http://www.d2messageboard.com/blog.php?2517-Paul-Falewicz Division 2 Message Board, D2 Football, DII, D-II en Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:30 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.d2messageboard.com/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.d2messageboard.com/blog.php?2517-Paul-Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?826-2012-NE-10-Season-in-Review Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:54:24 GMT The NE-10 season ended a little sooner than most people in New Haven would have anticipated. The Chargers fell in the second round of the playoffs... The NE-10 season ended a little sooner than most people in New Haven would have anticipated. The Chargers fell in the second round of the playoffs last Saturday to IUP.

It was another step in the right direction for the NE-10. They had a couple of teams in contention to make the playoffs this year. They had several players break records as well as players near the top of statistical categories in the country.

New Haven made the playoffs for the second consecutive season and there were many memorable games this year including the nationally televised tilt between the Chargers and Stonehill in October that was an instant classic.

Let’s look at the teams in the league this year in order of finish:

1. New Haven

The Chargers were again the class of the league but stumbled in the playoffs to IUP. They fell short of their national championship aspirations but have nothing to be ashamed of in 2012. They finished their second straight season undefeated in NE-10 play. They won the inaugural NE-10 championship game. They have several players recognized with top awards in the league this year. Despite their playoff loss, it was a solid season for the Chargers.

2. AIC

AIC played very well in the middle of the season but struggled against 2012 playoff teams. They fell to Shepherd in the opening game and lost to New Haven over the final two weekends. In between, they were very good and know that they have some work to do to overtake New Haven. The Yellow Jackets surprised some teams with their offensive explosive. They had their usual strong defense and have a young core of players that will keep them in contention for the near future.

3. Bentley

Bentley had one of the best defenses in the league and were this close to making the NE-10 title game. But consecutive losses to New Haven and AIC kept them out of it. They still had a good season and have some returning offensive weapons that make the future bright. The Falcons will lose some leadership on the defensive side but they always seem to recruit good players that fill in for the graduated ones.

4. Stonehill

It was a breakthrough season for Stonehill. They made strides on both sides of the ball and are ready for bigger things in the future. They have a lot of talent back for next year and want to continue their upward march. The Skyhawks proved that they are capable of playing with top ranked teams and now need to beat them on the field instead of playing them strong in a loss.

5. Merrimack

Merrimack had high hopes for the season but struggled too often in big games. They are going to have to replace two offensive players that earned major awards this year and are also going to need to sure up the defense if they are going to compete for the league title. The Warriors will always score a lot of points but need to find a way to keep the other team from racking up that many points.

6. Assumption

Assumption was on the verge of good things but had too much inconsistency kept them from winning more games. They were in most of the games and showed down the stretch what they were capable of. The Greyhounds have a solid nucleus of players returning and are a tough match-up for all of the teams in the NE-10. If they are able to play a full 60 minutes, they can contend for the league title.

7. Southern Connecticut

It is not often that Southern Connecticut struggled like they did this year. The Owls were young and need to mature on and off the field. They have some talented players but they need to play together as a team. Southern Connecticut always seems to recruit solid players and the coaching staff will need to continue that trend for the Owls to return to the top of the NE-10.

8. St. Anselm

St. Anselm seems to make strides each season but it has yet to translate into wins. The coaching staff wants to win on the field, not in the almost or solid effort category. They have a young quarterback and some promising defensive players to build around. The Hawks showed signs against Bentley and AIC that they can compete against good teams. They will need to start beating those teams if they are going to get in the top half of the league.

9. Pace

Pace continued to struggle this year. They were not able to compete in most of the games and still have some work to do to be competitive in the NE-10. The Setters have faced an uphill battle for many years now as most teams have handled them easily week in and week out. They need to continue to recruit players and hopefully find a couple diamonds in the rough to help them get the program back into the win column more consistently.


10th Football Member

It appears that LIU-Post will be back in the NE-10 next season. They have applied for re-entry to the NE-10 and are in the middle of the process right now. They have one final hurdle to pass but it appears that it is just a formality.

What does it mean to the NE-10?

First, it means a balanced schedule. Now five games can be played each weekend and no more bye weeks during the season. It also helps the NE-10 with another solid team in the mix.

Post did not dominate the PSAC East but they were respectable. They can now bring that same swagger back to the NE-10 and help to continue getting the league moving in the right direction.

Also since the NE-10 is now offering football scholarships, Post will be on the same footing as the rest of the league and does not need to make any major changes. The scholarship issue is why they left in the first place and now that they are back, they will need to continue to recruit top talent to compete in the league.

It also helps to expand the NE-10 footprint into the New York City area and help the league gain some exposure. Post was a top team when they left the league in 2007 and one of only two teams to win a playoff game in the league. Their presence in the league is a good thing for all parties involved.

2013 Predictions

It is nine months until training camps open in the NE-10 but he are most first impressions on the 2013 finishing order. New Haven will be on top of the league until some other team steps up and knocks them off.

1. New Haven
2. AIC
3. Bentley
4. Post
5. Stonehill
6. Merrimack
7. Southern Connecticut
8. Assumption
9. St. Anselm
10. Pace

Until next NE-10 football season. ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?826-2012-NE-10-Season-in-Review http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?824-IUP-17-New-Haven-14 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:14:38 GMT Bad Start

De'Antwan Williams set the tone for IUP and the game when he took the opening kickoff back 86 yards to the New Haven seven-yard line. He burst through the New Haven kick coverage before finally being dragged down by Kareem Cutler.

Williams was the difference for the Crimson Hawks as New Haven had trouble tackling him all day long. He seemed to bounce off would be tacklers and get more yardage on each run. He finished the game with 125 yards on the ground and carried the load in the second half after Harvie Tuck was injured.

Williams reminded me of other dangerous running back that he shared a name and number with: Texas Longhorn Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams. They both have explosive speed and seem to run over opposing defenders with ease.

Zero

That was the number of points scored in the second half by both teams. New Haven had an apparent touchdown but it was called back on a holding penalty. IUP never seriously challenged to score in the second half.

Game Winning Drive

How often does the final drive of the first half result in a game winning drive? Not often but that was exactly what happened to IUP on Saturday. After New Haven scored to take the lead at 14-10, IUP drove 65 yards to regain the lead right before the end of the first half.

The big play of the drive and the game was a Mike Box completion to Salath Williams for 41 yards that got the ball to the New Haven five-yard line. Box had trouble throwing the ball all afternoon but made a perfect throw to Williams who was behind his defender. He finished off the drive three plays later with another solid throw for a touchdown and the winning margin.

The New Haven defense did a great job bottling up the IUP offense all day long but that drive at the end of the half was a back breaker at the time and proved to be the difference in the game.

Under 200 yards

The IUP running game is one of the best in the country but were held under 200 yards for the first time this season. They only gained 155 yards on the ground Saturday, which is well below their 278 yard per game average heading into the game.

The New Haven defense did a good job of limiting the big play capability of the IUP running attack. Williams had one run of 41 yards but was not able to see a lot of daylight during the game. The Charger front four did an outstanding job in the trenches against a very talented IUP offensive line.

Halftime Deficit

For the first time all season long, New Haven trailed at the halftime last Saturday. The Chargers also never trailed heading into the fourth quarter and that streak was also broken on Saturday.

Even in the Stonehill game when they rallied to win the game, New Haven was up at the half and at the end of the third quarter.

Deep Ball

New Haven seemed to have a lot of success stretching the field with their talented receivers. Jason Thompson caught a 68 yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and seemed to have a step on the IUP secondary most of the game.

There were times that Osiecki had an open receivers down the field but was not able to complete the pass. He either under threw the receiver or the receiver was not able to hold onto the pass.

That happened four times in the end zone for the Chargers including the final play of the game. If the New Haven receives were able to grab just one of those passes, we are talking about a totally different outcome.

Injuries

Injuries played a big part in the game on Saturday. IUP running back Harvie Tuck was injured and missed the entire second half. New Haven quarterback Ronnie Nelson also missed the second half after getting hit hard in the first half. Nelson was on the sideline talking to the trainers before halftime.

He returned to the sidelines in a jacket for the second half and did not see any action the rest of the game. Despite Nelson not being the starting quarterback, his presence on the field for the Chargers helps them move the ball and keep the opposing defense on their heels.

Home Loss

New Haven has been pretty dominant at home the past couple of seasons. Until last Saturday, they had not lost at home since the final game of the 2010 season. That day, they fell to St. Anselm and that loss cost them a chance at making the playoffs.

Last Game

It was very hard for New Haven seniors David Stedman and James Malloy to leave the field for the final time on Saturday. Both of the very dependable offensive linemen seemed to linger on the field and did not want their collegiate careers to end.

Stedman was walking around the end zone after the game still trying to come to grips with the outcome of the game.

Referees

Both teams had issues with the referees during the game Saturday. There were a number of questionable calls on both sides and New Haven coach Peter Rossomando took the high road after the game.

As Ryan Osiecki was explaining his feelings on the refs with the holding call on the Mike DeCaro touchdown catch and run, Rossomando cut off Osiecki and said that they don't play the refs.

I am sure that he wanted to blast the refs for their questionable calls during the game especially the 15 yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that the New Haven bench received.

But he was right. The refs did not cost either team the game on Saturday. Both teams needed to play each other and not the refs. The refs were awful for both teams and that is a shame for any playoff game.

Legacy

Rossomando also commended his seniors for taking the football program from nothing to a national contender over the past four years. He was extremely proud that they were ranked in the top five and had secured two straight number two seeds in the playoffs.

Osiecki also reflected on his time at New Haven and how Rossomando recruited him. He wanted to play Division I and got the chance to go to Louisville. But then transferred to New Haven and called it a great decision because of the experiences that he had over the past four years.

Line of the Day

After New Haven finished their media availability after the game, the New Haven staff was getting IUP to the media room for their interview session.

One of the staff members said, "IUP is coming but they are getting fixed up right now."

Connecticut Connection

For the second straight year, a team visited New Haven in the playoffs with a player that played at the University of Connecticut.

Last year, Kutztown running back Robbie Frey had transferred from UConn to play at the Division II level. This year, IUP quarterback Mike Box started his collegiate career up the street in Storrs, CT before transferring to IUP.

Back-to-Back

A lot of people were upset when New Haven and AIC played in the final week of the regular season and then faced off for the NE-10 championship game.

But the same thing happened in the Pac-12 this year. Stanford played at UCLA Saturday in the regular finale and they are now going to face off in the Pac-12 championship game at Stanford this coming Saturday.

It is just a quirk of the schedule in both instances. ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?824-IUP-17-New-Haven-14 http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?823-Week-13-Game-Stories Sun, 25 Nov 2012 17:44:54 GMT Here are some of the recaps from the New Haven/IUP tussle yesterday: ... Here are some of the recaps from the New Haven/IUP tussle yesterday:

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2...mode=fullstory

http://www.indianagazette.com/a_spor...49c94863c.html

http://triblive.com/sports/college/2...#axzz2DG1QtOid

http://www.ctpost.com/sports/article...ll-4064107.php ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?823-Week-13-Game-Stories http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?817-The-Drive Thu, 22 Nov 2012 21:06:33 GMT For every team during the season, they have a moment that helps to shape the team and shows them how they will handle a tough situation. That... For every team during the season, they have a moment that helps to shape the team and shows them how they will handle a tough situation. That happened on October 18th when New Haven traveled to play Stonehill on a chilly Thursday night in front of a sold out crowd at WB Mason Stadium.

The defining moment for New Haven was their final drive as their chance at a perfect season and NE-10 title held in the balance. They are down 41-38 at Stonehill with 4:47 left in the game that is being broadcasted to a national television audience. They are 86 yards away from the end zone and it was a put up or shut up moment for the Chargers.

Let’s take a look back at the game-winning drive and the defining moment for the 2012 New Haven football team.

The Drive

Stonehill lined up to punt the ball back to New Haven as they were not able to move the chains and run out the clock. Mike DeCaro signaled for a fair catch on the punt at the 24-yard line. During the punt, New Haven's Demetrius Washington-Ellison was called for holding and the drive started 10 yards further back at the New Haven 14-yard line with 4:47 left in the game.

1st and 10 at UNH14: David Stedman is called for a false start and the ball is moved back five yards to the nine-yard line. He jumped out ahead of the snap and that moved the Chargers back inside their 10-yard line.

1st and 15 at UNH09: Ryan Osiecki completes the pass to Anthony Tillman for nine yards as he just side-armed the pass to the right in the face of pressure.

2nd and 6 at UNH18: Osiecki's pass was incomplete to Washington-Ellison as they tried to throw the ball deep along the left sideline. He was open but the ball was a bit overthrown.

3rd and 6 at UNH18: A timeout is called by New Haven with 4:12 left on the clock. It was a late timeout from the sideline to make sure the right play was called.

3rd and 6 at UNH18: Osiecki completes the pass to Jason Thompson for nine yards for the first down. It was a simple throw to the first down marker right in front of the New Haven sideline.

1st and 10 at UNH27: Tillman runs the ball for two yards behind the left side of the line.

2nd and 8 at UNH29: Osiecki's pass is incomplete to Josh Smart as he threw off of his back foot. It was a little under thrown as it could have been picked by the Stonehill defensive back.

3rd and 8 at UNH29: Osiecki completes the pass to Thompson for nine yards as it was a similar route to the previous third down play. Thompson came back to make a diving catch on the sideline to move the chains.

1st and 10 at UNH38: Osiecki's pass is incomplete to Washington-Ellison on a slant route. He was unable to hold onto the ball as it might have been a little low.

2nd and 10 at UNH38: Osiecki's pass is complete to Smart for nine yards as he catches the ball and makes a solid run to make it a short third down attempt.

3rd and 1 at UNH47: Tillman rushes the ball up the middle for three yards to move the chains again.

1st and 10 at UNH50: Osiecki's throw is incomplete to Washington-Ellison but James Lanier is flagged for pass interference. He grabbed Washington-Ellison's jersey during the route and the ball is moved up 15 yards into Stonehill territory.

1st and 10 at STO35: Osiecki connects with Smart for 21 yards as he catches the quick screen pass and makes the yards with his legs.

1st and 10 at STO14: Osiecki again completes the pass to Smart for seven yards as he hits him in the middle of the field.

2nd and 3 at STO07: Tillman rushes for two yards off of the left side and is contained as the Stonehill defense snuffed it out.

3rd and 1 at STO05: Osiecki's keeper goes for no gain as he was under center for the first time in the drive. He was not able to move the pile ahead of him and the ball stays on the five yard line.

4th and 1 at STO05: New Haven called a timeout with 23 seconds left as New Haven head coach Pete Rossomando was running on the field to stop the clock. The clock said 19 seconds but the referees put time back on the clock after the measurement.

It is decision time for New Haven as they are easily in the range of kicker Chris Scifo to attempt the field goal that would tie the game. But they decide to keep the offense on the field to go for the first down. Rossomando later says that he did not want to give the ball back to Stonehill as they had the hot hand.

4th and 1 at STO05: Victor Jones runs the ball for two yards to the right side of the line. He was initially stopped at the line of scrimmage but keep his legs pumping and the second effort gets him the first down. Jones knocked off the helmet of the Stonehill defender with the second effort to get a crucial first down.

1st and GOAL at STO03: New Haven takes their third and final timeout with 19 seconds left in the game. There was some confusion at who called the timeout but it was needed to gather the offense together and have the right play called.

1st and GOAL at STO03: Osiecki's pass is incomplete to Smart right at the goal line as he was not able to hold onto the pass. He was in the air diving for the ball and could not come down with it.

2nd and GOAL at STO03: Osiecki again goes to Smart but the pass falls incomplete. He faced a lot of pressure from the Stonehill defense and threw the ball into the ground near Smart's feet.

3rd and GOAL at STO03: Osiecki completes the pass to Thompson for three yards for the touchdown as it was a typical jump ball in the left corner of the end zone. Osiecki pumped faked and found a leaping Thompson who got both feet down for the score with six seconds left on the clock. It is their third touchdown connection of the game.

1st and GOAL at STO03: Chris Scifo drills the extra point to give New Haven a 45-41 advantage.

Final Stats of the Drive:

17 plays for 86 yards
-Four for five on third downs
-One for one on fourth downs
-Six first downs

Player Stats

Osiecki: 7 for 12, 67 yards and a TD
Tillman: three rushes for seven yards, one catch for nine yards
Jones: one rush for two yards
Thompson: three catches for 21 yards and a TD
Smart: three catches for 37 yards
One Stonehill penalty for 15 yards
One New Haven penalty for -5 yards

The drive showed the experience and maturity of New Haven. They faced potential game ending third and longs early in the drive and Osiecki made two solid throws to his go to receiver Thompson on very similar plays, connecting both of them.

The Chargers converted four of five third downs on the drive. The only third down that was not converted was the Osiecki quarterback keeper at the Stonehill five yard line in the final minute. They did make the fourth down attempt with the Jones rush after their only non-converted third down play.

This is a drive that will live in the history of New Haven football and is a big reason why New Haven earned the bye week and the second seed in Super Region One. Without the drive, who knows how the season might have ended. ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?817-The-Drive http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?810-Week-13-in-the-NE-10 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:54:29 GMT Welcome to the second round of the playoffs. The PSAC and NE-10 champions will face off for the second consecutive year for a chance to play for a... Welcome to the second round of the playoffs. The PSAC and NE-10 champions will face off for the second consecutive year for a chance to play for a regional title.

Week 13 Capsules

# 3 IUP (11-1, 6-1 PSAC West) @ # 2 New Haven (10-0, 8-0 NE-10)

When: November 24th, 12:00 PM

All-Time Series: IUP leads the series, 5-3-0

Common Opponents: They share one common opponent this year and both walked away with lopsided victories.

vs. Southern Connecticut (NE-10)

8/31/12 @ IUP 33 Southern Connecticut 6
10/27/12 @ New Haven 48 Southern Connecticut 9

Link to Team Stats:

New Haven

IUP

Game day Central:

http://www.newhavenchargers.com/news...114120349.aspx

My thoughts: Are you ready for some playoff football?

Two very talented teams will take the field on Saturday and both teams have high hopes to win the game. Both teams are capable of winning the region and potentially playing for a national title. But first, they will need to win this weekend before they can look ahead.

IUP Scouting Report:

IUP took care of business last Saturday with a 27-17 victory over sixth seeded Shepherd. The Crimson Hawks grinded out 203 yards on the ground against the top run defense in the country. De’Antwan Williams had 152 yards on the ground and took the carries away from a banged up Harvie Tuck. Carl Fleming led the defense with 13 tackles and also picked off a pass and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown. That pick-six swung the momentum late in the first half for the Crimson Hawks.

The hallmark of the IUP team this year has been their defense. They have frustrated all of the opposing offenses this year and are allowing just 11.7 points per game. Only two teams this year have scored more than 20 points and they are 1-1 in those games.

The front four consists of Shane Meisner, Carl Thornton, Akeem Smith and Greg Meisner. All four are very good at getting to the quarterback and dominating the opposing offensive line. Thornton led the team with seven sacks and is third on the team in tackles. The Meisner brothers have combined for nine sacks this year. Larry Gooden has also seen a lot of time at the nose tackle position for the Crimson Hawks.

The linebackers have been very effective this year. Alexander Berdahl leads the team with 84 tackles this year. Carl Fleming and Terrell Holloway have been in the middle of the defense the entire season. Holloway has a nose for the ball as he has recovered three fumbles this year. Dorian Lane and Marvase Byrd will also see time at the linebacker position.

The secondary has locked down opposing offensive passing games all season long. Jerrell McFadden and Marvens Toussaint have been solid at the cornerback position and have combined for four interceptions and 18 pass broken up. Johnny Franco and Chris Brown make a lot of plays from their safety positions. Franco leads the team with six interceptions. James Griffin and Byrd will also see time in the secondary.

The kicking game has been good for IUP. Brett Ullman has been 17 for 26 on field goals this year and has consistently pinned the opposing team back on kickoffs. Pat Smith handles the kicking duties and is averaging 36 yards per punt.

The offense has two 1,000 yard rushers and will look to run the ball behind a very experienced offensive line. Harvie Tuck and De’Antwan Williams will see a lot of carries and will grind out a lot of yards on the ground. The health of Tuck is the biggest question going into the game as he was limited last week against Shepherd. But with Williams on the same sideline, IUP will have no letdown whoever is getting the hand-off in the backfield.

Quarterback Mike Box is running an offense that is averaging 36 points per game. He is averaging just 14 pass attempts per game but has not made too many mistakes. He has only thrown three interceptions to go along with his 11 touchdown passes.

The offensive line for the Crimson Hawks is very good and very experienced. Bryon Dovales, Nick Carnicella, Anthony DiPasquale, Mike Charmo and Dan Matha have controlled the opposing defensive line all season long. Four of the members of the offensive line were all-PSAC performers and have played a big part in the success of IUP.

The receiving core of IUP is probably the weakest unit of the team due to lack of use. Terrill Barnes leads the team with 28 receptions and seven touchdowns. Only one other player, Pat Brewer has over 20 receptions this year and only five receivers are in double digit for catches this year. Brewer is questionable for the game since being hurt in the last regular season game of the season.

New Haven Scouting Report:

New Haven had the week off to rest up and focus on their second consecutive playoff trip. The Chargers dominated the conference this year and won the NE-10 Championship over AIC two weeks ago.

The offense is led by Ryan Osiecki. The senior quarterback was injured in the second game of the season at Saint Augustine's and missed the next four games. He returned on the road at Stonehill and led the team on a game winning drive in the final minutes. He has been very effective since returning and was named Most Outstanding Player for the NE-10 Championship game. Ronnie Nelson will also see snaps in the game to give a change of pace to the offense.

He has a lot of running backs making contributions this year behind him. Mike DeCaro is the most explosive runner out of the backfield. He always seems to make big plays at big times. Victor Jones and Anthony Tillman will also see carries out of the backfield and are very effective on screen passes in the open field.

The strength of the offense is the wide receiver position. Jason Thompson, Josh Smart, Demetrius Washington-Ellison and Chris Ruffin form one of the most dangerous units in the country. Thompson is a very athletic receiver who helps to stretch the field for the Chargers. When the receivers are covered, Kameel Lashley finds space in the middle of the field from his tight end position.

The offensive line for the Chargers has overcome some injuries this year. James Mallory, David Stedman, Zach Guy, Zach Conklin and Thierry Andris will do battle in the trenches. Stedman is the reigning Offensive Lineman of the Year for the NE-10 and two other Chargers made the all-conference team.

Chris Scifo has been very dependable in the kicking game. He has kicked 8 of 10 field goals this year and has missed just one extra point, going 47 for 48. Anthony Greenfield has handled the punting duties and is averaging 37 yards per punt.

The defense for New Haven has a lot of experience on the front line. Raheem Stanley was named the Defensive Player of the Year for the NE-10 and is the anchor of the defense. Tom Herd was named NE-10 Defensive Lineman of the Year and spends a lot of time in the opposing backfield. He leads the team with 10 sacks. Sean Berglund and Brent MacLeod round out the defensive line and stepped up their game after the injury to Ahmet Baki Basci.

Mike Gomes will be all over the field from his linebacking position. Matthew Fallico and Richard Long are two of the top tackles for the Chargers and seem to patrol the field with ease. All three of them are going to have to make plays against the IUP running game.

The secondary has seen a lot of game action over the past couple of years. Bernard Risco and Herbens Antenor will anchor the defense from their safety positions. JD Chalifoux and Kendrick Butler will be called upon to shut down the opposing receivers. Risco leads the team with four interceptions this year.

IUP Keys to the Game:

1. IUP has one of the best running games in the country. It helps them control the clock and wear down the opposing defense. If they are able to run the ball with ease, it is going to be a long day for New Haven.

2. IUP will need to find a way to pressure Osiecki and not allow him time to find his receivers down the field. They can use a similar game plan that they used in the PSAC Championship game when they limited Shippensburg's passing game.

3. The Crimson Hawks will also need to win the turnover battle. It has been a hallmark to their success all season long and they will need to force the Chargers into making bad decisions.

4. IUP will need to take the crowd out of the game. New Haven is expecting a large, noisy crowd for the game and if they are sitting on their hands, it will be good news for IUP.

New Haven Keys to the Game:

1. New Haven will need to find a way to limit the IUP running game and not allow them to run the ball with ease. The front four of the Chargers will have their hands full with the experience of the IUP offensive line. IUP has had at least 200 rushing yards in each game this year. They need to force the Crimson Hawks to throw the ball and make Box beat them.

2. New Haven will have to be able to stretch the field with their receivers. If Osiecki is not able to find his rhythm with Thompson, Washington-Ellison, Smart and Ruffin down the field, it might be a long day for the Charger offense. The Chargers' offensive line will need to protect the quarterback.

3. Mike DeCaro has a tendency to make big plays and if he is able to break off a long run on the ground or in the return game. When he makes a big play for the Chargers, he helps to build the momentum for the offense to move the ball.

4. New Haven did earn a bye week to rest and recover from the grueling season. They will need to play 60 minutes of mistake free football. If they are rusty or off their game, IUP is a team that will take advantage of those mistakes.

So who wins and why?

This is going to be a very physical game. Both teams are used to hard nosed football and pushing around their opponents. But this game will be a standoff as they are equally matched at most positions on the field. Both teams are very deep and have a lot of people capable of making big plays at big times.

IUP will be able to run the ball against New Haven. Nobody has been able to slow them down this year plus they have too much talent in the backfield not to run effectively. But New Haven should be able to throw the ball down the field. They have a height advantage at the receiver position over the IUP defensive backs. They will need to be able to throw quick slants to move the chains and go deep down the field when they have the opportunity.

Both teams are going to battle each other for a full 60 minutes and the game is going to come down to the final minutes. New Haven has a little more experience than IUP and that is going to be the difference in the game. The Chargers will make a late scoring drive and move onto the regional final.

Prediction: New Haven 23 IUP 21 ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?810-Week-13-in-the-NE-10 http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?809-Behind-Enemy-Lines Wed, 21 Nov 2012 17:41:49 GMT Here is a story about IUP and their preparation for the game Saturday: ... Here is a story about IUP and their preparation for the game Saturday:

http://www.indianagazette.com/a_spor...d74d01667.html ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?809-Behind-Enemy-Lines http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?807-Can-New-Haven-win-the-National-Championship Tue, 20 Nov 2012 16:37:10 GMT Here is a question that will spark a lot of debate. Can the New Haven Chargers win the 2012 National Championship in Division II football? ... Here is a question that will spark a lot of debate.

Can the New Haven Chargers win the 2012 National Championship in Division II football?

If they are able to, they would be the first Northeast team to win the title. Both New Haven and IUP made it to the title game in the 1990's before falling. The Chargers were well positioned last year to take a run at the title but only made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Winston-Salem State.

With that experience and some of the things that they have already overcome this year, I would say that they have a decent chance at making a run. Of course, they will need to win this Saturday against IUP to start the journey but the team has been focused on this goal ever since they returned from North Carolina last fall.

New Haven has faced their fair share of adversity this season. They have taken on all comers on and off the field to finish the season with a perfect record and earn a first round bye in the Division II playoffs.

Osiecki Injury

He was primed to have a great senior season. Ryan Osiecki was the reigning Offensive Player of the Year in the NE-10 and had high hopes to excel even more this season. The first game of the season showed that he was ready for prime time as he was 20 for 27, 254 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-18 victory over Merrimack.

But the adversity hit in the second game for Osiecki. He was injured early in the game at Saint Augustine's and the entire Charger fan base held their collective breaths. New Haven won the game 24-21 for their second win of the season but the focus was on Osiecki and his injury.

The injury turned out to be a bit more than anticipated as Osiecki missed the next four games and five weeks of football total. Ronnie Nelson stepped up his role for the Chargers and led them to four victories in Osiecki's absence.

The first two missed weeks were against teams that New Haven was supposed to handle easily and they did. Pace and St. Anselm were the first two victims that Nelson led the Chargers to easy victories. New Haven then had a bye week and Osiecki was expected to return against Assumption.

Nelson was again under center and the Chargers won the game going away. Then the biggest game of the season was in front of Osiecki and the Chargers. But it was Nelson again that was under center against a then undefeated Bentley team on their home turf. New Haven used a strong defensive effort to win the battle of undefeated teams and the return of Osiecki was official.

Head coach Pete Rossomando said after the Bentley game that Osiecki would start in five days when they traveled to Stonehill for a nationally televised Thursday night game. Since Osiecki had not gotten any snaps in practice for five weeks, the coaching staff was not comfortable with him playing in game action. He was finally able to get some repetitions in practice for the Stonehill game and he finally got the call for the game.

Despite his first pass being dropped, he had a solid game including a game-winning drive in the final five minutes of the game. He was back and the Chargers hit their stride. They won easily over Southern Connecticut the following week and then beat AIC in consecutive weeks to hoist the first ever NE-10 championship football trophy. He was also named Most Outstanding Player of the championship game.

Osiecki started six games this year and completed 70% of his passes. He threw 14 touchdown passes and just four picks this season. It was not the type of stats that most people thought that Osiecki would have in his final season but they in position to compete for a national championship and that is exactly where Osiecki would rather be.

Tough Break

He had been a main stay in the defensive line for the New Haven Chargers since their return to the football field in 2009. Ahmet Baki Basci had appeared in 38 games for the Chargers in his four years. But it was a freak injury that ended his season.

Baki Basci dislocated his ankle and broke three bones in his foot during a practice leading up to the Bentley game in October. The injury ended his season and his fellow defensive line mates needed to step up more in his absence.

It was pretty obvious in the first game without Baki Basci that his fellow players on the defensive line responded. They held Bentley to six yards rushing in a 17-13 victory and completed control the line of scrimmage. They pushed the Bentley offensive line all around the field.

Raheem Stanley was very close to Baki Basci and asked him if it was OK if he could wear his # 96 for a game. It was too late for the Bentley game but he was able to wear the number for the nationally televised game against Stonehill. It was a sign that the New Haven defense was fully united and ready to carry the team towards their goal of competing for a national title.

Baki Basci will not be playing this Saturday when New Haven plays IUP in the second round of the playoffs but his presence will be felt on the sidelines. He has been a fixture on the Charger sideline in his wheelchair, cheering on his fellow teammates during good and bad times.

Bull's-eye

It was the game of the year in the NE-10 and it was a sign that the league has risen their standing in the national eye. The cameras of CBS Sports Network descended on the campus of Stonehill to see the Skyhawks take on the sixth ranked team in the country.

New Haven welcomed back Ryan Osiecki from injury after missing the previous four games. His first pass was dropped but that didn't stop him from having a solid game.

The New Haven defense struggled with the passing game of Stonehill. They tried to pressure Stonehill quarterback Logan Meyer the entire night but he continually found seams in the secondary of the Chargers. The Skyhawks took a 41-31 lead early in the fourth quarter after Meyer connected with Nate Robitaille for his fourth touchdown pass of the game. The undefeated season for New Haven was in serious jeopardy as they had no answer for Stonehill.

But the Chargers did what they had done all season long, they faced the adversity head on and started the comeback. Osiecki orchestrated the offense down the field on their next drive in just three minutes to cut the lead to three, 41-38.

The New Haven defense stepped up and forced Stonehill to punt the ball back to the Chargers' offense. After a penalty to start the drive, Osiecki went to work. He converted third down plays and found his receivers to move the ball up the field.

They drove inside the five yard line and faced the biggest decision of the season. After they were stopped on third down, they called timeout to decide whether to kick the field goal to tie the game and send it to overtime. Or they could go for it and win the game with a fourth down play.

They decided to roll the dice and went for it on fourth down. Victor Jones got the hand-off and was initially stopped. But his second effort got him the necessary yards to move the chains for the Chargers.

Two plays later, Osiecki found Jason Thompson in the corner of the end zone and New Haven escaped with an improbable victory. It was their second win on the road in five days against two of the better teams in the NE-10.

New Haven has faced adversity all season long. They seem to thrive in the face of it and play their best football. They are one of 16 teams left in the Division II playoffs right now and have as good of a shot at making it to the title game as the rest of the teams still playing this Saturday.

They have openly talked about their goals for the season and have succeeded with a couple of them to this point. Now comes the biggest test of winning four playoff games in a row and they are going to be focused on one week at a time.

Can they do it? ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?807-Can-New-Haven-win-the-National-Championship http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?803-It-is-Playoff-Week-in-the-NE-10 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:41:50 GMT *Deja Vu* For the second consecutive season, New Haven is ranked second in Super Region One. And for the second straight season, they will take... Deja Vu

For the second consecutive season, New Haven is ranked second in Super Region One. And for the second straight season, they will take on the PSAC champion in the second round of the playoffs. Last year, it was Kutztown and this year, they will play Indiana this Saturday.

The third seeded Crimson Hawks advanced to the second round with a 27-17 victory over sixth seeded Shepherd last Saturday. Both teams featured good defenses and it showed in the final stats of the game. The teams combine for only 575 yards of total offense including just 218 through the air.

So the road to the national championship for New Haven will start with a very tough test. IUP has one of the best defenses in the country and only two teams this year have managed to score more than 20 points against them this year.

Common Opponents

IUP and New Haven have one common opponent this year. They both defeated Southern Connecticut. The Crimson Hawks beat the Owls in the opening weekend by the score of 33-6. New Haven defeated their cross-town rival 48-9 in late October.

Playoff Success

Both IUP and New Haven also have storied playoff histories. They both made a run to the title game but lost. IUP made the run in 1993 while New Haven made their run in 1997.

Both teams are also no strangers to playing each other but it has been a long time since they lined up on the field. The first match-up was a 1993 playoff game which saw Indiana come out with a win at New Haven 38-35 in the quarterfinals. New Haven was 11-0 entering the game while IUP went all the way to the title game before falling to North Alabama.

Here is the 1993 playoff game summary from the New Haven media guide:

November 27, 1993 - Indiana, Pa. 38, New Haven 35

New Haven fell behind when Indiana scored a touchdown with 8:00 remaining in the first quarter. The Chargers answered with two first quarter scores of its own as Roger Graham scored from five yards and 14 yards, giving UNH a 14-7 lead. Graham raised the lead to 21-7 when he scored from 14 yards again, before IUP cut the lead to 21-14 at halftime. UNH's A.J. Livingston tallied the fourth rushing TD against the Indians, raising the advantage to 28-14. However, Indiana scored 24 unanswered points. New Haven pulled to within three points, 38-35, when Livingston scored on a 19-yard run at the 3:59 mark. But, the Indians kept the ball for the rest of the game to seal the win. Graham gained 173 yards and scored three TDs in the game while Livingston added 105 yards and two TDs. Jim Weir completed 16 of 35 passes for 230 yards, but no touchdowns.

Head to Head

IUP leads the all-time series against New Haven with a 5-3 advantage. IUP has won the past three match-ups despite not playing in 10 years. Here is a look at the past games:

1993 IUP 38 @ New Haven 35 (Quarterfinal Playoff Game)
1994 @ New Haven 18 IUP 16
1995 New Haven 20 @ IUP 19
1996 @IUP 14 New Haven 6
1997 @ New Haven 43 IUP 14
2000 @ IUP 14 New Haven 9
2002 @ IUP 42 New Haven 6
2003 IUP 28 @ New Haven 7

New Haven Playoff History

The playoff success of New Haven has been very good over the years. They won their first playoff game over Kutztown last year since 1997. Here is a breakdown of the Chargers in the playoffs over the years:

Overall: 8-5

Home: 7-1
Away: 1-3
Neutral: 0-1

1st Round- 4-0
2nd Round 1-0
Quarterfinals 2-3
Semifinals 1-1
Finals 0-1

By Conference

PSAC 5-1
WVIAC 1-0
Gulf South 0-1
GLIAC 1-1
Independent 1-0
North Central 0-1
CIAA 0-1

By Coach

Whipple 3-2
Sparano 4-2
Rossomando 1-1

Playoff History

1992 (Mark Whipple)
New Haven 38, @West Chester 26 .............................1st round
@New Haven 35, Ferris State 13 (Yale Bowl) ....... Quarterfinals
@Jacksonville St. 46, New Haven 35 ........................ Semifinals
1993 (Mark Whipple)
@New Haven 48, Edinboro 28 (So. Conn. St.) ...........1st round
Indiana, Pa. 38, @New Haven 35 (So. Conn. St.) Quarterfinals
1995 (Tony Sparano)
@New Haven 27, Edinboro 12 (So. Conn. St.) ............1st round
@Ferris State 17, New Haven 9 ............................. Quarterfinals
1997 (Tony Sparano)
@New Haven 47, Glenville St. 7 (Sacred Heart) ........1st round
@New Haven 49 Slippery Rock 21 (Yale Bowl) ....Quarterfinals
@New Haven 27, UC Davis 25 (Yale Bowl) ............... Semifinals
Northern Colorado 51, New Haven 0 ................................Finals
2011 (Peter Rossomando)
@New Haven 44, Kutztown 37................................... 2nd round
@Winston-Salem State 27, New Haven 7.............. Quarterfinals

IUP Playoff History

IUP is 17-14 all-time in the playoffs after their win over Shepherd. The 17 victories have tied the Crimson Hawks for the seventh most wins in Division II playoff history. They are tied with Carson Newman and Texas A&M-Kingsville.

Here is a look at their previous playoff games:

1987 Central Florida 12, IUP 10 Orlando, Fla.
1988 Millersville 27, IUP 24 Indiana, Pa.
1989 IUP 34, Grand Valley State 24 Grand Rapids, Mich.
IUP 17, Portland State 0 Portland, Ore.
Mississippi College 26, IUP 14 Clinton, Miss.
1990 IUP 48, Winston-Salem State 0 Indiana, Pa.
IUP 14, Edinboro 7 Indiana, Pa.
IUP 27, Mississippi College 8 Clinton, Miss.
North Dakota State 51, IUP 11 Florence, Ala.
1991 IUP 56, Virginia Union 7 Indiana, Pa.
IUP 52, Shippensburg 7 Indiana, Pa.
Jacksonville State 27, IUP 20 Jacksonville, Ala.
1993 IUP 28, Ferris State 21 Indiana, Pa.
IUP 38, New Haven 35 New Haven, Conn.
IUP 21, North Dakota 6 Indiana, Pa.
North Alabama 41, IUP 34 Florence, Ala.
1994 IUP 35, Grand Valley State 27 Indiana, Pa.
IUP 21, Ferris State 17 Big Rapids, Mich.
Texas A&M Kingsville 46, IUP 20 Kingsville, Texas
1996 Ferris State 24, IUP 23 Big Rapids, Mich.
1998 Shepherd 9, IUP 6 Indiana, Pa.
1999 IUP 27, Slippery Rock 20 (OT) Slippery Rock, Pa.
IUP 26, Millersville 21 Millersville, Pa.
NW Missouri State 20, IUP 12 Maryville, Mo.
2000 Northwood 28, IUP 0 Midland, Mich.
2001 Saginaw Valley State 33, IUP 32 University Center, Mich.
2002 IUP 27, Saginaw Valley State 23 Indiana, Pa.
Grand Valley State 62, IUP 21 Allendale, Mich.
2007 IUP 45, West Chester 35 West Chester, Pa.
Shepherd 41, IUP 34 Shepherdstown, W.Va.
2012 IUP 27 Shepherd 17 Indiana, PA


This game should be a very good game between two very good teams. Both teams have solid offenses and shutdown defenses. Both teams are not strangers to postseason success and will not wilt in the spotlight of postseason football. ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?803-It-is-Playoff-Week-in-the-NE-10 http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?791-2012-NE-10-All-Conference-Awards Wed, 14 Nov 2012 16:16:13 GMT Here is the link of NE-10 all-conference performers for 2012. ... Here is the link of NE-10 all-conference performers for 2012.

http://www.northeast10.org/sports/fb...All_Conference ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?791-2012-NE-10-All-Conference-Awards http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?788-NE-10-Weekly-Release Tue, 13 Nov 2012 21:18:06 GMT Here is the weekly release from the NE-10: http://www.northeast10.org/sports/fball/2012-13/playerofweek/11.13.12_fball_week11 Here is the weekly release from the NE-10:

http://www.northeast10.org/sports/fb...2_fball_week11 ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?788-NE-10-Weekly-Release http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?784-Week-11-Thoughts-Plus-my-2012-Awards Mon, 12 Nov 2012 12:49:04 GMT *Inaugural Championship Game* New Haven won the first ever NE-10 football championship by beating AIC for the second consecutive week in... Inaugural Championship Game

New Haven won the first ever NE-10 football championship by beating AIC for the second consecutive week in dominating fashion. This time, the Chargers fell behind early before turning up the gears and winning the game 37-12.

New Haven finishes the season undefeated for the first time since 1995 and will make their second straight trip to the playoffs. AIC had high hopes to knock off New Haven but seemed overmatched in both games to finish out their season at 7-3.

Ryan Osiecki was named Most Outstanding Player in the game after he finished the game 19 for 25, 240 yards and three touchdown passes. He spread the ball around to seven different receivers in the game. Mike DeCaro was his usual explosive self with 78 yards on the ground, 33 through the air with a score and 97 yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

The New Haven defense has really excelled over the past couple of games. They had a pretty good AIC offense to 18 points in two games and really dominated at the line of scrimmage. The Chargers will need to have their defense continue to excel if they are going to make a run in the playoffs.

New Haven was picked to win the league and it happened. Now they need to make a deep run in the playoffs to check off the next goal for this season.

Championship Weekend

The first championship weekend seemed to be very successful for the league. It gave most of the teams one more chance to play a game and most of the games were very competitive.

Southern Connecticut salvaged some of their tough season by going back to Stonehill and walking away with a victory. Despite their first losing season since 1993, the Owls played well enough to win and a pick six by Jack Cooper late in the fourth quarter was good enough for Southern Connecticut to avenge a loss at Stonehill in early September.

Bentley and Assumption played a carbon copy of their game in September. Assumption jumped out to an early lead but Bentley rallied to win the game late. The Falcons were down 13-0 at the half but Danny Guadagnoli threw three touchdown passes in the final 16 minutes of the game to rally to win the game.

Merrimack scored another big victory over St. Anselm for the second time in four weeks. Two pick sixes by Jesse Fowler and Ryan McCarthy early in the second quarter helped the Warriors. Joe Clancy had another monster game and finished his career in style with five touchdown passes.

Some people did not like the championship weekend format but the championship game helped to crown a champion for the league on the field. The other games are a nice way to close out the season for the other teams.

Future

Despite losing some great seniors this weekend that played their final collegiate games, there are several underclassmen that had great seasons and should continue to make their mark in the NE-10.

St. Anselm quarterback Andrew Murphy is just a freshman but put up some impressive numbers in his first year. He threw for 26 touchdowns this year including seven against Seton Hill to go along with over 600 yards of passing.

Southern Connecticut running back Vaughn Magee led the NE-10 in rushing and was the only back to cross the 1,000 yard mark for the season. He set a single quarter record with 187 rushing yards in the fourth quarter against St. Anselm. He has one year of eligibility left for the Owls.

Jeff Hill was the main target of Bentley quarterbacks all season long and finished his sophomore season with 51 catches and 10 scores. He caught the first touchdown for the Falcons on Saturday that started a big rally to win the game.

Jaquawne Simpkins is a big, strong, fast linebacker that opposing offenses are going to have to deal with for two more years. He led AIC in tackles with 98 and will be the main part of an always strong Yellow Jacket defense.

Mike Bates has been a playmaker since his arrival at Assumption. He still has one year to go and has plenty of time to still frustrate opposing offenses. Bates led the Greyhounds in tackles and interceptions.

The future of the NE-10 looks good as the league continues to make strides in the right direction. With the ability to offer scholarships now and the potential return of LIU-Post to the league for 2013, the league is moving in the right direction. It might never be the best league in the country for football but it is being more competitive within the region and getting a little national exposure.

Awards Season

2012 was a very competitive season in the NE-10. Four teams had a shot at winning the league but as predicted by the coaches, New Haven was the team to beat and they lived up to the expectations. Many players had solid seasons but here are my award winners.

Offensive Player of the Year

Joe Clancy, QB, Merrimack

Joe Clancy had been on the sidelines for the past three years waiting for his chance to take over the explosive Merrimack offense. He had seen some time the past two years and knew that he could succeed when given the chance.

Clancy was clearly the top offensive player in the NE-10 this year. He took the chance to play and lived it to the fullest. He led the league in completions (323), attempts (510), completion percentage (63.3), passing yards (3,945) and touchdown passes (31).

He passed for more than 300 yards in nine of his 10 games this year. His season low of 274 yards against Southern Connecticut is a solid game for most college quarterbacks. Clancy also helped to rewrite the record book for the NE-10 as he attempted 81 passes against AIC and threw for 553 yards and seven touchdowns against St. Anselm.

His final two games were simply amazing. He threw for 415 yards against Assumption and 465 yards against St. Anselm. Both games saw him complete 60% of his throws and five touchdown passes in each of the games.

Clancy had big shoes to fill as he stepped in for James Suozzo this season. He now leaves bigger shoes for future Merrimack quarterbacks to fill.

Defensive Player of the Year

Jareed Gaines, DB, Stonehill

It seemed that #26 for Stonehill was in on every tackle this season for the Skyhawks. It was almost true as Jareed Gaines led the Stonehill defense in tackles and was second in the NE-10.

Gaines recorded double digit tackles in seven of the 10 games this year including 14 in a game against AIC in October. That was right in the middle of five straight games in which he had 10 or more tackles against some of the top teams in the league.

Gaines led the NE-10 in solo tackles with 63 and was tied for the top spot with three forced fumbles. He was tied for third in the league with 9.5 tackles for a loss and fourth with 10 pass breakups. He was also credited with two sacks this year.

Gaines was the anchor of a defense that helped Stonehill finish with a winning record in the NE-10 for the first time since 2007. He will finish his career third in school history in tackles and also in the top five for solo tackles and tackles for a loss.

Coach of the Year

Robert Talley, Stonehill

Stonehill had usually been an easy game for most teams in the league but head coach Rob Talley changed that mentality this year. He had a team that nearly knocked off a nationally ranked team and was a play or two away from beating some of the top teams in the NE-10.

Stonehill was picked to finish near the bottom of the NE-10 this year but clearly exceeded expectations. They knocked off teams that they never had beaten before and played each game tough week in and week out.

Talley has done a solid job building the Stonehill program to where they are today. He has used solid recruiting classes to get the team competitive each week and has seen some of the best players in school history excel under his tutorage.

Team of the Year

Stonehill Skyhawks

They were picked to finish seventh in the league and did not want to listen to the critics. They knew that they had a good team and wanted to make some noise in the league.

That is exactly what the 2012 Stonehill football did. They made some noise and finished fourth in the league with a 5-3 league record and were 5-5 overall. The Skyhawks played two nationally ranked teams and played both of them toe-to-toe.

Bloomsburg and New Haven both made trips to Easton, MA to face Stonehill and both walked away impressed with the heart and desire of the Skyhawks. A strong second half in the opening game against then # 22 Bloomsburg gave them a lot of confidence that they could play with anyone in the country.

The following weekend saw Stonehill win their first game of the season against a team that they had never defeated. Southern Connecticut had dominated the series but it was time for Stonehill to get their first win over the Owls. A win at St. Anselm and over Assumption had the Skyhawks 3-0 in the league as they headed into a huge game with rival Bentley.

But a rainy night made it tough for both teams and Stonehill fell for the first time in the league. Another tough Friday night foe followed at AIC and Stonehill struggled against them on the road. They rebounded nicely with a last second win over Merrimack at home before they welcomed the nation to the Stonehill campus.

A nationally televised game against New Haven had the campus ready to show how far the program had come over the years. They played New Haven tough until a late drive by the Chargers was the difference in the game. One final road trip to Pace finished the regular season in style as they earned the fourth seed in the first ever NE-10 championship weekend.

They fell to Southern Connecticut to close out the season but it was a solid season for Stonehill. They overcame a lot of shortcomings on the football field to be competitive in each game and aside from a play here or there, they might have had a chance to win a couple more games.

Game of the Year

New Haven 45 Stonehill 41

When you get a chance to showcase the league on national television, you are hoping for a game to remember. On a chilly Thursday night in October, the NE-10 exceeded those expectations and then some.

The game was billed as a match-up between an up-and-coming squad in Stonehill and a nationally ranked team in New Haven. Both teams went at it for 60 full minutes in front of a standing room crowd and the game was not decided until the final play of the game.

New Haven welcomed back quarterback Ryan Osiecki from injury. He had missed the previous four games after being knocked out of the game against Saint Augustine's. His first pass of the game was dropped but rebounded nicely to finish the game strong.

Stonehill opened the scoring early in the first quarter. Quarterback Logan Meyer found John Gomes in the end zone to take a 6-0 lead. New Haven answered on their next drive with a 26 yard touchdown run by Mike DeCaro and the shootout was just getting started.

Both teams battled for the rest of the first half and matched each other on the scoreboard. One team drove the field and the other responded on their ensuing drive. New Haven scored the final points of the half and took a 21-16 lead into the locker room.

The Skyhawks were the aggressor in the third quarter and seemed ready to upset a top ten team in the country. Meyer hit Nate Robitaille for a touchdown late in the third quarter and Stonehill was within two points to offset an Osiecki to Jason Thompson touchdown three minutes earlier.

Meyer continued his great night as he threw two touchdowns passes in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter. First, he hooked up with Gomes for their second touchdown of the night. Then he found Robitaille again for their second touchdown of the night and Stonehill was up 41-31 with ten minutes to go in the game. The crowd was sensing the upset but it was just the beginning for the New Haven offense.

Osiecki led the team down the field in three minutes and found Thompson again to cut the lead to three, 41-38. Stonehill was not able to move the ball and run out the clock. They got a first down but several incompletions forced them to punt the ball back to New Haven.

The Chargers took over on their own 14 yard line and had 4:47 to drive the field. A penalty on the first play did not get the drive started on the right foot but New Haven worked out the kinks to get the ball moving in the right direction. Osiecki was masterful and spread the ball around all of his targets to get the ball inside the Stonehill 10 yard line.

A quarterback keeper was snuffed out by the Stonehill defense and New Haven faced a fourth down decision with 23 seconds on the clock. They had a dependable kicker in Chris Scifo on the sidelines but that was where he stayed. The Chargers went for it and Victor Jones used a strong second effort to get the first down.

After two incompletions, Osiecki found his favorite target Thompson in the back of the end zone in a throw that only he could chance. New Haven regained the lead with six seconds left.

The kickoff went out of bounds and Stonehill took over on the 35 yard line. A roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to midfield and one final chance for the Skyhawks to pull the upset. Meyer's throw to the end zone fell incomplete and the game was over. New Haven survived a scare and won their second game in five days on the road to stay atop the NE-10 standings.

Stonehill had showed the league and the entire nation that the program was making strides in the right direction. New Haven showed that they are able to take a team's best shot and still come out on top.

The game showed the entire country that NE-10 had made strides and is making some noise on a national level. ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?784-Week-11-Thoughts-Plus-my-2012-Awards http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?778-Week-11-NE-10-Game-Stories Sun, 11 Nov 2012 12:13:00 GMT Here are the recaps from around NE-10 championship weekend: New Haven beats AIC for the NE-10 title: ... Here are the recaps from around NE-10 championship weekend:

New Haven beats AIC for the NE-10 title:

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2...mode=fullstory

http://www.masslive.com/sports/index...l#incart_river

Southern Connecticut beats Stonehill:

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2...2647941344.txt

http://www.enterprisenews.com/sports...ason-with-loss

Bentley beats Assumption:

http://www.telegram.com/article/2012...89/1009/sports ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?778-Week-11-NE-10-Game-Stories http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?765-New-England-Football-Writers-Lunch Thu, 08 Nov 2012 11:34:47 GMT Here are the comments from the NE-10 coaches and representatives yesterday: Stonehill offensive coordinator Pat McCann: ... Here are the comments from the NE-10 coaches and representatives yesterday:

Stonehill offensive coordinator Pat McCann:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pzW5...3&feature=plcp

Bentley assistant coach Sean Walsh:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1DHH...CBXzDjuuikN2Ig

St. Anselm SID Eric Coplin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVJrL...CBXzDjuuikN2Ig ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?765-New-England-Football-Writers-Lunch http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?761-Week-11-in-the-NE-10 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 12:58:12 GMT It is the first ever NE-10 championship weekend. Besides the championship game, there are three other match-ups to finish the out the season in... It is the first ever NE-10 championship weekend. Besides the championship game, there are three other match-ups to finish the out the season in style.

Week 11 Capsules

Southern Connecticut (2-8, 2-6 NE-10) at Stonehill (5-4, 5-3 NE-10)

When: November 10th, 1:00 PM

All-Time Series: Southern Connecticut leads the series, 15-1-0

2012 Result: @ Stonehill 13 Southern Connecticut 0

My thoughts: These two teams have had polar opposite seasons.

Southern Connecticut has struggled the entire season. The Owls have their first losing season since most of the team was in diapers. They have not been able to play consistently in any of their games this season. Even in the two victories, they were not as crisp as they should have been. Last week, they hung with Bentley until late in the game. They were not able to slow down the Falcons late in the game and were on the losing end of the score. For Southern Connecticut to win on the road, they are going to need to play well beyond their years. They are going to need to have a balanced offensive attack and find a way to slow down the Stonehill offense.

Stonehill is in the middle of a great season. They have exceeded expectations in everyone's eyes but their own. The Skyhawks had confidence that they would have a good season and they have delivered. The four losses this year include two nationally ranked teams and the other two were receiving votes at one point in the season. Stonehill finished the regular season with a record breaking day at Pace. For Stonehill to win the game, they are going to need to play mistake free and establish their presence on both sides of the ball. They can end the season on a high note.

Stonehill has more playmakers on both sides of the ball and is playing very well right now. They will have no problem moving the ball and should be able to limit Southern Connecticut.

Prediction: Stonehill 35 Southern Connecticut 10

St. Anselm (2-8, 1-7 NE-10) at Merrimack (5-4, 4-4 NE-10)

When: November 10th, 1:00 PM

All-Time Series: Merrimack leads the series, 10-3-0

2012 Result: @ Merrimack 81 St. Anselm 35

My thoughts: This might be a match-up to keep your eyes on.

St. Anselm seemed to be making strides until they allowed 81 points to Merrimack a couple of weeks ago. But it appeared to be a teaching moment for head coach Pat Murphy and his staff. Since that game, they nearly upset AIC and then won on the road at Seton Hill. Yes, Seton Hill is not a powerhouse but it is great motivational tool for the Hawks. It shows that they can win on the road and should give them a chance this weekend. For St. Anselm to win to the game, they are going to need to find a way to slow down all of the Merrimack offensive weapons. They didn't do that three weeks ago and should be able to improve upon that performance.

Merrimack had higher expectations for the season and is not happy with a .500 record in the league. They succeeded at times but struggled at others. Joe Clancy and Isaiah Voegeli are the most dangerous combination in the league and will need to finish out the season on the same page again. The Warriors will need their defense to slow down the St. Anselm spread offense. For Merrimack to win the game, they will need to move the ball with ease and not let turnovers ruin potential scoring drives. Plus their defense will need to step up and not allow St. Anselm to wear them down with their quick pace.

This game will see a lot of points on the scoreboard. It will be a lot closer than the previous match-ups but Merrimack should be able to make more plays to grab the victory.

Prediction: Merrimack 35 St. Anselm 31

Assumption (3-6, 3-5 NE-10) at Bentley (7-2, 6-2 NE-10)

When: November 10th, 1:00 PM

All-Time Series: Bentley leads the series, 33-7-1

2012 Result: Bentley 21 @ Assumption 14

My thoughts: This match-up is always a hard nosed game.

Assumption has seen several different phases of their season. At one point, they were dropping games in the final minutes. Then, they turned it around in order to win consecutive weeks with solid performances. The Greyhounds have the ability to compete with any team in the league and have proven it most of the season. It was on display in their loss at Merrimack. They showed an explosive offense that can move the ball either on the ground or through the air. But they have no answer in the second half for the Merrimack offense. For Assumption to win on the road, they are going to need to continue their offensive explosive and stay balanced. They are going to need their defense to play better and not allow Bentley to move the ball with ease.

Bentley was this close to play in the NE-10 championship game this weekend. They suffered consecutive four point losses to the teams directly ahead of them in the standings. A different outcome in one of those games would have seen a date in the championship game this weekend. But the Falcons have had a solid season and have nothing to be upset at. They took care of business when they needed to and were in both losses until the end. For Bentley to win their eighth game of the season, they will need their defense to pressure Assumption and not allow them to move the ball up and down the field. They will also need Danny Guadagnoli to play mistake free and get the ball into the hands of his playmakers.

This game will be one of the more physical match-ups of the weekend. Both teams already battled hard for 60 minutes and this game will be no different. Bentley will find a way to win the game late.

Prediction: Bentley 28 Assumption 24

AIC (7-2, 7-1 NE-10) at # 5 New Haven (9-0, 8-0 NE-10)

When: November 10th, 12:00 PM

All-Time Series: New Haven leads the series, 12-6-0

2012 Result: New Haven 37 @ AIC 6

My thoughts: Didn't we just see this match-up a couple of days ago?

AIC struggled in their home finale and lost their first game in the league this year. The Yellow Jackets were not able to stop the New Haven offense in the first half and fell behind early. The offense had trouble moving the ball and when they did get into the red zone, they were not able to come away with any points. Kevin Arduino was not the dual threat that he had been the entire season. The New Haven front four did a good job getting in the way of Arduino and not allowing him to run free. For AIC to win the league championship on the road, they are going to need to be disciplined football. If they are able to limit penalties and not turn the ball over, they are going to need their defense to find a way to stop all of the weapons that New Haven can put on the field.

New Haven took care of business last Saturday to win their 16th straight NE-10 game and their 13th straight NE-10 road game. The Chargers looked very comfortable and did pretty much whatever they wanted in the game. Ryan Osiecki moved the offensive to perfection in the first half and the defense stepped up whenever AIC made a trip into the red zone. The front four of the Chargers defense also controlled the line of scrimmage and did not let Arduino find any holes in the defense. For New Haven to win the league championship, they are going to need to continue to play their game. Osiecki will direct the offense up and down the field with ease and the defense will need to slow down the AIC running game.

New Haven made it look easy last weekend but AIC will put up a better fight this weekend. The Chargers are a more experienced team and will take care of business down the stretch to hoist the first ever NE-10 championship game trophy.

Prediction: New Haven 31 AIC 16 ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?761-Week-11-in-the-NE-10 http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?760-SR1-Regional-Rankings Tue, 06 Nov 2012 17:50:15 GMT The third rankings are out and the top four in the region are the same for the second consecutive week. One new team is in the top ten and the top... The third rankings are out and the top four in the region are the same for the second consecutive week. One new team is in the top ten and the top six will be announced this coming Sunday. Teams need to win this weekend and not let the numbers dictate whether or not they make the playoffs.

1. Shippensburg 10-0, 10-0 Last Week: 1

Shippensburg continues to be the top team in SR1. They have taken care of business in the PSAC this year and face one more hurdle for home field throughout the playoffs. They will play Indiana for the PSAC championship and they appear to be in position for a home playoff game even if they lose the game. Shippensburg has the 56th toughest schedule to date which is third with the ranked SR1 teams.

2. Winston-Salem State 10-0, 10-0 Last Week: 2

Winston Salem is in solid position for a bye week if they are able to beat Elizabeth City for the CIAA championship. A victory this weekend will get them a bye and a home playoff game. If they stumble, they are still in the playoffs but will fall in the standings and might have to hit the road. They have the 72nd toughest schedule thus far which ranks fifth for the SR1 ranked teams.

3. New Haven 9-0, 9-0 Last Week: 3

New Haven took care of business last weekend with a big victory over AIC and will now host the inaugural NE-10 championship game. It appears that the Chargers are in the playoffs regardless of the outcome this weekend. A victory will ensure them a home playoff game and a loss will probably send them on the road. They have the 90th toughest schedule in the country which is good for eighth of the SR1 ranked teams.

4. Bloomsburg 9-1, 9-1 Last Week: 4

Bloomsburg is in a good position to make the playoffs as they have been the victim of earned access in the past. If they are able to win at Slippery Rock, they will be in the playoffs but it is not guaranteed that they will host a game. Shippensburg might be seeded ahead of them if they both have one loss in the final standings. They have the 79th toughest schedule thus far which ranks them sixth of the SR1 ranked teams.

5. Indiana 9-1, 9-1 Last Week: 6

Indiana is the biggest question mark this week again. If they are able to beat Shippensburg in the PSAC championship game, they are in the playoffs and will most likely jump up into the top four to host a game. If they loss to Shippensburg, their fate will be in the hands of the committee. They should make the playoffs but it will depend on the WVIAC teams behind them. They have the 143rd toughest schedule in the country out of 148 teams. That is last among the ranked SR1 teams.

6. Shepherd 7-2, 7-2 Last Week: 7

Shepherd appears to be the best bet for the WVIAC to make the playoffs. After they defeated Glenville State last week, they will need to beat Fairmont State to secure another playoff trip. A loss might drop them out the playoffs and potentially out of the top eight. They have the 15th toughest schedule in the country which is tops for the SR1 ranked teams this week.

7. Charleston 8-2, 8-2 Last Week: 9

Charleston needs a lot of help to make the playoffs. First, they need to take care of business and beat WV State. Second, they will need Shepherd to be upset by Fairmont State. Third, they will need the committee to keep them in the top eight to get in via earned access. They have the 82nd toughest schedule in the country which is seventh for the SR1 ranked teams.

8. AIC 7-2, 7-2 Last Week: 8

AIC stayed in the same spot despite a loss to New Haven last weekend. They will get another shot at the Chargers this weekend in the NE-10 championship game. The Yellow Jackets appear to be a long shot at the playoffs unless some of the teams fall ahead of them plus a win in the NE-10 championship game. They have the 68th toughest schedule thus far which is good for fourth of the ranked SR1 teams.

9. Mercyhurst 8-2, 8-2 Last Week: NR

Mercyhurst is the newcomer to the rankings after they soundly beat California last weekend. They finished in a tie for the PSAC West title but lost the tiebreaker because of their loss to Indiana. The Lakers will close out the season with East Stroudsburg and like the teams ahead of them, they will need a lot of help to make the top six. Mercyhurst has the 141st toughest schedule to date which is ninth best of the SR1 ranked teams.

10. California 7-3, 7-3 Last Week: 5

California has stumbled down the stretch and have fallen in the rankings. After losses to Slippery Rock and Mercyhurst, the Vulcans are a long shot at the playoffs and finish their season with Millersville. It will be the first time in six years that California will miss the playoffs. They have the 38th toughest schedule in the country which is second best of the SR1 ranked teams.

Here is a look at the strength of schedules to date for the ten teams:

15 Shepherd 44 32 0 0.57894737
38 California (PA) 47 39 0 0.54651163
56 Shippensburg 44 39 0 0.53012048
68 American Int'l 37 35 0 0.51388889
72 Winston-Salem 42 40 0 0.51219512
79 Bloomsburg 42 41 0 0.50602410
82 Charleston (WV) 41 41 0 0.50000000
90 New Haven 36 37 0 0.49315068
141 Mercyhurst 36 52 0 0.40909091
143 Indiana (PA) 35 53 0 0.39772727

Here is a look at the cumulative strength of schedules with the records of the teams they are playing.

11 Shippensburg 53 40 0 0.56989247
14 Shepherd 48 37 0 0.56470588
68 Bloomsburg 48 45 0 0.51612903
71 American Int'l 37 35 0 0.51388889
73 Winston-Salem 42 40 0 0.51219512
76 California (PA) 49 47 0 0.51041667
97 New Haven 36 37 0 0.49315068
112 Charleston (WV) 43 47 0 0.47777778
124 Indiana (PA) 45 53 0 0.45918367
143 Mercyhurst 41 56 0 0.42268041

Winston-Salem, New Haven and AIC have no additions to their strength of schedule per the NCAA spreadsheet because they are playing in a championship game against an opponent that they already faced. I am not sure why Winston-Salem doesn't get credit as they have not played Elizabeth City yet. I am only going based on the spreadsheet prepared by the NCAA.

It looks like the top three teams are in the playoffs regardless of outcome this weekend. Then the fun starts. The biggest bubble team is Indiana. They have one of the weakest schedules to date but will get a huge boost this weekend with Shippensburg in the PSAC championship game. A win by the Crimson Hawks gets them into the playoffs and it is a huge unknown if they lose.

It appears that the conference breakdown is going to be three from the PSAC and one each from the CIAA, NE-10 and WVIAC. The only change could be if Indiana loses, Charleston wins and the other top four win out, would the committee slot the Golden Eagles sixth and Indiana 7th. They would be very close in strength of schedule and have the same 9-2 record. That would get two WVIAC teams in and two PSAC teams along with one from the NE-10 and CIAA.

We will see some shakeup this weekend due to the PSAC championship game but the other teams need to take care of business on the field.

Here is a look at the games that will affect the final results this weekend:

1. Shippensburg @ 5. Indiana, PSAC championship game, 2 PM
2. Winston-Salem vs. Elizabeth City in Durham, NC for the CIAA championship game, 1 PM
8. AIC @ 3. New Haven for the NE-10 championship game, 12 PM
4. Bloomsburg @ Slippery Rock, 1 PM
Fairmont State @ 6. Shepherd, 12 PM
WV State @ 7. Charleston, 1 PM
East Stroudsburg @ 9. Mercyhurst, 12 PM
Millersville @ 10. California, 3:30 PM

We will see on Sunday who the top six teams are in SR1 and the debate will start on who will win the region and who got left out of the playoffs. ]]> Paul Falewicz http://www.d2messageboard.com/entry.php?760-SR1-Regional-Rankings