, whose speed adds a whole other dimension to the offense, all looked good in camp and could contribute.
DEFENSIVE LINE
The defensive line will be anchored at end by Andrew Lebowitz, with junior Cam Foster lining up at the opposite end spot. Lebowitz is the Hawks leading returning tackler with 48 stops last year, including 6.0 for a loss and 1.5 sacks. Juniors Josh Cheever and Justin Waltzer provide big bodies in the middle at the D-tackle spots. Seniors Lou Licciardi and Sam Mullins will mix in at tackle, while freshmen Kyrell Jaundoo and Eric Wilson have had solid camps and will back up the ends.
LINEBACKER
Isaac Jorgensen will lead the way at mike linebacker, filling a hole vacated by the graduation of all-time leading tackler Chris Bent, while the buck spot will be filled by senior Matt Gordon. Gordon returns as the second leading returning tackler, notching 42 stops a year ago. The battle for the sam linebacker hole is a four-way race between senior Joey Polverini, junior Mike Tatro, sophomore Elijah Thomas and freshman Jeremy Betts. Freshmen Josh Garrett and Ryan Casale will contribute inside.
SAFETIES
Senior Trevor Jessie, whose six career interceptions are the sixth most in program history, will bolster the safety unit as he slides over from corner to play the free. Also sliding over with him will be sophomore Tyler Lindsay, whose four pass breakups led the team last year. Sophomore Chad O'Neill will line up as the whip, with sophomores Nick DiBenedetto and Joel Jorgensen, who moved from quarterback during camp, both expected to see time back there.
CORNERBACKS
Helping to improve the secondary play will be a crop of cornerbacks led by starters, sophomore Carroll Bailey and junior Tyrel McDonald. Bailey was a Northeast-10 All-Rookie Team selection a year ago after blanketing receivers while recording 29 tackles, forcing a fumble and recovering two more. Juniors Matt Yopp and Larry Harlow will see time as backups.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Sophomore Shane Grayson will handle both the kicking and punting duties, with senior Stan Pacuk in the mix for some field goal opportunities. Andrew Murphy will back Grayson up at punter. Senior Daniel Ruiz will once again handle the long snapping duties, while sophomore QB Cam McLevedge will hold for either Grayson or Pacuk. The running back tandem of Charles and Hayman will be back deep on kickoffs, while Hayman and Monette will both provide speed and shake returning punts.
COACHING STAFF
Associate head coach/defensive coordinator Rob Eggerling, defensive line coach John Trisciani and wide receivers coach Zach Dickson, who will also serve as the video coordinator this season, are all back in their familiar roles from last season. Yon Boone, the recruiting coordinator and director of football operations, will coach the linebackers and coordinate special teams after leading the defensive backs last season, while Allistair Sebastien now guides the defensive backs after spending his first two seasons on staff with the running backs. Bob Muckian comes over from Division I Valparaiso and will serve as the offensive line coach, as well as both the run game and academic coordinator. Jimmy Lauzon, former Manchester (N.H.) West High School head coach, joins the staff as running backs coach. Former Northeastern and North Carolina State DL David Akinniyi, who had professional playing stints with both the NFL's Minnesota Vikings and the Arena Football League's Tampa Bay Storm, will be the assistant defensive line coach, while Grantham Raymond, who will graduate from Springfield College in December, is filling the defensive quality control role. Rob Herrick, who spent last year at Dartmouth College, arrives as an assistant coach and head football strength and conditioning coordinator.
PREDICTING THE FUTURE
The Hawks were picked to finish ninth in the Northeast-10 Preseason Coaches' Poll that was released Aug. 29. AIC, which earned a berth into last season's Northeast-10 title game, topped the poll with 75 points and five first-place votes as it narrowly beat out defending Northeast-10 Champion New Haven, which amassed 73 points and a trio of first-place votes. Bentley grabbed the third spot with 61 points – just one ahead of LIU Post, which totaled 60 points and a pair of first-place votes after re-joining the league over the summer after a five-year stint in the PSAC. Merrimack nailed down the fifth spot with 44 points, while Southern Connecticut and Stonehill followed with 42 and 41 points, respectively. Assumption was picked eight with 24 points, while Pace rounded out the poll in 10th with nine points.
ESPN NEW HAMPSHIRE PARTNERSHIP RENEWED
The Saint Anselm College Department of Athletics has partnered with ESPN New Hampshire Radio for the second straight year in 2013-14. As part of the agreement, ESPN New Hampshire will feature the Saint Anselm Coaches' Show every Tuesday. The show will take place live from the dining hall on campus from noon-1 p.m. and will then be aired on ESPNNH.com, 1250 AM Manchester and 900 AM Nashua from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Nick Anastos, a Bedford, N.H., native, will again host the show. Anastos 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 hour-long segment.
LIVE VIDEO STREAMING
Saint Anselm Athletics and Pack Network will once again team up for the 2012-14 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.
