Seahawks Stun Dukes, 24-13
Courtesy Wagner Athletics
We’ve been talking about how #NECHAOS was on its way with so much chalk to this point in the season. The mathematicians would gasp, but this kind of chalk just felt like it couldn’t last forever.
But now, you’d better brace yourself. #NECHAOS is coming, and it’s from the man who basically introduced me to the concept. Coach Masella once said, “The NEC is a funny thing.” Today, it’s no laughing matter for Duquesne.
The Dukes came out flat, allowing a long Wagner touchdown and despite answering with a touchdown of their own and a Joey Isabella hurdle and score that looked like it could have hyped up anyone, another long Wagner drive ending in a field goal and a botched fake punt leading to a sudden change touchdown let the Seahawks head into the half with a 10 point lead. A near disaster fumble on the ensuing kickoff was recovered by Duquesne, saving the situation from even becoming worse. Was this the trap game the Dukes were trying to remain cognizant of?
It sure looked like it.
The second half saw Duquesne’s defense step up, but a golden opportunity after a Wagner fumble in their own red zone with the Dukes under 4 ended in disaster, with a 3 and out and two consecutive penalties- a delay of game and a false start- leaving Wagner with the football. Special teams miscues might have been Duquesne’s undoing, with the missed field goal, a missed extra point, and the aforementioned fake punt undoubtedly swinging the game to a large extent.
From there, it was all Wagner. The running game spearheaded by Andre Hines couldn’t be stopped, and some more self-inflicted errors from the Dukes led to an eventual Wagner touchdown and a 24-13 score.
It’s a sour taste to head into a bye week with.
Duquesne can take some comfort. They still control their own destiny in the NEC. Win out, and they’re in the FCS playoffs. In that context, nothing has really changed and they got it out of their system early. Riddell was able to complete passes, if not get into the end zone with frequency, with a line of 21/30, 1 TD, and 1 INT. Ness Davis ran for 60 on 13. Isabella caught 7 passes with a touchdown. The main ingredients are still there on offense. With a week to get healthy and get right the season is anything but over for the Dukes.
Wagner has found a winning combination that they first hinted at last week against Central Connecticut State. Andre Hines was good for 90 yards on the ground and a touchdown, while Jack Stevens (surprisingly in at quarterback instead of Jordan Barton) ran for a touchdown and threw for one on a very efficient 10 of 13, if only for 62 yards.
In the end, Wagner was able to drain the clock, control the ball, and play effective defense. They ran at will with 249 rushing yards and repeatedly were able to deny a Duquesne team that had scored 28 points in the first quarter 2 weeks ago and 14 in the first quarter last week. This week, the Dukes could only muster 13 all game.
Wagner just ground out the biggest upset of the NEC season so far. I can’t wait to see how they close out the year.
“We're Gonna Play a Big Game Every Week”: Business as Usual for Duquesne in Big Win
It had to be asked, and it was.
There was a lot of hype for the Lakers heading into Saturday’s contest. Mercyhurst was an official 2-0 with an unofficial win over New Haven. The Lakers had gone out to play Sacramento State, Youngstown State, and Montana State, and come out of the gauntlet looking competitive in each game. Mercyhurst had a chance at a big moment in Erie, and they made sure to create it.
The athletic department staff did a tremendous job. There was a pre-game concert from country musician and alum Garett Owen. A white out. A press conference early in the week. Some of the biggest names in FCS football were talking about this game in the days leading up to it.
But was there anything about this game that made Duquesne want to send a message?
Coach Schmitt noticed the atmosphere, but he didn’t care. His team didn’t, either. “We’re gonna play a big game every week,” Coach Schmitt said.
“This was a big game, both teams, 2-0, but we came in, and we're just gonna play our football. And I'm really proud of our guys for executing it that way. Just dialing in and not worrying about all the peripheral stuff. There was a concert before the game and all this… We just were focused on the football game. I'm really proud of our kids, because they go to work during the week, and that's what they play for.”
I still have to wonder, though, if there was just a little bit of extra sauce on Duquesne’s game on Saturday.
When you have to look too closely for something, it probably isn’t there. In terms of extraneous “bad blood” prior to the matchup between the Lakers and the Dukes, that’s probably true. You’d have to look close. It was a white out, and the Dukes wore their white jersey and white pants. Unless there was some kind of refusal from the Dukes to wear color during the white out… but again, you’re looking too hard. Way too hard.
There was some talk earlier in the week that this could develop into a rivalry. I think that this is the case now more than ever before. It wasn’t a tight contest, but that isn’t how hatred builds up, either.
That score of 37-0 doesn’t lie. There is a positive aspect to it, though. Ironic though it may be, a score like that only gives incentive to improve, not to find moral victories. An outcome like that is one that the Lakers are going to have to sit with for a year. Every time they look at Duquesne’s name, they’ll remember that score. Some of them are going to be listening to the game when they work out during the offseason. If you want to remember what it looks like when a team is a step ahead of you, that’s the game to replay. Every single player on the Lakers wants to be a champion. They want to compete. You’ve now seen what it takes to be a championship level program in the NEC. Each one of them wants it, and there is no better way to motivate yourself than to see what it takes to get to it.
So there’s hatred if you’re the Lakers, or at least every opportunity to develop it. The Dukes don’t have that incentive right now.
But what I did see from Duquesne on the field looked aggressive. The Dukes were playing hard, of course, but the first drive was an imposition of will. They made it clear early that they had the ability to control the clock and sustain a long, methodical, physical drive. That physicality was evident on defense throughout the night. Clearly evident. The Dukes had an edge that was just about the ideal in football: well within the rules, but playing with great physicality and assertiveness. It was beautiful, physical football, part of what makes the game so great in the first place.
Ultimately, well, football fans want to see rivalries. I want to see new ones develop in the NEC. I’m almost certainly just grasping at straws because there is nothing better than two programs who just can’t stand each other.
That’s my nature, and at least I can recognize it.
If there was any directive to send a message, no one’s telling. As Coach Schmitt said, “The last thing I said to them in the team meeting was have fun.”
If you were a Duke, it was probably fun for you.
If you weren’t, let this one eat at you and get back up for next year. There’s a lot of football to be played between these two teams, and I can’t wait.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 9: #NECHAOS
We came so close to a massive upset in Week 8, but we’ll have to hold on just a little bit longer to see one of those this season.
Wagner jumped out to a 14-0 lead but couldn’t hold on, falling behind in the 3rd quarter to CCSU before Wagner was able to tie it back up at 17. The Seahawks were driving deep in Blue Devil territory and time was running out before they made the mistake of throwing Chris Jean’s way. Like you’d expect if you watched him as often as I do, he pulled off the interception and the threat was abolished. The possession would go back and forth, but Wagner fell in the first overtime and CCSU escaped.
So close. But we’ll have to wait one more week for another crack at #NECHAOS.
Duquesne
The Dukes looked like they wanted to send a message to Mercyhurst in the 2nd meeting of what sure looked like two teams that could establish a rivalry. The first drive saw Duquesne take 6 minutes off the clock over 10 plays, but after that there was plenty of aggression from the defense. I’m a journalist, but I try not to look for angles that aren’t there. But for all the world, it really looked like there was some kind of message that the Dukes wanted to send to the Lakers. That’s how you get rivalries, and I’m looking forward to seeing more from these two. The Dukes will get Wagner next week after a heartbreaker on Staten Island.
CCSU
The Blue Devils got into a knock-down, drag-out fight with the Wagner Seahawks but yet again were able to emerge from a tight game with a win. There’s some amount of variance in how you perform in these scenarios, but less than the stats nerds would say. CCSU clearly knows how to perform and how to close out tight games. This is a team that knows how to win, even when it isn’t their best day. They’ll host a rejuvenated LIU after a bye next week, so they will need every ounce of that knowledge and willpower to stay undefeated.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers weren’t able to compete with the Dukes yet, but they earned a night game and the big game feel that this one had. It’s now up to them to get it back. They’ll get to stay in Erie to recover, but there’s no rest as they’ll welcome in a tough Stonehill team who’ll be ready to bounce back after two big losses. After this, the Lakers will travel to Loretto, where they’ll have to work to get right again. Saint Francis has a stout defense and this might be tighter than you’d guess.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks finished their nonconference slate at Yale where they lost handily to the Ivy League squad. It’s not relevant to conference standings, so they’ll just have to flush it and move on against Mercyhurst. The Lakers defense is scary, though, so it’ll take a big effort for Stonehill to get on the scoreboard, which is something they’ve struggled with as of late.
LIU
I think LIU probably has their mojo back now that they’ve got their quarterback position healthy again. Stanzani helped lead the Sharks past Robert Morris and aside from one big play from the Colonials it wasn’t really ever in doubt. They game against CCSU in two weeks is going to be the highlight of the slate, and it’ll tell us everything about the Sharks that matters. Specifically, if Stanzani has brought them back. First, though, they’ll finish out New Haven’s unofficial non-conference slate.
Wagner
The Seahawks played CCSU tight, but the Blue Devils are so familiar in these settings and unfortunately Staten Island’s team couldn’t hang on. Barton seems to have really secured the quarterback role for Wagner, and he showed some flashes of stepping up in big play situations against the Blue Devils. Wagner is playing Duquesne next, so he’ll have to make the most out of those flashes and turn it into a full-fledged blaze.
New Haven
The Chargers were idle. They’ll travel to Long Island to meet a Sharks team that is looking healthy. Not the best time to go up against LIU. Zaon Laney will redshirt for the remainder of this season but we expect him back next year.
RMU
The Colonials were still unable to get much going offensively and aside from one big splash weren’t able to do much against the Sharks. The defense is there, but Bobby Mo just hasn’t put together their best game yet. Against Saint Francis, the stakes will be high to end the storied rivalry on the highest note possible.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash were idle but have not yet won this season. They’ll play longtime rival Robert Morris in Loretto for the last time this Saturday.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 8: Game of the Century of the Week in Erie
It’s an old trope in college football.
But tropes are tradition, after all, and the best parts of our sport always seem to come from the past. You have a poll because there’s been a poll for 100 years; you call games “bowls” because it’s been that way for 100 years; you let Rutgers play because they’ve been doing it for so long that you can’t even ignore them anymore.
But one of the best tropes (and therefore, traditions) in college football is that when #1 plays #2 in-season, you call it the Game of the Century. In the NEC, our schools aren’t usually ranked even when they clearly deserve to be (i.e., Duquesne) and so we fall back on these power rankings to describe if a matchup is big or not in the NEC. In this case… it’s almost a game of the century. We’re seeing #1 head a couple of hours north to Erie, where Mercyhurst comes in at #3. A quick word on this.
I identify culturally as a Yinzer (look it up if you’re unfamiliar with the term!). It is also tradition amongst Yinzers to take a trip a couple of hours north to Lake Erie. You immediately go to Presque Isle (unless you stop at Waldameer Park instead). After you arrive, you go to the beach your family has always gone to. It doesn’t matter if one has less people on it; you have a pre-assigned beach from birth. Mine is Budny Beach. You hang out there, maybe walk a bit, throw popcorn at a seagull, and then before you go home you stop at Sara’s for food. I know one of my bosses on FCSNation is from South Carolina, so to Kevin: Sara’s is basically Cook-Out, except there’s only one, and you can’t have two corndogs as a side. In any case, it’s just part of growing up that you do these things.
Which is a long way of saying that Duquesne is making the trip north to Erie, and this should not be considered a road game so much as the typical migration pattern of the Wild Yinzer. They will be used to this at Duquesne.
Duquesne
Duquesne hosted Saint Francis in the 51st and final meeting between the two long-time rivals. It’s said that in 1976, the Saint Francis head coach (who was also a priest; college football is the best) prayed for fumbles during the game. Inexplicably, Duquesne could no longer hold onto the ball and the Red Flash won. It’s a great story, but none of it happened this time around, and the Red Flash offense was back to only scoring a single touchdown while the defense could not keep the Dukes out of the end zone. At this point, no one in the league has looked able to hang with the Dukes. This is your reminder that Duquesne was very competitive with top 10 Lehigh, yet are not ranked
Central Connecticut State
CCSU hit the road and met Robert Morris in Moon Township. The game was evenly balanced, with two offensive scores apiece, but special teams miscues for the Colonials and a pick six put CCSU in front with a final score of 24-12. The Blue Devils defense looked solid, but the offensive side of the ball is where you should be paying attention. Brady Olson still has just one interception on the year (12-1 ratio of TDs to INTs) and Elijah Howard ran for over 100 yards, having reached midseason form just as the Blue Devils hit the heart of conference play. CCSU is not the most talented team in the league, but they’re close, and they never beat themselves. You can win a lot of games playing just like that.
Mercyhurst
The Lake Show continued their run with a 19-7 win over the Wagner Seahawks behind backup QB Alex Gevaudan. Gevaudan, who I believe earned his scholarship in the offseason, performed admirably in Adam Urena’s stead, but Brian Trobel was the star here with 190 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs. We liked Trobel heading into the season and had him as probably the third best back in the league, but after the first two running backs in the league, it felt like there was a logjam that anyone could have emerged from in the NEC. Don’t call it a logjam anymore. If the season ended today, Trobel and Elijah Howard would be the two first teamers. The Lakers now host Duquesne in the biggest game in October, and one that may very well determine who gets to hang up a championship banner. It might not have playoff implications, though, as Mercyhurst is ineligible for the FCS playoff.
Stonehill
Stonehill heads to New Haven next week… to play Yale, who also shares the city with the New Haven Chargers. This is a non-conference game. Stonehill can impress a lot of people with a win here. The Skyhawks were idle last week.
Long Island
LIU was idle last week. Hopefully, it was a chance to get healthy, as they return to league play hosting Robert Morris. Ever since the Eastern Michigan win, we haven’t known what to make of the Sharks. A win against Bobby Mo would go a long way towards righting the ship. Of interest in this one is which two quarterbacks play.
New Haven
Points were in the street in the town of New Haven, as the Chargers blasted Division III WestConn 69-0. The Chargers were supposed to win this one going away, and they did that. AJ Duffy threw for 4 TDs but wasn’t recognized as one of the 5 stars, likely because of the level of competition. They’re now off this week and will return to unofficial NEC play against Long Island the following week.
Wagner
I wish Wagner and New Haven were playing this season. They feel so on par with each other, but you never do know until you see it. We’ll have to wait until 2026. The Seahawks were unable to do much offensively against a stout Mercyhurst defense despite playing Jordan Barton and Jack Stevens. Wagner falls to 1-5 (0-1) but has a big chance with Central Connecticut State up next. If the Seahawks are going to turn around this season, it has to start right here.
Robert Morris
The Colonials weren’t able to keep pace with Central Connecticut State despite having as many offensive touchdowns as the Blue Devils. Unfortunately, we saw another quarterback change for the Colonials after a big hit. Wolfe came in and delivered some good balls and had some great chemistry with big tight end Chaz Middleton- maybe the best tight end in the NEC this year- but the Colonials seemed to keep falling short of reaching the red zone until it was too late. They’ll go up against LIU next. The pieces are there for the Colonials- the defense looked good on Saturday and Middleton and running backs Ethan Shine and Donta Whack are talented. They’ve just got to put them together on Saturdays.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash only could post one touchdown in a loss to their rival Duquesne that was over before halftime. A week off will do the Frankies good before they face their other big rival in Robert Morris at home in Loretto- again, for the last time.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 7: Mercyhurst Has Never Lost a Conference Game
The Lake Show opened up their first conference slate in the NEC by upending LIU at home. It was the ESPN+ game this week for the NEC, which usually means that the league’s royalty (for lack of a better word) is present. With the mutterings about Mercyhurst after they were added (primarily that they weren’t much of a PSAC team and now they were heading up a level), the early part of this season for the Lakers has to be encouraging. I’m not saying overly encouraging- this was Mercyhurst’s 2nd win of the season, after all- but they were competitive in most of their heavy hitter non-conference games against teams like South Dakota State, Sacramento State, and Montana State. Against LIU, they proved it was worth it. That doesn’t mean the Lake Show is at the top of the charts, but they do happen to have a 1-0 record all time in the NEC (2-2 in “unofficial” league games prior to this one).
Duquesne
The Dukes, though. It sometimes feels like we don’t give this team enough due for being number one most weeks. It’s probably because we expect these kind of performances out of Duquesne. They played at the time #2 NEC Blitz Stonehill and won in a runaway victory. It seemed over at half time, and was. Duquesne’s defensive front was everything we had hoped they’d be this season, the linebacker corps (led by returning from injury Tyson Meiguez) is significantly better than we expected, and Ty Riddell has been the quarterback we thought he could be in a best case scenario. In our preview magazine, we talked about how Duquesne could probably stand to have a few things go wrong and still win the league; well, almost nothing is going wrong right now. Ryan Petras has been a revelation at WR; he was committed to Princeton and flipped to his hometown Dukes. Right now, he’s looking like a contender for the NEC Freshman OPOY.
Central Connecticut State
I agonized over this one. Do you make CCSU the 2nd best team after an overtime win, or do you give Mercyhurst the nod after beating a conference opponent? Ultimately, Sacred Heart came into this one at 4-1 and LIU now has an 0-2 conference record, so we had to go with which is looking like the better win right now. Coming into the year, you couldn’t quite call Brady Olson a game manager after an okay performance in 2024 that saw him throw 17 TDs to 12 INTs- he performed well, but was taking a little too much off the table with his ball security. That script has flipped in 2025. He accounted for 5 TDs against Sacred Heart and has thrown 1 pick all year. We have to start asking the question: is Olson the best quarterback in the NEC?
Mercyhurst
Here’s where the Lakers are. They once again flexed their defensive muscles in a tight win over LIU at home in front of a homecoming crowd (and ESPN+ viewers across the country) at Saxon Stadium. Brian Trobel looks every bit as good as we’d hoped, but there are three running backs for the Lakers who can make noise, including freshman Mookie Gamble. The Lakers have had about as good of an offense as we expected- maybe a step back from a ball security standpoint- but the defense has come out of nowhere. I love Erie’s team, but I did not see the defense coming at all and Mercyhurst has established themselves as a legitimate NEC contender.
Stonehill
Stonehill couldn’t force the Dukes into a low scoring game, and so they fell on the road in Pittsburgh to 1-1 in conference. I had kind of thought that if the Skyhawks allowed 24 points, they’d be in a tough spot to win. If they could muddy it up and control the game, if their elite defense could keep the Dukes from breaking through… it was definitely not a foregone conclusion that the Dukes would win this game, but Stonehill had to win it in their own way. Once it got away from that style, it was tough for the Skyhawks to come back and they dropped to 1-1 in conference. With that loss, they also dropped to #4 in our rankings.
Long Island
LIU has dropped to 0-2 in conference play. The Sharks just haven’t been able to get all of their best players on the field since the Eastern Michigan win. I can’t help but feel like this isn’t the last Jaws sighting, though. LIU is talented, but just like last season the early course of the year may not be going the way they wanted. What will count is if, just like last season, they finish it the right way. Keep in mind that LIU hasn’t played CCSU or Duquesne yet. If they can pull off wins there, they’ll still be in the title race. They' get a week to heal up now.
New Haven
The Chargers pulled off a 28-14 win against Division II Pace, a former conference foe that is having a poor season over in the NE-10. This pulled them up to 3-3 overall, with two of those wins coming against Division II opponents in their transition year. AJ Duffy didn’t have his best game, but he didn’t need to. NEC Blitz Preview Magazine cover athlete Zaon Laney ran for 143 yards, 2 TDs, and had a long of 61 after exploding for a long of 50+ last week. He’s looking healthy and New Haven will continue to look good on offense as long as he and Duffy are clicking. They have WestConn next week and should be predicted to win big.
Wagner
Wagner was idle this week, but will host Mercyhurst on Staten Island next weekend for their first conference game of the season. Coming off a win against Norfolk State and seemingly having locked up the quarterback competition with Jordan Barton, the Seahawks have their whole season and all of their goals in front of them, even with a 1-4 record.
Robert Morris
The Colonials traveled to Merrimack and unfortunately are still unable to scare up any offense with a 24-7 road loss. They scored in the first quarter but were unable to keep up the momentum, and eventually Merrimack was able to pull away as the game went on. The Colonials are 1-4 and welcoming Central Connecticut State to the Joe on Saturday for their conference opener. We’ll be there.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash were idle this week, but will travel to Duquesne for their 2nd conference game on Saturday. It’s a game that Duquesne is unlikely to overlook with the final battle against the long time in-state opponents on the line. The Red Flash are 0-5 and 0-1 in the NEC, but in their last game against Bucknell they looked their best and the offense seemed to finally be waking up a little.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 6: Stonehill Gets Elevated
We called our shot early, and it seems to be looking pretty good in the beginning weeks of league play.
Of course, anything can happen. But here’s how early season predictions work. When you’re winning during the season, at any point at all, you need to celebrate how brilliant you are. You ignore your misses. And if your early wins turn into misses, forget it. You’ve celebrated it. Now, just go ahead and ignore the downfall.
We liked Stonehill taking on LIU and we loved Stonehill’s defense coming into the season, but what we saw against the high powered, difficult to plan for Sharks was beyond what we could have expected. Accordingly, the big story this week isn’t the change at the top (funny how that works), but that Stonehill- picked 8th by every other outlet I’ve had the pleasure of reading, picked 4th by NEC Blitz- is in the top half of the rankings and has doubled their win total from last season, with chances to have two additional wins on their resume. There’s holes in that resume, and the season is young. We’re still in September. But, still- take the wins where you can get them.
Duquesne
The Dukes had no trouble handling New Haven in Pittsburgh, and while this is their best win to this point they looked dominant against the Chargers. New Haven was on a two game win streak including a big win over Albany, but after a good first drive the game was all Dukes. Joey Isabella had 3 touchdowns in the first half alone and Ty Riddell looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the NEC- he’s quietly been building a resume, and once the Dukes get into conference play we’ll get a chance to see him up against the rest of the league. He had no problems matching up with a stellar quarterback in AJ Duffy. Defensively, the Dukes once again looked dominant. The Dukes have won the two non-conference games they were supposed to win, lost the two expected FBS games, and were very competitive with a top 10 Lehigh team. They’re the favorite heading into conference.
Stonehill
Stonehill’s still having some trouble getting into the end zone, but the defense has made the huge strides we hoped and believed that they could. LIU was held to 3 points, and while Stonehill was only able to muster 10 of their own, you do tend to win football games when you only give up a field goal. They forced Ethan Greenwood into two interceptions and Charles Battaglia will probably be the defensive player of the week in the league with 9 tackles and 2 sacks. The less obvious downside? Stonehill had trouble with penalties (12 for 90). They’ll have to clean that up if the offense isn’t able to get more points on the board, but in a league that looks low on dominant teams, a defense this good should make some more noise through the rest of the conference slate.
Central Connecticut State
The Blue Devils traded two turnovers for two turnovers with Dartmouth, but it’s hard to win giving up 407 yards through the air. Nevertheless, there were still a lot of bright spots here and I’d consider them effectively tied with Stonehill- just better wins for the Skyhawks. Brady Olson continues to be careful with the ball and puts CCSU in a position to win every time Hard Hittin’ New Britain takes the field. He’s so seasoned that it’s hard to imagine the Blue Devils beating themselves this season. Unfortunately, there was just too much room for Dartmouth to throw, especially with a last second 50 yard touchdown to give the Ivy League school the lead and the win.
Long Island
Despite the loss to Stonehill, the Sharks are not done this season and still have the big win against Eastern Michigan to buoy them somewhat. It’s hard to tell if Stonehill’s issue was their own offense or the good defense that that Sharks have shown this season. When- not if- the offense gets back to scoring points, LIU will get the wins back.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers lost big in a buy game on the road to South Dakota State. Flush it and move on. We’re excited to see the Urena to Evans connection moving through the league slate.
Wagner
Wagner got their first win in pretty dramatic fashion against Head Coach Mike Vick’s Norfolk State. The Seahawks have decided to go with Jordan Barton at QB for the time being, and he was able to throw for 2 TDs against 2 INTs. The big story might be the 108 yard game from Andre Hines, who also provided a touchdown. It’s a good win against an opponent getting lots of press prior to entering conference play.
Robert Morris
RMU was idle this week. They’ll travel to former NEC foe Merrimack this Saturday before beginning league play (and a game we’ll be at!) with a big rematch against CCSU, which was the best game in the NEC last season.
New Haven
New Haven struggled against Duquesne, but an interesting trend we’ve seen is that New Haven seems to be fantastic at scripting drives to start games. Zaon Laney had his best game with over 60 yards and a 51 yard scamper, but this one looked an awful lot like the contest against Mercyhurst. Might set up an interesting match for the Dukes and the Lakers in a few weeks.
Saint Francis
Saint Francis was scoring points against Bucknell and went into the half with the lead. With the offense starting to wake up, the Red Flash are still only at 0-1 in conference despite the overall record and certainly have the potential to be more than a factor in league play- they still have the opportunity to make the playoffs with minimal help at this point! Without wins, though, there’s nowhere else to put them.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 5: Playing Darts Blindfolded
I think I quote it like twice a week. In my first conversation ever with an NEC head coach, he told me: “Well, the NEC is a funny thing.”
And it is. There’s a reason I always point to this as the most fun you’ll ever have watching football. You never really know what will happen. The unpredictable nature of football lives in the NEC, even when it’s sometimes hard to find at other levels of competition. I think I know what’s coming. I’m as well-studied as anyone out there to know what’s coming. And even then, I’m looking forward to my well-educated spectacular misses. It never stops being fun here.
I hardly know where to move things, or if I should even move things at all, after this week. But after some deliberation, this is what I’ve come up with:
Central Connecticut State
The loss to Merrimack was a heartbreaker and marked by a lack of points from the Blue Devils until the final frame. They took the lead with two touchdowns but lost on a last second field goal to the Warriors to drop to 2-2 overall. Elijah Howard ran for 91 and got involved in the passing game, but the Donovan Wadley revenge game was not to be and perhaps having this one in New Britain would have changed the outcome. Nevertheless, it was a fine defensive performance from CCSU and they remain the leader at 1-0 in conference play.
Duquesne
Even though CCSU lost and you can mostly write off FBS losses (especially after no one was going to let the NEC sneak up on them following Long Island’s win over Eastern Michigan), you can’t really reward the Dukes after the Akron game. Again, write it off. We have something far more interesting on Saturday when New Haven comes to the Bluff. You hate to rely too heavily on the transitive property, but this will give us a chance to see how Duquesne stacks up compared to their in-state competition up in Erie. New Haven is on such a roll, though, that any conclusions will have to wait until the Dukes and Lakers meet.
Long Island
It’s been two games since LIU was able to knock off FBS opponent Eastern Michigan, and in that time we’ve had two no-shows for Ethan Greenwood at quarterback and this past week Luca Stanzani did not participate. Chris Howell did what he could, but he ended up with a 0 TD to 2 INT ratio and the Sharks were able to score just 7 points on the #6 Rhode Island Rams. I would have loved to see what Long Island could have done if healthy- I think they could have absolutely hung with the Rams for the second straight season- but this is who they are for the time being and I’m not sure I can put them up any higher with the uncertainty at the most important position in football. A bright spot was here, though, with O.J. Ross running for 130 yards at the running back slot. That’s LIU. There’s 100 yard rushers all the way down.
Stonehill
We’ll bump Stonehill up to fourth here as they were able to mount a furious comeback against Penn of the Ivy League that just fell short. Stonehill is 1-3 and yet are probably just a handful of plays from 3-1. Fascinatingly, they’re also one play from 0-4. You expect this is a bit of growing pains from a team that’s just gained some experience from the year prior, has improved, but maybe hasn’t really learned how to win yet. The game against Maine was a big start, but they’ll have to grow up in a hurry now with conference play ahead of them. LIU heads to Easton next and while we’re just not sure what quarterback we’ll see from the Skyhawks, how they’re able to contain whomever it is we’ll see- and if they can find the end zone just a little more often- will probably determine how this one goes.
Mercyhurst
A virtual tie with Stonehill. I gave the Skyhawks the nod just because the offense was able to do a little more than Mercyhurst was, even against an absolute monster Montana State team that the Lakers had to go up against. They acquitted themselves well- incredibly well, actually- on defense, but the 3 red zone drives without points will probably go down as the missed opportunity for Urena and Co. The road trip goes on to South Dakota State this weekend before we get to see what the Lakers are really made of in conference play, and if they really are as good as the team that punched out New Haven just a few weeks ago.
New Haven
Speaking of New Haven, the Chargers are on a 2 game win streak but have had fast starts with furious comebacks against them in the past two weeks. They’ve been able to hold on, but a 4 quarter performance is still missing from their repertoire. A.J. Duffy remains a dark horse for the first team QB conversation in the NEC, and if they can give Duquesne a fast start this week they’ll have a chance to really shock the league and shake up the Northeast. Everyone in the league saw the performance against Mercyhurst, but you can be sure everyone is aware of what the Chargers were able to do against Albany, too. Really looking forward to this one on the Bluff.
Robert Morris
Bobby Mo had Dayton on the ropes in Moon Township but let the game slip away. A particularly troubling aspect was that quarterback Zach Tanner left the game and did not return. Quarterback was probably the one place with RMU where we really knew what they had and were excited about it, but now there’s a little more uncertainty for the Colonials. Ethan Shine is looking like a fine addition to their running back room, but after Tanner left the game the passing suffered a little and the offense had some of the trouble it’s shown earlier in the season.
Wagner
Wagner took on FBS Central Michigan this Saturday. You can flush it and forget it. Wagner gave significant attempts to Jordan Barton in this one, and my suspicion is that we may not be completely done with the quarterback competition on Staten Island. Freshman Benjamin Newton also saw some time. It’s a fine idea to use the FBS game to see what you’ve got across the board as the Seahawks prepare to welcome Michael Vick’s Norfolk State team to Staten Island before a bye week will recover them from NEC play. This is the time to work out the kinks.
Saint Francis
Against a team the Red Flash beat last season in a spectacular comeback victory, the offense yet again sputtered while posting its highest point total of the season, hitting double digits for the first time with 10 points. The bigger problem? Delaware State was able to score on Saint Francis early in the game, which we haven’t really seen much of to this point. We had wondered if the defense was finally getting tired late in contests and surrendering points. Now, you have to wonder if the frequent low scoring performances are becoming a problem, or if DeSean Jackson was just able to turn around the Hornets that fast. They’re not famous for winning performances at Delaware State, but unfortunately they were able to put together a convincing one in Loretto. With the Red Flash at 0-1 in conference, there’s just nowhere else to put them until they’re able to muster an offensive performance.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 4: I’m Blue
If you are my age, you will remember a crucial debate from childhood: Red or Blue?
That is, which version of Pokemon is best? (Conventional wisdom, by the way, favored Blue entirely on the basis of Raichu being available in the Power Plant in late game.)
I digress. This past week in the Northeast Conference, we got to see the Blue Devils take on the Red Flash. It looked close for a half, but no defense can hold on forever without the offense helping them out, and in the second half the Blue Devils prevailed and pulled away to make it look easy. A far cry from last season’s tight battle. With LIU losing a homecoming heartbreaker, we have yet another leader at the top spot in the volatile early weeks of the Power Rankings.
Central Connecticut State
No shocker here, as the Blue Devils pulled away from the Red Flash late and Elijah Howard made his presence known, returning to the field with a receiving touchdown on the second Blue Devils drive. His rushing totals were a bit limited (he only did have 12 carries), but his return means big things for the CCSU offense. It’s not clear they need him to have more than 12 carries at this point in the season, either. Donovan Wadley got going this week with a 39 yard catch, and Brady Olson has been taking care of the ball through the first 3 games with a 4 to 0 TD to INT ratio. And best of all? That defense looks like the same aggressive one that forced turnovers last year. I think we may have downplayed how good the Blue Devils really are up until this point.
Duquesne
The Dukes lost to #10 Lehigh but played them tightly, giving them a contest throughout the entire game after taking it to Lincoln (PA) the week prior. The Dukes travel on the road to FBS Akron this week, which often means it’s another game that we can’t learn too much from. Joey Isabella looks like the best WR in the NEC to this point. The linebackers, which we thought would be a weakness, are actually one of the strengths of the team with multiple players capable of being named Prime Performers each week. Daniel Tarabella has emerged as one of the NEC’s top tight ends. It’s hard to punish Duquesne for a loss to the #10 team in the country, particularly when they showed that they’re able to compete with anyone at this level of football, but polls like this are fluid and the Dukes certainly control their destiny even after they face Akron.
Long Island
The Sharks still have a dominant victory over FBS Eastern Michigan on their resume, but they fell to Sacred Heart in a tough loss on homecoming this past weekend and their ranking suffered for it. The Sharks surrendered 10 points in the 4th quarter including a winning field goal as time expired to fall by 3 points. Sacred Heart has looked better than expected this season (has also defeated Stonehill) but after a big run from Luca Stanzani (75 yards!) offense was tough to come by. Ethan Greenwood did not play in this contest. The Sharks have another big chance at an upset this week as they head to Rhode Island to take on a Rams team ranked as high as #6.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers were able to play with Sacramento State, even leading 18-7 in the 2nd quarter and had it within a touchdown in the 4th. New Haven’s win over Albany also gives us some good context for their victory over the Chargers in Erie. Rylan Davison and Dylan Evans each caught a Urena TD pass. They’ll head to #4 Montana State next.
Stonehill
Stonehill pulled off a road win at Maine which has been kicked around by football focused media in this part of the country as potentially the biggest win in program history. The miracle 4th and 21 pass to Brigham Dunphy shouldn’t take away from the overall season Stonehill’s had so far, though. They played Sacred Heart as well as LIU did, and this is a team that could certainly be looking at 2-1 right now. They’ll have to take on the Ivy League’s Penn next at home.
New Haven
New Haven got their first win as a Division I program, rocketing out to a fast start in Albany and holding off the Great Danes for the remainder of the contest, giving AJ Duffy his second Offensive Player of the Week nod in the process. New Haven will host Division II Saginaw Valley State (1-2) on The Blue for their first home game as a Division I program.
Robert Morris
RMU was able to beat West Liberty, but the offense still seemed to have some trouble getting started against the Division II program. The Colonials were able to get some touches in for Ethan Shine and Donta Whack, and Zach Tanner threw two touchdown passes to no interceptions although they limited their reliance on the pass game. They’ll host Dayton this Saturday.
Wagner
Wagner played Georgetown well on the road but was unable to get much going on offense against Marist, losing 21-10 behind a turnover-hindered performance (5 turnovers to Marist’s 1). You can’t win when you’re giving up possessions in bulk- a theme behind the bottom two in our rankings this week. Wagner is 0-3 but probably had opportunities to win their past two games. They’ll get back on the road to face an FBS opponent in Central Michigan.
Saint Francis
Saint Francis has a stellar defense that has kept them in games for a half most of this season so far, but the offense hasn’t been able to replace what they lost through the transfer portal including their top two running backs and best wide receiver. The Red Flash fumbled the ball 5 times, recovered only two of those, and threw 2 interceptions. You can’t win games giving up the rock five times. The Red Flash have been fantastic at playing defense, but their 7 points on Saturday was unfortunately their high on the season so far. You can’t win games in football unless you score points- it’s an obvious statement, but if you haven’t shown that you’re going to be able to win games, you can’t get out of the basement.
GAME PREVIEW: Lehigh at Duquesne
The #10 Lehigh Mountain Hawks are making the cross-state trip to take on Duquesne this Saturday at Rooney Field.
It’s been an interesting two games for the Dukes so far. While they’ve had an away game against a P4 opponent, that opponent was in the city and just down the road (actually closer to Duquesne’s campus than Pitt’s) at Acrisure Stadium. Next, they welcomed in D2 Lincoln (PA). Both games were lopsided, one in the favor of the opponent, and one in favor of the Dukes.
We had expected to see a more competitive Duquesne team against Pitt, reasoning that the strength of the Dukes is their offensive and defensive lines and that Pitt would be breaking in some new faces in the trenches. We had thought that the experienced OL from the Bluff would be able to hold off Pitt better. Unfortunately, Duquesne wasn’t able to compete with their P4 neighbors, and so we looked to the D2 game as a better test of what the Dukes might be capable of. They delivered in spades. Taj Butts looked superhuman on the first drive, but a lot of that was due to the push the Dukes were getting against the 3-4 front for Lincoln. They seemed like a wall in front of quarterback Ty Riddell, and from the first drive it became very clear that this would be a strength for Duquesne on that day, and when you win by a wide margin in the trenches, you almost certainly will win the football game.
But just like a game against a P4 opponent in Pitt can only tell us so much, a win over a Division II program just doesn’t shed enough light on who the Dukes are and how good they can be.
When the Dukes are on offense, we’ve seen Ty Riddell find his groove against Lincoln and even show some flashes against Pitt. Joey Isabella can play with any defense in the country, so he should be effective once again against Lehigh. TJ Burke (2 sacks already) and Matt Spatny lead a strong defensive line that will do all they can to emulate Pitt’s performance. Linebacker Brycen Edwards is also a standout for the Mountain Hawks. The pre-season Patriot League favorites will be very difficult to move the ball on despite the weapons Duquesne brings into the fray on Saturday.
On the other side of the ball, Lehigh rolls with quarterback Hayden Johnson, although he’s only been called on for 41 passes so far this season. He’s thrown for 2 TD to 3 INT and is completing 56% of his passes, which tells you that Lehigh will certainly be committed to the run. It’s a much better situation for Lehigh there. For one thing, Johnson is a threat in the running game, with a long of 20 already this season. But more importantly, the Mountain Hawks have a one-two punch that will likely be the best Duquesne will see all season in Luke Yoder (171 yards) and Jaden Green (167 yards). The Dukes have players on the line like A.J. Ackerman and Jack Dunkley who we know can rush the pass. Dunkley in particular has shown athleticism in being able to work in the run game even when it reaches the second level, and Tyson Meiguez at linebacker has been a revelation for Duquesne. This will definitely be an area that the Dukes need to win to pull off the upset. Yoder should still be effective no matter how good the Dukes are on Saturday, as he came into 2025 highly touted as a Patriot League pre-season first teamer.
This will undoubtedly be a tough challenge for the Dukes, but if they can win this one they’ll be expected to thrive the rest of the way through NEC play and their remaining FCS schedule. A Top 25 ranking is almost certainly on the line. It would be exciting, sure, but in the NEC, the only thing that really matters from a postseason perspective is winning the NEC. Therefore, this is a great chance for the Dukes to test themselves again this season and hopefully get a feel for what they’ve got when they head into the meat of the schedule. This one, just like the Pitt game, breaks down into trench warfare. If the experienced Duquesne OL can hold off an excellent frontline for the Mountain Hawks, and if the DL can slow down Lehigh’s vaunted rushing attack, this could go in favor of the Dukes. But it’s certainly a daunting task.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 3: Sharks Jump
I don’t think this is any surprise heading into this week. If you beat an FBS team- no, if you control the game against them, have a 4th quarter drive that takes up over 9 minutes, and never trail- well, you get to be first place in the power rankings. Congratulations to the Long Island Sharks, but this early in the season, volatility in the power rankings is everywhere.
Long Island
You know the really brilliant thing that the Sharks have going for them? There can never be a quarterback controversy here. It was understood going into the season that Luca Stanzani and Ethan Greenwood would both play. Now that they’re doing that, it doesn’t really matter if Stanzani takes more of the snaps going forward; you can’t split the locker room when exactly what was expected to happen, well, happens. Long Island now has to take it back home to take on Sacred Heart; they’ll be expected to outscore the Pioneers easily, but if they can do that they have to hit the road to take on a Rhode Island team that’s been consistently ranked. You can’t get ahead of yourself, but taking on CCSU and Duquesne in subsequent weeks toward the end of the season might be the most important two game stretch in LIU Sharks football history. They just have to keep winning until then.
Duquesne
Through no fault of Duquesne, they fall to second place after taking care of business against Lincoln (PA). They’ll welcome #10 Lehigh to the Bluff for next week in what will be one of the biggest games of the week for the NEC. Ty Riddell looked every bit what he showed a few glimmers of against Pitt on Saturday, Joey Isabella found the end zone, and we’ve got a Dukes team that has been all over the place here in terms of opponents, heading from the P4 to D2 and finally to a top 10 FCS team. They’ll then head off to Akron to face a G5. We might not really know what we have with the Dukes until October, but what we saw against Lincoln looked very promising.
Central Connecticut State
The Blue Devils rebounded from facing a tough UConn team on the road to taking on American International at home. It was never in doubt for the Blue Devils, and now they’ll head straight into conference play by welcoming Saint Francis to Hard Hittin’ New Britain. An interesting wrinkle against AIC was that Donovan Wadley had one carry and one catch. You have to imagine that the former NEC Offensive Player of the Year is going to have a bigger role as the season goes on, and as he does that you’d assume that CCSU will further hit its stride. A big opportunity for him is coming up after the Saint Francis game when CCSU travels to former conference foe Merrimack- and Wadley’s former school.
Mercyhurst
The Lake Show was out in full force, defeating New Haven convincingly and confirming that Dylan Evans is here to stay. Adam Urena threw for 347 yards, but the show was more than the signal caller. The Lakers garnered a massive 647 yards of total offense, with Brian Trobel running for over a hundred, sometimes from the wildcat, and rookie Mookie Gamble earning NEC Rookie of the Week honors. Unfortunately, we might be taking a brief break from the Lake Show, as road games against Sacramento State, Montana State, and South Dakota State will challenge the Lakers heavily. On the other hand, Youngstown State is a traditionally strong foe, and the Lakers hung with them well. We’ll have to see how Mercyhurst handles top flight out of conference competition before re-entering conference play.
Wagner
Wagner led for much of the game against Georgetown, but couldn’t pull off the upset and dropped the decision to fall to 0-2. With how well they hung on, though, it seems unfair to punish them too hard. Wagner will be welcoming Marist to Grymes Hill for the first home game of their slate and the first time they’ve faced the in-state Red Foxes since 2008. They’ll be expected to win before they get back on the road to face FBS competition. Wagner looks like they’re talented, but it’s unclear yet if this is the breakthrough season that just feels like the program has been building up to.
Robert Morris
Unfortunately for the Colonials, they weren’t able to do much of anything against the Youngstown State Penguins who had difficulty handling Mercyhurst the week prior. The transitive property strikes and we’re left wondering how Robert Morris will fare against Mercyhurst late in the season. However, we would caution against panic just yet. RMU is a transfer heavy team this season and underwent a lot of coaching turnover, including some late changes. It just might not have come together yet for the Colonials. They’ll have a chance to get right against West Liberty and while there’s some consternation in Pittsburgh, our opinion is to just be patient. Top flight competition, new coaches, and a roster that hasn’t come together yet would make anyone look pedestrian.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks gave up 21 points in the 2nd quarter, but the offense looked to be making some improvements late in this contest. They’ll need it as they’re traveling 270 miles north to Maine. The 90 yard fumble scoop and score for the Skyhawks (Richard Mosley III) might have actually made this one look a little more competitive than it was. Jack O’Connell once again was completing passes, but this time he had some scoring and yardage might behind him, with 3 TD passes and 269 yards through the air. The best football for Stonehill is still up ahead for them this season, and I do still think this is a team with potential to make noise in league play. If they continue to make incremental improvements, you have to like them hitting their stride as conference play begins in earnest.
New Haven
The Chargers weren’t able to stop the Lake Show on defense and the offense struggled as well on the road in Erie. Unfortunately, they’ll hit the road against Albany yet again and won’t have many reprieves this season. AJ Duffy threw for 183 with one TD through the air (he rushed for another) in the losing effort against Mercyhurst. Interestingly, they looked like they’d be very competitive early with a TD drive on the first possession, but as the game wore on they were unable to keep pace with the Lakers. This is still not a team that’s been fully healthy, missing Zaon Laney, and perhaps they’ll get better football under them as the season goes on.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash dropped their second consecutive FBS game to Buffalo and scored their first touchdown of the season late. With CCSU coming up, we still don’t really have a great idea of what Saint Francis will do against like competition this year, but the defense had more trouble against Buffalo than they’d had against ULM and as such they’ll have to stay in the basement here. CCSU and Saint Francis played an incredibly close game in 2024, and an upset is certainly not out of the question as we’ll finally get a chance to see what the Red Flash will offer in 2025.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 2: Mulligan!
There’s no point in doing power rankings in week 1; that’s just your season predictions. For the NEC, in a lot of ways, there’s not always a ton of value in doing Week 2 power rankings, either.
The membership of our league was not upset, nor did it pull any upsets; everything went pretty much chalk with one exception- S&P+ had New Haven, a school playing their first Division I football game with a new team as a road favorite against Marist. Just pointing that out to be truthful. I think it’s not a huge stretch to say that context matters and whatever metrics go into S&P+ create a strong, fun system. That said, you can’t draw on much of New Haven’s production or performance in prior seasons given both the transition and the team’s lightning-fast rebuilding effort. So we’ll chalk it up as a possible upset, but realistically, I’m not real sure I’d put a ton of stock into that one.
So there’s not too much movement here, but here we go: our power rankings after Week 1.
Duquesne
Duquesne had a tough first game against in-city rival (they call it the City Game, after all) Pitt in front of 53,006 fans. That’s actually more than the Dukes saw whenever they opened up the season against Florida State several years ago, but that makes a lot of sense. Not only were Pitt fans hyped up to see Duquesne, the Dukes faithful didn’t have much of a journey to go on a road trip, either. There was kind of a buzz around the game and in the press box opinion seemed fairly split as to whether or not Duquesne could muddy up the game with their offensive and defensive lines, or if Pitt was just too much for the Dukes to handle.
In the end, it was definitely the latter. The Dukes fell 61-9, but they were very competitive in the first quarter and Pitt certainly got off to a slow start. The offensive line wasn’t able to stay on the field with the Pitt pass rush or run stuffers, but Joey Isabella certainly handled himself well with over 100 yards through the air, Ty Riddell showed some promise with a great deep ball when he had the time to throw, and Jack Dunkley had some big moments from an athleticism standpoint. Point being, we’re not penalizing the Dukes for this one. But we will not tweet for them to be ranked this week.
Central Connecticut State
The Blue Devils had an in-state opponent of their own. While they got on the board first, they weren’t able to keep pace with what is expected to be a very good UConn team. Maybe the most troubling news is that Elijah Howard was on crutches on the sidelines during this game. Rob Gullo at the New Britain Herald tweeted out that it was a calf injury and that he’s been dinged up since camp. We do not speculate on injuries, but certainly hope Elijah is feeling better and is ready to go this week.
Robert Morris
We’re giving Bobby Mo a little bit of a bump northward here as they were able to hang with a West Virginia team for a half (heading into the locker room at 10-3) and the defense that we hoped for out of the Colonials seemed to be present. There’s been a lot of coaching turnover for Robert Morris, but we liked the promotion of Coach Makrinos to defensive coordinator and oftentimes the problem against FBS teams (and especially P4 teams) for FCS teams is depth more than first string talent. That seemed to be the case as the Colonials might have gotten a little gassed later on as the game got out of hand. This is a West Virginia team welcoming back a previous head coach, so we won’t know exactly what they’ve got until later in the season. Still, it was a solid first half performance and enough to get a bump up here.
Mercyhurst
I’m not all-in on the Lake Show after one week, but it would feel pretty criminal not to at least give them a few spots up after playing what was one of the most competitive games for the conference in week 1- in a situation where they were definitely expected to be playing up a few levels. The Lakers hung with the Youngstown State Penguins and showed off new wide receiver Dylan Evans, who caught 7 passes and looked like yet another weapon at receiver for Mercyhurst. Defensively, they hung well with well-regarded offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s first outing in Youngstown, although Gino Leone tells us that it may have been a somewhat vanilla gameplan. In any case, the Lakers were probably a handful of miscues away from winning this game. They’ve got a lot of tough road games ahead, but we’ll be in town to see them take on New Haven this Saturday.
Long Island
You just can’t take that much from a game against Florida with 89,000+ fans in The Swamp at night. You just can’t. The negative here for the Sharks from a ranking perspective is that we didn’t really see much to tell us who they are this season yet. Stanzani and Greenwood weren’t able to get much going through the air, and Ingram and Ross pretty much split the tailback carries. Greenwood wasn’t the same weapon on the ground against a top-15 team as he is against more reasonable competition. Deion Richardson had a 28 yard catch, but other than that it was tough going for the Sharks and we’ll have a better chance to truly evaluate them next week against Eastern Michigan. Don’t consider this the Sharks dropping from the preseason so much as getting a better idea of some of the other competition and some more standout performances from them. Teams moved up; the Sharks didn’t really get knocked down.
Wagner
The Seahawks opened up a new and improved stadium for Kansas on a weeknight and the atmosphere and talent from the other side was always going to be a little much to handle. We did get an idea on Wagner’s QB situation (it looks like it’ll be R-Fr Jack Stevens) and a viral interception came of the game from Jayden Brown. What did we say last year- the NEC is the Conference of Insane Interceptions. I’m not really convinced that there’s much to go on from the Seahawks offensively, but this might be an opportunistic team on Grymes Hill as Wagner did win the TO battle at 2-0 against Kansas.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks barely made it to their game (reportedly, they got a flat tire and were almost late) and that might have had an impact offensively. Defensively, they were stout as expected, giving up only one touchdown (they surrendered a field goal and the offense gave up a safety). A 12-7 win is a tough way to lose in week one, but there were bright spots here. Charles Battaglia was as good as hoped for with 9 tackles, and Jack O’Connell was 30-39 through the air. Offensively, they’ll need to turn those completions into yards (212 through the air for O’Connell) and points. It’s not where we hoped Stonehill would start on week one, but it’s a long season.
New Haven
New Haven hung with Marist in their first game in Division I and, much like Mercyhurst, had opportunities to win the game that weren’t able to be capitalized on, especially on special teams. You make your biggest improvement from Week 1 to Week 2, and gametime decision Zaon Laney will hopefully be healthy heading into Mercyhurst this weekend as we’re expecting rainy, grind-it-out weather up on Lake Erie. A.J. Duffy absolutely looks like the real deal, but we’re in a kind of wait-and-see mode on the Chargers until this Saturday when we get a real data point for them against Erie. The Chargers certainly look like they’ve got a playmaker under center, and I do not think next week is at all out of reach for this team.
Saint Francis
Saint Francis headed into Louisiana-Monroe and after a weather delay weren’t able to get off the blocks offensively. Geno Calgaro had an outstanding performance with 12 tackles, and the Red Flash were able to block two extra points. Unfortunately, the longest play for the other side of the ball was 14 yards, and while the Red Flash were able to go into half time at 10-0, Louisiana-Monroe is not traditionally the same level as a West Virginia and so you have to adjust the credit that you give the defense accordingly. Still, just like every season in the portal era, the Red Flash lost plenty and were still able to rebuild their defense. Hopefully, we get a little bit of a better idea of what to expect offensively next week before they open up the NEC season on the road in Hard Hittin’ New Britain.
GAME RECAP: Duquesne at Pitt- Dukes Drop City Game, 61-9
The rivalry hadn’t been played in football since 1939. Unfortunately, while the crowd came out for the Dukes and the Panthers, the result was a runaway victory for Pitt that resulted in a loss for the team from The Bluff.
Joey Isabella caught a strike from Ty Riddell for a 59 yard gain in the first half that set up Duquesne’s first touchdown. The play came with great protection and a long strike that was dead on and accurate. When Duquesne’s offensive line is on this season, Riddel is going to have the opportunity to throw deep- and he’s already shown the accuracy to connect when those opportunities come. But in Acrisure Stadium, against the Panthers, the pass rush was often just too much to contain.
Still, Isabella proved that he was more than equal to the high level of competition. He finished with over 100 yards through the air, and the Dukes often keyed their offense on him, giving the wideout over 100 total yards. He looked like a plus matchup for the Dukes, and they got creative to get him the ball in space. He’s going to be a problem for defenses in league play. It’s said that in these FCS vs. FBS games, one player will line up against someone that will be the best at their position they play against all season long. It seems conceivable that Isabella provided that kind of challenge for Pitt’s defensive backfield today.
Jack Dunkley caught Eli Holstein for a sack early in the 3rd quarter that showed off the moves he has on the edge, and when he caught Pitt’s dual threat quarterback Eli Holstein from behind after a 16 yard gain, it only served to show that Dunkley will be an athletic mismatch for most of the teams the Dukes play this year. For much of the game, though, he was only even with the blue and gold across the line from him- not head and shoulders above. But even against a P4 team is a good start.
Special Teams was sometimes a struggle for the Dukes, where the depth difference between the NEC and the ACC sometimes shows itself. Kenny Johnson and All-American Dez Reid were able to get long returns, with Reid returning a punt for a touchdown on the first Pitt touch of the day.
Taj Butts often found himself searching for room in a snowstorm of blue jerseys, but a few bigger runs- headlined by a 17 yard rush to start Duquesne’s first offensive possession- showed the potential on the ground, too. It was rough sledding all day, but the Dukes did make big plays. They’ll have to build on those as they head back home to take on Lincoln (PA) and a chance to work on things to get ready for Lehigh and league play.
Games like the City Game are good for football- a chance for the Dukes to play at Acrisure Stadium, sure, but also an in-city event that got people excited about the prospect of Duquesne and Pitt playing each other once again, for the first time since 1939. It feels like something that should happen more often- at least every 4 seasons, the Dukes should take on the Panthers. Sometimes, it’ll be this way. It’s hard as an FCS squad- whether it’s RMU or Duquesne- to compete with the in-city power conference team. We knew that going into the game. The Dukes showed enough flashes to give us an idea of what they’ll excel at in the NEC this season and plenty of chances to see how they stack up against top competition. Against a power team in an opener? Sometimes, that’s the best outcome you can hope for.
Second Quarter: Duquesne at Pitt
Drive 7 continues. 3rd and 3 at the Dukes 19, Pitt ball.
This time, the Holstein read option is stopped as Dunkley reads it well and it’s 4th and 3. Yet again, Pitt remains on the field. Holstein throws an interception into the end zone and we’re still at 14-0. Dukes ball.
Drive 8 Dukes at the 20.
Solomon goes up the middle again, this time for 2 yards. They’re trying something new with a really bunched in formation and the swing pass out to Butts is for about 4 yards. 3rd and 4 for the Dukes, but at their own 26 yard line they’ll have to convert here. A lot of contact but the pass is broken up on 3rd down, and the Dukes punt team is back on. This time, the Dukes seemed to try to go outside and short but still aren’t finding a hole in the Pitt defense.
Drive 9. Pitt at their own 19.
Dez Reid looks pretty impossible to tackle. Even his gains of 3 are pretty. Pitt’s offense really isn’t running away with this one early, which bodes well for the Duquesne defense this season. Huge rush up the middle from Duquesne nearly gets home, forcing a quick pass, and with a 4th and 4 on their own 25, they’ll have to punt.
Drive 10. Pitt at their own 39.
Good field position for the Dukes and they’ll have to make it happen this drive. They get it done with a big pass to Isabella, and the Dukes are at the Pitt 2 yard line. PLENTY of time for Riddell and he delivered the strike. This is what they’ll have to do to win today, and if the OL is as good as we think in FCS play, we’ll see more of this moving forward this season. At the two yard line, a false start will move the Dukes back to the 7. Duke TD from the 7 and B.J. Alexander will get the Dukes on the board, 6-14 after a missed PAT. Suddenly we’ve got a game here, and might we remind you Pitt needed two 4th down conversions and a punt return TD to score?
Drive 11. Pitt at the Duquesne 18.
Big kick return from Kenny Johnson- looked like a TD but Duquesne able to make the big last second tackle- and they’re in the red zone. Duquesne commits the “good” pass interference that probably saved a touchdown. Pitt will have first and goal at the 5. First throw is an overthrow. The next place sees Goff take it for Pitt to the 1 yard line. 3rd and goal and the Dukes have to come up stout here to avoid the quick response. Goff takes the run up the middle and is able to get the Pitt touchdown. You see the depth come into play here at special teams and Goff likely wouldn’t have gotten more than a couple, but when you’re backed up on the 18 to start a drive, it’s hard to come away with points. The extra point is blocked and Pitt goes up 20-6.
Drive 12. Duquesne at the 25.
A quick strike gets Isabella 4 yards and the Dukes huddle. Butts takes it off guard to the weak side and it’s 3rd and 2. Unfortunately, the Dukes broke the huddle with 12 and they’ll go back to 3rd and 7. The Dukes try a screen to Isabella on the 3rd and 7 from a 5 wide and that’s going to work for 10 yards. The Pitt defense is starting to stack together some plays, but it’s not a warm day here in Pittsburgh. Duquesne moves backwards following this and it’s a 3rd and 16 and they’ll have to punt after they can’t get anyone open. The punt gets Pitt to start on their own 38, but a taunting from Duquesne will start the Panthers at the Dukes 47.
Drive 13. There’s a blanket over Kenny Johnson by the Dukes but the catch is made for the first down. A quick swing pass gets Pitt 15 more yards and we’re at the 20 yard line with Pitt moving. Plenty of time for Holstein as the pass rush can’t get there and eventually Kenny Johnson gets open for the touchdown pass. Pitt will go up 27-6.
Drive 14. Really good turnout here for an FCS game- about the best I’ve seen for Pitt- and I’m curious what the numbers will end up being. Duquesne will start at the 25. Roughing the passer will get Duquesne to the 50 yard line. There’s a sack on the following play from an incredible Pitt pursuit from Joey Zelinsky. 2nd and 15 and the Dukes are on their own 45. Isabella is able to get open for 8 and he’s already close to 10 targets. On the 3rd and 7, Riddell has to bail out and throw it away. Dukes will have to punt. Touchback on the punt.
Drive 15. Pitt at the 20, 2:31 remaining. Busted coverage and gets Pitt a big gain to the Dukes 30 at 2:00 remaining in the half. Holstein throws to the end zone and there’s contact but no call. 3rd and 12 after Reid can’t get anything on the edge. Holstein is pressured but able to get downfield, yet after 16 yards Dunkley is able to catch him. There’s a catch by Hicks in the Pitt end zone that’ll be SC Top 10- a ridiculous one handed grab- that simply can’t be defended. Touchdown, Pitt up 33-36.
Drive 16. Dukes on their own 25 with 48 seconds to go in the half.
Butts takes the first rush for 2 and the Dukes run out the half.
First Quarter: Duquesne at Pitt
15:00 to kickoff. Pitt band on the field. No sign of a Duquesne spirit band contingent, but the Dukes did bring the cheerleaders along. Duquesne (like all visiting teams at Acrisure) is allotted a corner of the stadium, but looks like scattered red throughout the visitor’s sideline. Blue of course, too, but hard to discern what’s Duquesne blue and what’s Pitt blue from up here…
But I’ve really missed you, college football.
8 minutes to go: Pitt running out with a city of Pittsburgh flag. I keep one of these next to the set in the NEC Blitz Studios- it’s a great flag and, you know, Yinzer and all that. But is this a special City Game thing? Will Duquesne have a Pittsburgh flag? (I really hope so).
4 minutes to go: No Pittsburgh flag from Duquesne.
Kickoff: “Pittsburgh Sound” by Wiz Khalifa. Good choice. Duquesne will receive, so we get our chance to see Ty Riddell right away. Keys here are the Duquesne OL against the Pitt DL.
Drive 1: Duquesne at the 25.
Yup. That line looks good for the Dukes. 17 yard pickup. Second play is more like what you’d expect from the Pitt line and it’s a 3 yard loss. So running on the Panthers is going to be tough despite play one. Riddell is pressured hard on 2nd down and has to throw it away while running wide. The OL not holding off the Pitt DL as much as they did initially. Another big rush and the pass was short of the first down at midfield. Dukes should stay on here… and it’s a ploy to get Pitt offsides which fails. Delay of game and now the Dukes will punt. The first play was what we had hoped for, and after that the Pitt DL looked a little too strong.
Punt return is an 88 yard touchdown return for Pitt, and the Panthers will go up 7-0 here with 12:14 in the City Game.
Drive 2: Duquesne at the 25.
Right tackle whiffs on the first play here and Riddell takes a shot and Pitt drops a pick here. Unfortunately, it looks the strength for the Dukes is going up against the bet front 7 they’ll see all year and one of the best in the ACC. Another loss here on a run and the Dukes are moving backwards. Riddell pressured again and they’ll punt. Kind of a line drive punt but that might be for the best to keep it away from Dez Reid, who’s an All-American and had the Pitt TD earlier. We’ll get a shot to see the Duquesne defense from the Pitt 34. I actually think Jermaine Johnson might be a plus matchup at WR but will the Dukes have the time to get the ball to him?
Drive 3: Pitt at the 34.
Dukes run defense looks stout on the first play and the pass coverage is good on play 2. If Holstein throws a step further behind it’s a pick six. Dukes timeout on 3rd and 9. Dukes stuff Dez Reid on the designed swing pass (Pitt used this play against Kent State last year) and it’s a 3 and out forced by the Dukes. Isabella fields it and gets out of bounds at the 21.
Drive 4: Duquesne at the 21.
Isabella gets the ball for the first time on offense on the short pass- Dukes adjusting to the pressure- and they pick up 2. Butts gets the ball here and gets 3 more. Big 3rd down with a makeable 5 for the Dukes and a chance to keep the Pitt defense on the field. Riddell scrambles and seems to have a hole that gets closed by the Pitt LB Lovelace quickly. 4th and 4 and the Dukes will have to punt again. Let’s see if it’s another squib to keep it from Reid…It’s another keepaway punt and Pitt starts at the 38.
Drive 5: Pitt at the 38.
The Duquesne DL continues to be strong against Pitt. Good pressure on the 2nd play but a sort of miracle throw to Kenny Johnson gets caught- could have hit the ground but you can’t tell from the video. Pitt has a false start rushing to the line but the delayed pitch to Reid goes for 13 on the next play. They went outside there and it worked better avoiding the Dukes line. The next play is up the guy and more predictably- this Dukes line is good- they get a loss of a yard. 3rd and 3 and a huge defensive stand for the Dukes. The Panthers fake the delayed pitch and run Holstein- 4th and 1 with Pitt staying on the field. You’d think they’d stop running into the teeth here- Duquesne seems to have a good matchup here- and the read option outside goes well outside for Pitt and a 16 yard first down. A pass to Hicks on the outside is a 13 yard gain and we’re at 1st and goal at the 5. Duquesne has to get stout here now. First throw is well covered and they avoid the coverage with a backwards pass- call it a run to Poppi Jones- and they get to 3rd and goal at the 1. This plays to Duquesne’s strengths, though... They stack the line and Pitt has to run to the outside and throw out wide. Jones makes the big tackle but Pitt is still on the field at 4th and goal from the 4. Touchdown pass to Hicks up the middle. Pitt will go up 14-0.
Duquesne showed the strength of the middle of their line here, and Pitt had to adjust but was able to quickly. The tendency to run up the gut early might have led to the big bite on the read option with the big Holstein gain that really put the Dukes in good position. Notable that Pitt had to go for it twice on 4th here.
Drive 6: Duquesne at the 25.
Butts able to run up the middle for a yard on the first play, but it looks like someone trying to dive through a swarm of blue jerseys. The Dukes have got to win some 1 on 1 matchups on the edge- and have the chance to get the ball off. Almost on cue, All-American Kyle Louis comes through unblocked and sacks Riddell hard. Timeout Dukes. They’re at their own 13 on 3rd and 22. Louis gets chipped on the next play, but the Dukes get sacked again for a loss of 8. 4th and 30 at the 5. Unfortunately, the breakdown for the Dukes is logical here but unfavorable- if you can’t run up the middle, you have to get to the outside where the DBs are in one on one coverage. But you need time to win those matchups, and they can’t get any of that. Punt is short and Pitt takes over at the 26.
Drive 7: Pitt at the Dukes 26.
Holstein doesn’t see a wideout uncovered down the middle and throws too long to Johnson- that was a scoring play that the Dukes will survive. He gets six on the designed QB delayed power on the next play up the guy. First quarter ends on a 3rd and 3, and we’re heading to a new thread.
View from the P4: “It’s a good league. It’s building.”
Post-Gazette writer Abby Schnable did us a huge favor by asking Pat Narduzzi, the Head Coach for the Pittsburgh Panthers, about his impressions of the NEC as a whole.
“I think it’s a great conference. There’s no bad conferences in the country. It’s another FCS program. They’ve got Robert Morris, which is another city rivalry, I guess you could call it. But I think it’s a great league, and it’s building. They continue to bring good talent in and they got good players.”
Getting something positive from a coach prior to any game isn’t newsworthy on its own. It only makes sense to compliment your opponent before a game. Our interest in Coach’s view of the Northeast Conference is more based on a prior comment he made several years back regarding the CAA. Coach Narduzzi had noted that the CAA was a MAC based in the Northeast. So our question was: what does that make the NEC?
Evidently, building.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise. Saint Francis beat Kent State last season, as well as Pitt’s week 1 foe Duquesne knocking off Youngstown State, a place he’s very familiar with. When we spoke with Craig D’Amico this offseason, we both talked about how the feeling for NEC non-conference games has changed over the past few seasons. It’s no longer an expectation to be non-competitive. There’s excitement now for fans of the league’s schools. Looking at how close LIU played Rhode Island, or CCSU’s near-upset of UMass- you now expect the league to be able to compete and even win some of these games prior to league play.
So, yeah. Building.
Coach Narduzzi’s praise wasn’t limited to the NEC, though. He also clearly has a lot of respect for the Dukes and Coach Schmitt. After noting that this was Coach Schmitt’s 21st year, he gave specific praise to QB Ty Riddell, RB Taj Butts, and WR Joey Isabella. In terms of the overall talent level he’ll face?
“I think Jerry and his staff do a great job of recruiting and bringing talent in.”
Riddell has been here before, having led ETSU to a victory over Vanderbilt when he was the starting QB for the Buccaneers. It’s one of the more interesting storylines for this opener. Do you learn anything from knocking off P4 schools at the FCS level? While the bulk of the Dukes have played Boston College before in a big loss last season, the program has also played Florida State in the past. But there’s something about staying home and playing a school just up the road- literally, by the way, up the road- with your fans in the stands. And for the local talent, they’ll have the chance to show the Pitt staff what they missed out on by not offering. The Dukes will bring their A game, and we agree with Coach Narduzzi on one more front- this will probably be the best game the Dukes play all season.
We’ll have the chance to see how the talent matches up on the ACC Network or at Acrisure Stadium this Saturday.
NEC Football Preview and Predictions 2025: “The NEC is a Funny Thing.”
We’re going to try and provide predictions for the order of finish in this preview, but as a sitting NEC head coach once told me, “The NEC is a funny thing.” It was the first interview I’d ever done as a media member covering the league, and for the time I’ve been covering it has been a repeated statement I’ve made, most obviously when Central Connecticut State- picked last in 2024- won the league and challenged Rhode Island on the road in the first round of the playoffs.
If you bought the magazine, please don’t worry- this is more of a primer on the season than the full blown deep dive you’re enjoying as a reader. However, I noticed some errors in other previews and felt a set of corrections was necessary as a result. The league is kind of hard to follow casually; if you’re not embedded in it, you’ll miss transfers and graduations. It’s part of what makes it so much fun.
1. Duquesne
CCSU was picked first in the coaches preseason poll, but in our NEC preview magazine we picked Duquesne first after the meticulous research and coach interviews we conducted with the schools over the offseason. There’s just very few questions with Duquesne. We wondered about the QB situation with the graduation of Darius Perrantes- easily the best QB in the league last year and the likely Offensive Player of the Year prior to a poor performance in the season finale in a loss to CCSU- but the Dukes were able to reload here. Ty Riddell, a former SoCon champion, joins the team as a heavily experienced transfer. The Dukes lost RB JaMario Clements in the transfer portal to the P4 at Wake Forest, but they’ve got Taj Butts and Offensive Rookie of the Year Shawn Solomon available. It barely matters who has the rock, though, because they return 5 linemen with significant starting experience and will ave the best offensive line in the league without question. On the DL, they return A.J. Ackerman and Jack Dunkley. We have two all-NEC Blitz first teamers on the back end with Antonio Epps and DJ Cerisier. We had some questions at linebacker, but transfer Tyson Meiguez has gotten rave reviews and the Dukes should be favored in every NEC game this season.
2. CCSU
The defending champions were picked first by the coaches, but they’re actually something of a wildcard. They return Offensive Player of the Year Elijah Howard, so the offense should still be potent. They’ve actually added here as well, with WR Donovan Wadley transferring in from Merrimack. Wadley is the former NEC Offensive Player of the Year from 2023, so the Blue Devils now have the past two OPOYS in the year at QB Brady Olsen’s disposal. Olsen is solid and experienced, even if he’s not in the conversation for the best QB in the league. The real trouble for the Blue Devils is what they’ve lost in the trenches, with most of their vaunted OL graduating or transferring- it was easily the best in the league last season and a huge part of their success. The issue is only compounded by OL coach Jeff Ambrosie departing for Syracuse. They’ve also lost the two leading pass rushers on the defensive line and their prduction will be difficult to replace even with Derek Berlitz coming in from WVU. Christopher Jean in the secondary was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, and the linebacker corps is led by Jack Stoll, but this is still a unit that has to replace Defensive Player of the Year Kimal Clark although they added a ton of transfer depth to try and do that. It’s hard to know what the Blue Devils will be without the same line play as they enjoyed last year, and they did benefit from a lot of bounces their way last season. I have them at second, but this is a competitive league and close losses could easily be coming their way if they lose some of their turnover production.
3. LIIU
The Sharks are likely going to become a bigger force in the league moving forward as the program opted in to revenue sharing- one of 3 NEC football squads to do so. They return all purpose threat Ethan Greenwood, rushed and threw for over 900 yards last season despite earning the starting job midway through the year. The Sharks were historically unlucky last season, losing close games to open 0-6. Greenwood took the reigns and the team led in the rest of their games in the 4th quarter and went 4-2. They’ll still use two QBs this season and run the most unique and unconventional offense in the NECC. They’re difficult to prepare for and talented, but will have a lot of new starters. They lost 4 OL this offseason to the FBS- OL coach Ian Pace does a tremendous job here and recruits as well as he coaches. On the defensive side of the ball, DQ Watkins, Rafael Fasolino, and Todd Bowels are all returning players that we love at each level (Edge, LB, DB respectively). The Sharks might actually surprise people on defense this season and with Ethan Greenwood as the most dynamic player in the NEC, they’ll challenge for the title.
4. Stonehill
Stonehill?! Everyone else has them picked 8th, including the league Coaches Poll. I like Stonehill because my philosophy has always been that the most important metric in college football- and particularly in the transfer era- is returning production and continuity. The Skyhawks have more of that than anyone else in the NEC. The trouble is that they had a poor showing last year with only one win. The coaching staff responded by changing things up in the offseason, revamping the strength and conditioning program and accordingly the Skyhawks set over half of their 30 strength records they track this offseason. Charles Battaglia at LB and Mo Seide at DB lead what should be a much improved defense- probably by more than a touchdown per game. The offense returns two solid RBs and WR Brigham Dunphy, but the QB situation took the entire season in 2024 to resolve. Hopefully, this is now settled with Jack O’Connell, and if so Stonehill will have a big turnaround. It’s also worth noting that they’ve defeated Duquesne 2 of the last 3 years.
5. RMU
RMU is the wildcard this season. They were hit harder by coaching turnover (including two coaches in the past month) and the transfer portal than anyone. Noah Robinson, the star WR and engine of this offense, transferred to Tennessee Tech and was the biggest loss, but they lost effectively the entire RB room and QB Anthony Chiccit to Temple. The OL was injured in spring and didn’t get as much work as you’d hope. Defensively, they lost some of the best players in the NEC and will have to rebuild at almost every position. Acrobatic viral sensation Rob Carter Jr. graduated and is currently in the CFL. RMU is skilled at building through the portal and has done it at a scholarship disadvantage in the Big South-OVC before, but this might be a down year with the coaching turnover getting settled still.
6. Wagner
The Seahawks should be improved in 2025 but face a logjam ahead of them. They’ll be running two quarterbacks out on the field against Kansas (that’s Jordan Barton and Jack Stevens) and will have to decide between young potential and JUCO experience at the position. WR Jaylen Bonelli departed in the portal, but Terree McDonald should be able to step into the lead receiver role. Brady Anderson anchors the offensive line and Logan Barnes will be a force on the defensive line. It’s not really a question of if Wagner has improved- they’re more talented and deeper offensively than they’ve been since Coach Masella began rebuilding his alma mater- but they may have been hit harder in the transfer portal over the years then you’d like to see from a contender. They’re capable of surprising anyone, though.
7. Saint Francis
This is Saint Francis’s last season in the NEC before they drop to Division III and the PAC, which does include perennial powers like Grove City and especially Carnegie Mellon, which they’ll have to find a way to recruit successfully against when they’re at the same level. Coach Villarial is one of the best to ever coach in the NEC, and they’ve only lost the usual amount of production that they go through every offseason. We should note here that Markell Holman has departed in the transfer portal despite some reporting to the contrary and Andrew Vines, a DB, was listed at RB in the spring and may be switching positions this season. The Red Flash will lean on three QBs with starting experience, an experienced OL, and Geno Calgaro and Trey McLeer on defense (LB and DB respectively). The Red Flash always seem to have players ready to step into the voids filled by transferring players, but it’s hard to know what to expect with the talent dropoff they’ll likely start to experience with the transition down to D3.
8. Mercyhurst
The Lakers have begun to build a Division I caliber program after their transition from the PSAC. They return the best QB in the NEC, Adam Urena, RB Brian Trobel, and an experienced WR corps including Rylan Davison and Adam’s brother, Austin Urena. The issue for the Lakers is that they’re replacing an OL and good DL, including Camden White. While they return a lot in the receiving room, WR Cameron Barmore transferred into the Big 12 with Arizona where he’ll play tight end. Barmore is a legit pro prospect and a big loss for the Lakers. When you have a quarterback, you have a chance, but the Lakers are still building up to the level of the rest of the conference.
PREVIEW: Duquesne at Pitt, Week 1, 2025
For decades, “The City Game” was a basketball tradition, drawing Pittsburgh together each winter. Brother against brother! Judge against doctor! Everyone in the city knew what the game was, and many flocked to the Civic Arena for it every year. The hardwood rivalry may have gone quiet, but the football field is ready to carry the torch. It’s still lawyer against nurse—only this time, Duquesne and Pitt will collide on the gridiron. As a Yinzer myself, there is nothing more meaningful to me than talking about football in Pittsburgh- and, frankly, this is what college football is all about when it’s at its best. In a way, I’ve been waiting for this game to be played on turf ever since I started watching football religiously, over 30 years ago.
And as the publisher of NEC Blitz, let me just say it: this is it. It’s August. We’re writing about football games again. I’m so happy. But anyway, on with the game preview.
Pitt comes in with national firepower. Two All-Americans: Desmond Reid, who can play anywhere but will hurt you most at running back, and linebacker Kyle Louis, the face of their defense. The Panthers even snuck into the “others receiving votes” section of the AP poll (I understand it was one voter in Louisiana). But this is still a team licking its wounds after a brutal 0–6 slide to close 2024, so expectations are tempered.
Not even nearly across the entire city in Uptown, Duquesne’s no pushover. The Dukes received FCS Top 25 votes and landed eight players on the preseason All-NEC Blitz first team. Wideout Joey Isabella and DB Antonio Epps are names you’ll hear often this season, but it’s their line play that gives them a real chance to make this interesting. Defensive lineman Jack Dunkley (my pick for NEC Defensive Player of the Year) anchors a front that can cause trouble for anybody, even an ACC program. This is a team that won a lot of games last season and has something to prove with the way the year came to an end.
We do think this one is going to go a little differently than most warm-up games. Most FCS vs. P4 games are decided by raw talent. This one looks like it’s more about the experience and familiarity in the trenches. Pitt’s offensive line struggled mightily in pass protection last year, which is why they pored through the transfer portal for reinforcements. They brought in an all-AAC player in Kendall Stanley (Charlotte), a Michigan transfer in Jeff Persi, and they return three starters including Ryan Baer. The things we’re hearing out of camp (especially out of Baer) are all positive. But on snap one in August, they’ve got to block A.J. Ackerman and Dunkley. The usual argument here is easy: Ackerman and Dunkley are good, sure, but they’re good in the NEC.
Here’s the thing: there are no “FCS” or “P4” stamps on foreheads. Sometimes you can play, sometimes you can’t. And Duquesne’s front can play on either side of the ball.
On the offensive side, Duquesne’s offensive line is loaded with veterans like Brian Beidatsch Jr. and Michael Falla, which means Pitt’s pass rush won’t just tee off. Quarterback Ty Riddell (who seems to have been in college since the Civic Arena was still standing) has the experience to handle the moment. But he’ll have to deal with Pitt’s linebackers, the “Sharks,” who are the best linebacker room the NEC will see all season. They hit, they cover, and they love to bait quarterbacks into mistakes. A pick-six is a relatively safe bet against this group. That doesn’t mean the running game is favorable for the Dukes. Taj Butts and Shawn Solomon will be good players, but the Dukes can’t just plug in anybody to take the place of JaMario Clements (Wake Forest). They’ll have success on the ground this year, but Pitt’s a hard place to start learning how to run the ball again.
Then there’s the secondary. If you’ve watched a Pat Narduzzi defense, you know how well it runs when the corners are elite. Pitt doesn’t have lockdown guys this year, but they’ve got experience in Rashad Battle and Tamon Lynum. That leads me to believe that even with the sometimes “all-or-nothing” coverage this defense can play, Isabella won’t have an easy time getting downfield. Noah Canty, who is returning from injury, has to start his comeback effort by trying to find space against Pitt’s linebackers and safeties. The Panthers always seem to have an all-league guy at safety, so the names don’t really matter at this point. They’ll have talent and depth here.
If Pitt’s rebuilt OL comes out strong and gelled together, this probably goes how the point spread thinks it will. But if they’re shaky, this turns into the worst-case scenario for a Power Four program in this kind of a game: a slog. You go into these games as a fan expecting the favorite to pull away, but when it’s slow going it never happens. Suddenly it’s the fourth quarter, the underdog is still standing, and everyone starts to sweat.
And don’t forget the local angle. Plenty of Dukes grew up dreaming of Pitt, never got the call, and now wear red and blue instead of blue and gold. They’re full-fledged Dukes, but you don’t think that adds a little extra edge? That’s worth a couple points right there.
Now, the reality check. Last year, Duquesne went up to Boston College and got run off the field 56–0, down 42 at halftime. That’s what usually happens in these games. But this isn’t Chestnut Hill. This is going to be in Pittsburgh. There’s going to be a big, neutral-ish crowd- much more neutral than these games usually have. A city rivalry with history. Emotion in the air.
The Panthers are favored, no question. They’ve got more raw talent. But if Duquesne’s lines hold up, if Riddell stays upright, and if the Dukes hang around long enough to make Pitt nervous…. well, then the City Game might just remind this town why it should have never gone away in the first place.
NEC Releases Coaches Poll
The official NEC Coaches Poll just dropped.
I’m always the first to say it- those guys are the experts, not me. But football is fun, and so are friendly disagreements. Let’s compare the coaches poll and our rankings and then dive into four places where our opinions differ.
2025 NEC Preseason Coaches Poll
CCSU (5)
Duquesne (2)
Robert Morris (1)
LIUWagner
Saint Francis U
Mercyhurst
Stonehill
And here’s how we see it:
NEC Blitz Rankings
Duquesne
CCSU
LIU
Stonehill
RMU
Wagner
Saint Francis U
Mercyhurst
Let’s get to the meat of it.
1. Duquesne at #1?
We like the Dukes to be at the top of the conference, while the coaches picked them at second with two first place votes. The Dukes feel that they have five starting offensive linemen are back. That alone should send a message. Jack Dunkley and A.J. Ackerman return up front on defense, and on the back end, DJ Cerisier and Antonio Epps keep things locked. Add in Joey Isabella at wideout and Taj Butts in the backfield? There are questions for the Dukes, but there are a lot more answers than unknowns.
We had a lot of questions about the linebackers heading into practices this summer, but word out of camp is clear: they’ve reloaded at that spot and will be just fine. Duquesne is the most complete team on paper and deserves the top spot.
2. CCSU: Still Dangerous, Still Some Holes
CCSU deserves their place among the league’s elite, and we like them as a close second place, while the coaches have them favored to repeat. Donovan Wadley’s arrival bolsters the receiver corps, and there’s transfer talent across the board, especially in the secondary to replace Kimal Clark. Elijah Howard remains the best offensive player in the league until proven otherwise, and there’s a good stable of backs behind in for depth.
But replacing most of that offensive line and the OL coach? That’s not a small thing. On the defensive front, Jalen Howard and Dan Toatley are gone. Those are huge losses. While there’s a lot of solid talent we’ve heard great things from coming in, the Blue Devils still have to find a way to replace the NEC Defensive Player of the Year, and while Christopher Jean is a good answer, it’s still a big question. Derek Berlitz is a great get from WVU, but CCSU has more to replace than people realize.
3. Stonehill Deserves More Respect
This was the real head-scratcher. Last in the coaches poll? I guess I get it, but if you look past the record there’s some good things here. Stonehill returns a lot of pieces, and that matters in a conference with razor-thin margins. The Skyhawks had a great offseason in the weight room, and they showed fight last year even against the league's top teams. They’ve got a shot to open up at 1-0 against Sacred Heart, and doing that might be enough to give them the confidence to find their way through league play. On one hand, I think I might be a year early on sounding the alarm for the Skyhawks. On the other hand, as a head coach in this league once told me: The NEC is a funny thing.
They might not win the league, but they’re a long way from the bottom.
4. RMU: One Big Mystery
We’re all for bold picks, but a first-place vote for Robert Morris? It’s hard to know what team you’re voting for. Coaching turnover, roster overhaul, and a rebuilt skill position group make this team a big question mark. RMU has experience reloading through the transfer portal and it’s certainly within the realm of possibility that they’ll be in the top tier of the league, with the RMU vs. Duquesne game at Joe Walton determining the fate of the league. It’s possible, but it’s so hard to work out where the standouts for the Colonials are with all of the big losses. Players always step up, but I’m hesitating until I get more information.
They’ll be very strong on defense again with Coach Makrinos becoming the new defensive coordinator, but they’re breaking in new backs, receivers, and a tight end. There's talent in the DB room and at linebacker, but far too many unknowns to justify a top-3 spot.
Bonus: Stop Snubbing Urena
We get it. Picking preseason awards is tough. But once again, the league has opted to not name Adam Urena to the all-NEC team. That’s a mistake that’s going to age badly. You’ve just given one of the NEC’s top returning signal-callers a giant chip on his shoulder. Best of luck with that.
The season can’t get here fast enough.
NEC Blitz Unveils Our 2025 All-NEC First and Second Teams
PITTSBURGH, PA – NEC Blitz is proud to release our inaugural 2025 Preseason All-NEC Football Teams, showcasing the league’s top players. Featured in the NEC Blitz 2025 magazine, this elite lineup previews the Northeast Conference season, providing a watchlist for fans and analysts. Both magazine cover athletes, Adam Urena and Zaon Laney, are featured on the first team.
2025 Preseason All-NEC Team:
First Team Offense:
QB: Adam Urena (Mercyhurst)
RB: Elijah Howard (CCSU)
RB: Zaon Laney (New Haven)
WR: Joey Isabella (Duquesne)
WR: Donovan Wadley (CCSU)
TE: Noah Canty (Duquesne)
OL: Brian Beidatsch Jr (Duquesne)
OL: Michael Fallah (Duquesne)
OL: Donnie Hardin (LIU)
OL: Isaiah DeLoatch (CCSU)
OL: Brady Anderson (Wagner)
Second Team Offense:
QB: Ethan Greenwood (LIU)
RB: Brian Trobel (Mercyhurst)
RB: Taj Butts (Duquesne)
WR: Teree McDonald (Wagner)
WR: Brigham Dunphy (Stonehill)
WR: Rylan Davison (Mercyhurst)
OL: Cameron McLaurin (Duquesne)
OL: AlecZander McCoy (CCSU)
OL: Mofe Adewole (RMU)
OL: Gary Satterwhite III (Duquesne)
OL: Connor Van Tassell (Saint Francis)
First Team Defense:
DL: A.J. Ackerman (Duquesne)
DL: Jack Dunkley (Duquesne)
DL: DQ Watkins (LIU)
DL: Logan Barnes (Wagner)
LB: Geno Calgaro (Saint Francis)
LB: Charles Battaglia (Stonehill)
LB: Malachi Wright (CCSU)
DB: DJ Cerisier (Duquesne)
DB: Christopher Jean (CCSU)
DB: Antonio Epps (Duquesne)
DB: Mo Seide (Stonehill)
Second Team Defense:
DL: Sharod Watkins (CCSU)
DL: PJ Williams (Stonehill)
DL: Jonas King (Mercyhurst)
DL: Zack Athy (Stonehill)
LB: Rafael Fasolino (LIU)
LB: Jack Stoll (CCSU)
LB: Jordan Nelson (RMU)
DB: Trey McLeer (Saint Francis)
DB: Dylan Merrell (LIU)
DB: Jordan Irvine (Stonehill)
DB: Todd Bowles Jr. (LIU)
First Team Special Teams:
K: Jayson Jenkins (RMU)
P: Will Lynch (LIU)
AP: Ethan Greenwood (LIU)
Selected by NEC Blitz, this team predicts 2025 potential, including New Haven’s FCS transition with Zaon Laney. Full analysis of the schools and players is in the NEC Blitz 2025 magazine, available at NECBlitz.com and Amazon.com.
Follow @NECBlitz on Twitter for season updates and join the NEC conversation.
Martin Kicks Off the NEC Commitment Class in 2026 for the Dukes
Will Martin didn’t wait.
The first NEC commit in the 2026 class was a big win for Duquesne. Martin, a 6’2.5”, 220-pound athlete out of Seton LaSalle High School in Pittsburgh, committed to the Dukes with an official announcement on June 9. If you’re going to open up the lid on NEC commits (and Martin eventually set off a flurry of them), you might as well open with a blast. As an opening statement, Martin’s just about as explosive as the 4th of July.
His offer list speaks for itself. He drew FBS attention from Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, and Akron. His first offer came from Toledo—the same Rockets team that just took down Pitt in a bowl game. He also held offers from FCS Albany and Duquesne’s in-city rival RMU. But when it came time to decide, Martin didn’t hesitate.
“Duquesne was the right place for me as soon as I stepped on campus,” he said. “It immediately felt right. The coaches, the location, and the culture made it home for me.”
Martin received his offer right after a camp, and the moment stuck with him. “The conversation was pretty cool when I got my offer. The defensive coordinator Coach Jacobs and the offensive coordinator Coach Doria were there on the field when they called me and were fighting about which side of the ball they want me to play on. When they offered me, I committed on spot, and they definitely did not expect that.”
He might’ve had options on both sides of the ball, but Martin made it clear where he sees himself at the next level. “They are in between me playing tight end and linebacker right now, but I believe I will end up playing linebacker there because I feel like I’m a defensive player at heart.”
When we asked Martin about what coaches made a difference for him, he had an answer we’ve heard a few times now. “Coach Jacobs definitely stood out to me as the DC,” he said. “Right away I had a connection with him. I clicked with him well and I look forward to playing under him.”
Martin becomes the first commit in Duquesne’s 2026 class—and the first NEC pledge overall. You know that we’re always excited by WPIAL players, and Martin became the first such commit in the class as well. His signing was viewed by local experts like Karlo Zovko of WPIAL Insider as “a shocker.” The NEC does it with some regularity, to be sure, but opening the recruiting season by upsetting a slate of G5 offers is always a good way to begin the recruiting cycle for any team in the league. And if his commitment is any indication, the Dukes are setting the tone early.
