View From The Other Side: Youngstown State vs. Mercyhurst
We’re very fortunate to have the writing talents of Gino Leone contributing to NEC Blitz tonight- the first time we’ve ever had another contributor to the site! He provides excellent Youngstown State coverage for Redshirt Sports and was kind enough to share his thoughts with us.
Game Recap: Youngstown State vs Mercyhurst
Youngstown State controlled its opener against Mercyhurst, leaning on Beau Brungard’s legs and a stout defense, though questions linger about the offense’s balance.
Offense
Youngstown State came out hot on offense, scoring 21 points in the first half and driving down the field at an efficient rate. The second half was a completely different story, as YSU failed to reach the end zone and often looked one dimensional, relying on a heavy dosage of Beau Brungard to secure the win.
The junior quarterback has grown accustomed to QB power and draw plays, but not to the multitude or volume that he saw Thursday night. With a new offensive coordinator in Mike Yurcich, it was expected that YSU would push the ball down the field more and emphasize explosiveness. However, that wasn’t the case against Mercyhurst.
Beau had 28 carries, being dealt blow after blow and seeing an increased workload. He was productive, totaling 145 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but he left the field limping after the clock struck zero.
The play selection begs the question: is this approach sustainable? It is a valid concern, yet one that requires a larger sample size to make a fair assessment. What was perhaps more surprising about this offensive game plan was the apparent refusal to give YSU’s tailbacks touches.
Prior to the start of the season, the running back room was spoken highly of and was thought of as one of the deepest and most talented position groups on the roster. Jaden Gilbert and Tahir Mills combined for just ten rushes, contradicting this belief entirely. Again, there could be several explanations for this and time is the only answer.
At wide receiver, Max Tomczak led the team with 43 receiving yards on two receptions. Tomczak hauled in the longest pass of the evening, and Luke Hensley chipped in with an 11-yard snag.
Defense
Front Seven
For Youngstown State, there were a lot of questions about what the defensive line would look like heading into 2025. Although the final result was underwhelming, YSU’s front seven played an outstanding game, holding Mercyhurst to just 63 total rushing yards, and 2.6 yards per rush.
Linebacker Carston Marshall flashed his true potential, racking up 10 tackles, one TFL, and one pass breakup in what was a standout performance. His gap discipline and relentless pursuit of the ball carrier is something that YSU lacked last fall.
Another player that popped on film was transfer defensive tackle Thomas Jolly (Grand Valley State). The stat sheet doesn’t do Jolly full justice – he recorded just one tackle – but he obliterated the interior of the Lakers’ O-Line and disrupted their offensive rhythm. The ‘Guins needed the front line to improve drastically, and it appears the coaching staff has made the necessary adjustments to do so.
YSU moved Michael Wells (6-3, 250) – a linebacker in 2024 – to an Edge/OLB role. This change gives the ‘Guins size and athleticism up front, while not putting them at a serious disadvantage due to Wells' lengthy frame.
Though there were mistakes, Wells thrived with new responsibilities and executed at a high level.
Secondary
The numbers alone might suggest YSU’s secondary had a rough showing, yet that wasn’t the case at all. QB Adam Urena completed 32-of-48 passes for 311 yards and two touchdowns, making some remarkable throws and showcasing his lightning-quick release time. This kid can spin it, and there were countless occasions where there was absolutely nothing YSU could do to stop him.
I thought the ‘Guins locked down the Lakers when it mattered the most and were disruptive at pivotal moments. Dathan Hickey broke out and had a good Penguin debut; he led the defense with 13 total tackles and one interception. Justin Wimpye also proved his worth, intercepting a pass and registering two pass breakups.
Final Analysis
YSU had this game in control the entire time. To me, it felt like Mercyhurst never had a real shot of winning, but the offensive output was concerning, particularly in the second half. Yurcich kept things incredibly simple, running what I would consider to be basic install plays. Is he masking our talent at receiver and in the backfield for more meaningful games? I don’t know, but it looked like a vanilla offense that had one goal: milk the clock and get out with a win.
The defense played well and buckled up when the game was on the line. This unit has definitely improved and I feel much better than last season about this group.
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.
Jack Stevens Takes Hold as QB1 in Wagner Loss to Kansas
Wagner went on the road to Big 12 foe Kansas and fell 46-7. Against a power conference school, the outcome is no major surprise.
But the personnel for the Seahawks might have been.
Coach Masella had told us in the spring that he expected Jordan Barton and Jack Stevens to take snaps in the Kansas game. Stevens started, and Barton figured in on only one play, a one yard sack in the 3rd quarter. The Seahawks may have been holding this one close to their vest, but unless this was next level gamesmanship, the battle has effectively been decided, and Wagner will be going with the redshirt freshman quarterback this season.
Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what to make of the statistical breakdown against a power foe- particularly Kansas, who has been on the rise in recent years under Coach Lance Leipold and breaking in a new stadium, which could only help with the energy levels in the crowd. Stevens posted a 13 for 20, with 1 TD and 91 yards. But it was tough sledding for Wagner offensively all day.
The Seahawks were only able to gain 143 yards, averaging 3 each play and 6 total first downs. But, again, the competition has to be taken into account. I don’t think we really learned anything about the Seahawks last night in Lawrence, aside from who the quarterback will be heading into the rest of the season.
Unfortunately, it’s a tough non-conference schedule for Wagner. They’ll be playing Georgetown, an improved Marist team, Norfolk State under new coach Mike Vick, and Central Michigan from the MAC. They’ll be challenged prior to heading into conference play. The hope has to be that they’ll be hardened from the experience and ready to go in conference. They’ll be expected to compete this season with the level of talent they’ve got throughout the offense.
It’s not going to be easy for the next few weeks for the Seahawks. But now we know who their leader will be.
GAME RECAP: New Haven Loses First D1 Game to Marist, 31-14
The opportunities were certainly there for New Haven, but the ball just couldn’t bounce their way.
There were certainly positives to take away. Once the defense settled in around the second quarter, the Chargers looked competitive. AJ Duffy had a coming out party as the real deal- and, likely, among the top quarterbacks in an NEC that might be defined by strong quarterback play. We thought Adam Urena’s game proved he was the real deal- and it did- but Duffy threw for video game numbers, dishing out 377 yards and 2 TDs to 1 INT.
Next week at Mercyhurst should be a lot of fun. And a lot of points.
But let’s get back to the inaugural 77 Classic.
The Chargers couldn’t get out of a hole dug in the first quarter, when Marist was able to get up two scores to reach 17-7. But a blocked field goal, muffed punt, and a goal line stand by the Red Foxes on 4th and goal at the 1 kept the Chargers from surmounting the two score deficit.
A final special teams gaffe- another muffed punt- led to the final Marist touchdown that ultimately made the game look more lopsided than it actually was.
Had the goal line stand gone the other way, had the field goal gone through the uprights, had the ball been fielded cleanly on punts- it was an “if only” game for the Chargers, who had their opportunities to take their first game as a member of Division I and the Northeast Conference.
Defensively, defensive back Dre Kirton paced New Haven with 10 tackles. New Haven seemed to miss the talents of Zaon Laney, as they were only able to eat up 18 rushing yards on the day. Evan Chieca and Logan Smith caught the two Duffy touchdown passes.
GAME PREVIEW: Central Connecticut at UConn
Quotes courtesy of Rob Gullo with the New Britain Herald.
“We're gonna go take our shot and see what happens.”
Coach Adam Lechtenberg was just being realistic. FCS vs. FBS games are always a challenge for the lower-division team to win; that’s why the FBS teams schedule them in the first place. But there’s something fun about an in-state rivalry match between divisions. But this isn’t the UConn team we’ve seen far too much of since the Big East imploded. These Huskies can play, and they present a far bigger challenge to the Blue Devils than the last time they met in 2022, a 28-3 UConn win. The Blue Devils face as tough of a challenge as they will all season when they travel to The Rent.
We were able to speak with Bobby Wilson of the T’N’T’ College Football Podcast, a Lambert Trophy voter and noted UConn specialist.
Offensively, Wilson wasn’t holding back in his praise for the Huskies. “Joe Fagnano is a poised signal caller who doesn't make mistakes. The RB room is four deep with Cam Edwards, Mel Brown, Victor Rosa, and MJ Flowers. WR Skyler Bell is a future pro and Raymello Murphy and Shamar Porter will be known soon enough.”
While the Blue Devils can punch back offensively with Elijah Howard, who should hit 4th place all time in rushing yards for CCSU this season, they’ll face challenges, too. All-NEC Blitz second teamer AlecZander McCoy is expected to be out, along with projected right tackle Eric Nunez. This is on top of the loss of 2024’s offensive line coach to the P4 and most of the rest of their offensive line, easily the NEC’s best unit last season. They’ll have to rebuild and have some emerging talent here to slow down UConn’s pass rush.
The plus side is that it’s also a rebuilding position for UConn, although there’s still strength in the defense. According to Wilson, “Defensively, our front six will see a lot of new faces. We got bigger and stronger up front and the LBs have talent in Tyquan King, among others. However, all those new faces could lead to a hiccup or two in the 3-3-5 set. The secondary is extremely deep and talented, led by Cam Chadwick.”
The strong secondary may mean CCSU will have to be creative to get WR Donovan Wadley the ball. The 2023 NEC Offensive Player of the Year returned to the league this season and will be expected to be a difference maker for the offense, a weapon on the outside that Quarterback Brady Olsen hasn’t had previously. Coach Lechtenberg likes the way Olsen’s developed, saying of his signal caller “Brady's leadership has continued to evolve. I asked him, you know, one time in the off season, is how are quarterbacks evaluated, and it's on championships. He's done that. We want him to continue to improve. He's got all the skill set, and he's tough, he's smart, and he's a leader.”
The real test for the Blue Devils will be if they can continue to create turnover opportunities. They were an incredibly opportunistic defense last season. It gave them, for lack of a better word, a mystique that turnovers would happen when Hard Hittin’ New Britain stepped on the field. Things just seemed to go their way at times last year. There’s a luck component to that, but there’s a skill component, too.
Week 1 is always ripe for upsets. With this strong Huskies team coming off of a Fenway Bowl victory over UNC, it’s a tall order. But CCSU is coming off of a championship season and shouldn’t lack confidence. We can’t wait for this one.
Recap: Penguins Hold Off Lakers, 24-15
The Lakers were on the cusp of upsetting the Youngstown State Penguins on Thursday night, but they’ll have to settle for a coming out party- nationally- for Adam Urena and transfer portal addition Dylan Evans.
Arguably, the game should have been closer. It’s an ever bigger argument to make, but the Lakers could have won this game. The Green and Blue had too many miscues- 4 turnovers for the Lakers to 0 for the Penguins- and scored only 2 of 3 times in the red zone. A missed field goal could have kept the Lakers within one score, but it was not to be.
The early reaction from Youngstown State fans seems to be a mix of panic and frustration with the secondary. The passing numbers for Urena were gaudy as you’d expect (2 TDs, 311 yards, 32 completions), but there were many instances last night where no one- no one- could have covered Urena to Evans. A back shoulder throw for a first down in the first half comes to mind. I understand the frustration- Penguins fans anticipated they’d walk all over the Lakers- but Urena and Evans put on a show last night. Evans complemented Urena’s performance with 95 yards and 7 catches. We’d already expected the Lakers to have a strong receiver room. Evans might have just put them over the top to be the best in conference.
The question is if the Lake Show will continue into the conference season.
Fortunately, we won’t have long to find out. Mercyhurst will host New Haven next week as the first NEC game for the Chargers (albeit an unofficial one) while Mercyhurst will have their first home game of the year before embarking on a long and difficult road slate out west.
Linebacker Jeff Leavell paced the Lakers defense with 9 tackles. He’s expected to make a big impact this season after previously being mainly a contributor on special teams. His first action as a regular starter looked promising. Mike Yurcich was hailed as a big hire for Youngstown State this offseason, but the Lakers held the Penguins to a reasonable 24 points. Perhaps YSU will get more production from their offense as the season wears on and the players become comfortable. We’ll get the chance to see their growth from Week 1 to Week 2 as they take on Robert Morris next week.
And for the Lakers, those improvements from Week 1 to Week 2 will be crucial, and they’ll have a full week to reflect on how to make the most out of those opportunities, as a 4-0 turnover margin won’t give them many chances to pull an upset. With a tough road slate on the horizon, they’ll need to find a way to keep getting better.
Recap: Saint Francis Falls to ULM 29-0
Last season, the Red Flash had a punishing defense and an offense that took some time to get rolling- up until the last 3 games of the season. They won just one game (the penultimate one, when things were finally starting to click on that side of the ball) when the opponent scored more than 20. In one three game stretch, the Red Flash scored 7 points prior to being shut out two games in a row.
You can’t take too much from games against FCS, but it felt a lot like a game the fans in Loretto had seen before.
The final score appears lopsided, but the Red Flash hung with the Sun Belt’s Warhawks until the fourth quarter, entering the third down just 10-0. The FCS vs. FBS games are often characterized by the sheer depth the scholarship advantage gives the teams in the Bowl Subdivision, though, and late in the game in seemed to finally catch up with the Saint Francis, who surrendered three touchdowns in the fourth.
There were definite positive signs for the Red Flash, though, and there’s no doubt the defense came ready to play in the “House of Pain” following a lengthy weather delay. We were high on Geno Calgaro entering the season, and he more than lived up to the billing with 12 tackles. Jahmil Perryman was a player we tabbed as a playmaker, and he recorded the longest Red Flash play of the day. Unfortunately, that was just for 14 yards on a rushing attempt.
Andrew Vines, who had actually been listed at running back previously after years in the secondary, returned to the defensive side of the ball and had his best game of his career with eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a blocked extra point- one of an incredible two on the day for the Red Flash.
We also know who’ll be toting the rock for the Flash now. Raphael Ekechi had 10 carries and garnered 37 yards. There was little surprise at Nick Whitfield Jr. getting the start at QB.
Defensively, the Red Flash look ready to go, but there’s still some work on the offensive side of the ball to be done. They’ll have to work fast as they face what will probably be a stiffer challenge when they play MAC stalwarts Buffalo next week. Of course, Saint Francis is familiar with downing MAC opponents- they took down Kent State just last season- and it’s hard to overstate what a storybook moment it would be if they were able to take down Buffalo in their last FBS challenge ever.
We’ll be on the beat as always.
New Haven at Marist: Game Notes
The 77 Classic
The first game in New Haven Division I Football history is the 77 Classic.
Well, that’s the branding, and with rivalries being the lifeblood of college sports… you’d really like to see it develop into something special.
Per the Marist athletics website, the two teams have never actually met previously. But there’s no time like the present. As the name implies, they’re only separated by 77 miles, with Poughkeepsie, NY tapped for the site of the inaugural bash.
The good news is that “inaugural” likely doesn’t mean “only.” Fans who love short road trips should know that there’s a lot of work being put in behind the scenes to make New Haven vs. Marist an annual thing to open up the year. Familiarity breeds rivalry, after all, and these days it’s hard to make familiarity work in non-conference play. Let’s hope this is a rare exception to that problem.
AJ Duffy Named Starting QB
Florida State transfer AJ Duffy has been named the New Haven starting quarterback. He’s a former four star that will have a lot of expectations as New Haven begins its season just from the pedigree that ranking has. The first spot of the season on NEC On the Run didn’t hurt that perception.
Of Duffy, Coach Mark Powell said, “He’s always even keeled, always operating the right way. We’re excited to see what he does.” He’s excited about his dual threat ability and calls him the “commanding officer” of the team. Not bad praise from a coach from a naval family.
Blue Collar in Blue and Gold
The New Haven Chargers had a lot of rebuilding to do prior to this season.
When the news about the transition to Division I hit- and the subsequent need to quickly rebuild a schedule- many of the players from New Haven hit the transfer portal. When Coach Powell took over, he was able to recruit many of those players back (we’ve written about this before), but not all of them. In response, this is a team that had to build significantly through the transfer portal. But heading into week one, there’s some good things that have come from it.
For one thing, the identity of the team is strong. “Just really blue collar toughnes. They go to work every day. The team slogan is FAST- family always stays together- and they’re just a resilient group.”
That’s exciting, but how are all of the new guys gelling? According to Coach Powell, that’s not a concern either. “In pre-season camp, you wouldn’t know we had as many transfers as we had,” he said, noting that the team is close. The Chargers staff is preaching family, and it’s helping what could have been a disparate group be perfectly cohesive.
A Perfect Circle
For Coach Powell, this is a culmination of a lot of hard work, but it’s also a trip that has taken him back to the beginning. “I went to high school across the street from campus,” he told us. Of course, Coach Powell’s grandfather coached at Yale for 32 years. He’s no stranger to New Haven. But how many head coaches get to live the dream of bringing your hometown to Division I?
And as the 77 Classic kicks off the season, he’ll be in the history books forever as the first Head Coach of the program as they make their long-overdue transition to the NEC.
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.
Preview: Mercyhurst at Youngstown State
If you’re from Western PA- even the part up in the northwest, next to a city called North East (I don’t know)- you know that Youngstown belongs. The name on the driver’s license might read “Ohio”, but we’re all one big family over here. In this context, you could think of round 1 for the Mercyhurst Lakers- and the Youngstown State Penguins- as an in-state matchup, absolutely ripe for a rivalry to develop. The Missouri Valley might play by a little bit of a different set of rules, but when the distance is this close, it’s hard not to think about what could be.
The Lakers are still in the midst of making a transition from Division II, of course, and that should color everything about this game. Even with the Penguins coming off of a disappointing season that saw them lose to Duquesne in a game that shouldn’t have even been as close as it was.
The Penguins have a mix of old and new this season. Out is old offensive coordinator Troy Rothenbuhler, who shipped over to Robert Morris, and in is former Penn State, Texas, and Oklahoma State OC Mike Yurcich. He has some familiarity with the NEC as he’s previously held the same position at Saint Francis. Yurcich has historically been an OC who pushes tempo, but when you’re taking a job as an OC, you should immediately expect to tailor your offense to the players on your roster unless you have years to establish yourself. So while we’ve got a coach who’s familiar with airing the ball out at close to a 50/50 split historically with the run, it starts with who the Penguins have and the immediate player you’ll notice is QB Beau Brungard. Brungard threw for 2141 but ran for 998. He’ll have to be considered the immediate threat on offense running or passing. Passing is no problem, either, because Max Tomczak is going to be among the nation’s best. They won’t stop with him, though, as they brought in a duo of wideouts from D2 Slippery Rock in Kylon Wilson and Mike Solomon. TC Caffery transferred in from Ohio State and is expected to contribute at tailback. Yurcich has brought plenty of optimism, but these kind of coordinator changes are rarely as easy as fans would hope and it’s possible they’ll still be working out the kinks against the Lakers.
Defensively, the big question mark for the Penguins is the defensive front and that’s probably a good fit for the Lakers, given the retooled offensive line they’ll be fielding. That should give Brian Trobel and Ayron Rodriguez some opportunities to pound the rock. The other big benefit is that it may give Adam Urena time to throw downfield. The YSU LB and DB rooms are solid, but the Lakers have as good of a QB and WR room as you could hope for given the loss of Cam Barmore to Arizona.
Beyond the line, there’s a mix of old and new offensively for the Penguins, defensively is primarily about the “new.” They return just 3 full-time starters but have some rotational pieces who should play bigger roles in 2025. NEC transfer Michalangelo Loretto (Robert Morris) signed with the Penguins but his eligibility status has been somewhat unclear and we’ll have to wait to see if he suits up on Saturday. Makai Shahid and DJ Harris are returning safeties for YSU who are tackling machines. The CB room was an open competition heading into fall camp, so hopefully this is a place the Lakers can exploit and go deep on the Penguins.
Coach Riemedio has said that the Lakers are excited to kickoff against a historic program like the Penguins. We can’t wait. This is the first game of the NEC season and comes up on Thursday evening. Christmas is just around the corner for NEC football fans.
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.
In Your House: The NEC Blitz Road Trips in 2025
NEC Blitz is heading to three NEC football games this season- well, so far. We’ll still be bringing you the weekly coverage you’ve come to expect in 2025, but these on-campus matchups are something special. It’s the fans, the atmosphere- you know, the kind of thing that makes college football the greatest sport in the world. And nothing beats on-site reporting for capturing the feel of what’s happening on the field.
First stop: Duquesne at Pitt. This rivalry has been dormant since the late 1930s, but “The City Game” might be the NEC’s best shot ever at knocking off a P4 team. Duquesne looks scary good, and Pitt will be breaking in some new pieces. We’re expecting 40,000 screaming Yinzers at Acrisure Stadium, split between blue and gold and red and blue. I can’t wait for this one. The press box means no cheering, but as a Pitt alum covering an NEC team, maybe it’s for the best. I’m not sure I’d know who to root for anyway.
Next up: Mercyhurst vs. New Haven in Erie, PA. This marks the first-ever NEC matchup for the newly D1 Chargers, who (despite being ineligible for the conference title in 2025) will still be playing at a higher level than ever before. New Haven’s been a D2 powerhouse, and while they’ve lost key seniors from 2024 and are rolling with an interim head coach, they’re still dangerous. We can’t wait to see Adam Urena and the Lakers test themselves against the NEC’s newest contender.
Finally: CCSU at RMU. How could we skip it? This is the rematch of 2024’s “Game of the Year,” where CCSU stunned RMU in overtime, sealing the win on a two-point conversion that ricocheted off a lineman’s helmet into a receiver’s hands. Will we get that kind of drama again? Who knows. But we do know the Colonials will be out for revenge, and that alone makes it must-see football.
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.
RMU Lands First 2026 Commit, Russell Holmes Jr.
Robert Morris just kicked off its 2026 recruiting class. And the first commit for 2026 was also the first RMU commit for Coach Derrick Nsubuga.
That’s a big kickoff.
Russell Holmes Jr. is a 6’1”, 215-pound edge threat out of Lansdale Catholic (PA), who locked in his D1 future with the Colonials after an offer he couldn’t refuse. Holmes had interest elsewhere. Wheeling University offered, and he made the rounds on the local camp circuit, with the expectation that more opportunities will or would have come. Those phone calls will probably still arrive, but this past week RMU sealed the deal with the Keystone State standout.
From the jump, Holmes says Coach Zoo- that is, Coach Nsubuga- was relentless. “Coach Zoo stayed in contact the most throughout the whole process,” Holmes told NEC Blitz. “I came out to camp in late June, their last camp of the year. I knew I had to ball out- and I did. That led to more recruiting attention and eventually the offer.”
That offer moment? Pure cinema. And the pun is very much intended.
“We had just gotten into Coach Zoo’s office for a presentation,” Holmes said. “There was a picture on the projector of me and two other guys visiting. He said he’s trying to build the Avengers and that we’re the three guys he needed. Then he told us the other two were offered- ‘and now you, Russ, have received an offer from Robert Morris University. Clap it up for him.’ Everyone in the room clapped. It was a great moment to experience.”
Coach Zoo arrived this offseason from Utah State, where he served as a graduate assistant. The Colonials faced a lot of turnover this offseason both on the field and on the sidelines. There’s a ton of new faces out in Moon Township with the expectation that there will also be a new special teams coach, as the Colonials will lose Bart Tanski to Kent State. Of those coaches, people in the know have repeatedly brought up Coach Zoo to us as a recruiter and a high energy presence in the offices. It really feels like the Colonials unearthed a diamond here.
As for Holmes, RMU gets a versatile outside linebacker/defensive end hybrid who patterns his game after the likes of Nolan Smith, Haason Reddick, Dylan Stewart, and Collin Simmons. Fast, physical, disruptive—he’s coming to get quarterbacks.
His visit to campus sealed it: “There was just so much love and support from the coaching staff and players. I enjoyed the facilities, the environment- it just felt like the right fit.”
The 2026 class will continue to be built up until the opening whistle of the season. But it’s a good feeling to get on the board, and with Holmes, the Colonials have done just that.
New Haven is on the Board for 2026 with Garrison Heslop
The New Haven Chargers are officially on the board for 2026, and they didn’t have to look any further than their own back yard to land their first pledge. Garrison “G-Money” Heslop, a 6’2”, 170-pound defensive back from nearby West Haven, CT, has become the first player to commit to New Haven for 2026- the season that the program will officially make its move to the NEC in football. And he knows exactly what that milestone means.
“Knowing that the Chargers are moving to Division 1 and that I’ll be eligible to compete for a conference title as a freshman was a huge factor,” Heslop told NEC Blitz. “I want to be part of a program that’s not only competitive but also making big moves and growing. The opportunity to play D1 football right away, and be part of something special from the beginning, really stood out to me.” Heslop is right about what he’ll be competing for. While the FCS playoff spot is ineligible to transitioning programs- at least, for now- there is no rule against hanging banners as a transitioning team. The Chargers will have every chance to do that in 2026 when they play their first full league slate.
While Heslop’s commitment marks a symbolic first for the new-look Chargers, it also speaks to the trust he’s built with the coaching staff. We asked about relationships that stood out to him, and he pointed out the one he’s built with a coach on the other side of the ball in offensive line coach Adrian Burnori.
“Coach Brunori was a great influence,” Heslop said. “He helped me during the recruiting process and he’s the one that offered me.”
For now, the plan is for Heslop to line up at cornerback, though his versatility could lead to reps at other spots in the secondary.
“Corner is my main position, but I definitely feel that I can bring more to the table and play safety or nickel,” he said. “But for now, CB is what I’m being recruited for.”
New Haven’s jump to Division I play signals a new era for the program, and Heslop’s commitment is a sign they’re already building it with intention. He's not just a key get. He's the first.