MANSFIELD, Mass. - For the first time since the program's modern-day inception in 1999, the Saint Anselm College football team has finished the season in the top two of the conference standings.
Saint Anselm is officially the runner-up in the Northeast-10 Conference, staking that claim after the University of New Haven defeated Bentley University, 24-17, on Saturday afternoon to secure the league's championship crown. The Hawks defeated both the Chargers and the Falcons during the regular season, finishing with the same 5-2 record as Bentley. The Hawks, however, held the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Falcons.
"As the head football coach of this extraordinary team, I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished this season," said eighth-year head coach
Joe Adam. "We embarked on a journey filled with challenges, tested our mettle against formidable opponents, and demonstrated unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. Our players, coaches, and staff worked tirelessly, united by a shared commitment to excellence and a relentless pursuit of greatness in the NE-10."
It is the program's best-ever conference finish, with their previous best third-place finish dating all the way back to 2000, when the Hawks went 5-3 in the Eastern Football Conference. The Hawks have never ended a season higher than fifth place since the NE10 began sponsoring football in 2001.
"This historic season was not just about victories on the scoreboard; it was about the bonds forged, the character revealed, and the spirit that defined us as a team," Adam continued. "Each player contributed to the narrative of our success, and together we etched our names into the annals of football history. This season was not just a chapter; it was an epic tale of triumph, perseverance, and the unyielding pursuit of a common goal. The memories we've created and the legacy we leave behind will forever be etched in the hearts of our fans and in the storied history of football on the Hilltop."
The Hawks concluded the 2023 regular season ranked third in NCAA Division II in fumbles recovered (13), sixth in first downs allowed (136), 10th in blocked kicks (six), 10th in opposing third-down conversion percentage (26.9%), and 11th in blocked punts (three). The stout Saint Anselm defense allowed just 142.4 passing yards per game, the seventh-best figure in the country.
Saint Anselm also completed this fall's schedule at 6-4 overall, the same record the Hawks posted in 2022. It is the first time in modern-day program history that the Hawks have posted back-to-back winning seasons.
The final NE10 standings for the 2023 season are as follows:
1. New Haven 6-1
2. Saint Anselm 5-2
3. Bentley 5-2
4. Assumption 3-4
5. Franklin Pierce 3-4
6. So. Connecticut 3-4
7. Pace 2-5
8. American Int'l. 1-6
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