NEC Football Power Rankings: Rivalry Week Edition
And then there were four.
Don’t tell me “and then there were two” because two schools have the chance to make the FCS playoff. My issues with the playoff are well documented and probably not worth rehashing or even explaining again for the uninitiated. The one sentence answer here is that in the NEC, the point is to win the NEC, and I have always been a fan of that.
We enter the final week with four schools with a crack at raising a banner. It’s only fitting that they’re the four at the top- that’s what it’s all about, after all- with the field below them.
Central Connecticut
CCSU lost to Duquesne, but they still control their own destiny. They gave up a troubling amount in the run game to Taj Butts of Duquesne and now welcome in Brian Trobel of Mercyhurst to Hard Hittin’ New Britain. CCSU showed me a ton on Saturday- I think I had always been kind of underrating them as a team and talking about how they were able to pull out close wins. Make no mistake, this is a good team and if they’re taken at all lightly in two weeks if they’re able to knock off the Lakers, we might have a reason to start thinking about the playoff in the future.
Duquesne
Despite the win, we have Duquesne here simply because they don’t control their own destiny. A two game slump ended with the easy NEC football game of the year on the Bluff as a thrilling conclusion and an Antonio Epps deflected interception. Epps was on fire all game, though. He was seemingly always around the ball and there’s no one you’d rather be rewarded than him for that effort. Ness Davis is usually the Dukes RB we talk about here, but Taj Butts exploded for 254 on the ground and was routinely running over Blue Devils like a PRT bus. Truly, look this game up on ESPN+ and watch it if you haven’t yet.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers have recovered from an 0-2 slump of their own with 2 straight wins, including a win against RMU that will have implications for next season. Now, the Mercyhurst Lakers control their own destiny in their first year in the conference. A win against CCSU lets them raise a new banner in Saxon Stadium as an NEC champion. We’ll have the Lakers radio broadcast on NECBlitz.com this coming Saturday. I’m a firm believer on the importance of tradition in college football and particularly the homer announcer as part of that tradition, so if you’re a Lakers fan it’ll be a good way to get a Mercyhurst-centric broadcast. And yes, I know- you say HURST DOWN! Anyway, Brian Trobel has become one of the best backs in the league, and Dylan Evans was a little banged up but has since recovered and is in that top tier of receivers in the NEC. I think they can give CCSU a battle. If nothing else, we didn’t expect the Lakers to make much noise in the league this season, and instead they’re playing in a championship game. Wow!
Wagner
The Seahawks are on an absolute tear. Four weeks ago I told a Seahawk that they could still win an NEC title if they won out and got a little help. They took care of the part they could control with a 4 game win streak. Some good things have broken their way, and a win in the Boroughs Brawl against rival Long Island along with a CCSU loss will give Wagner a share of the NEC Championship. Andre Hines has come on in the 2nd half of the season and is now a full on wrecking ball at the tailback position, and Sam Martin has become one of the best DBs in the conference. If they could have held on against CCSU, the Seahawks would be playing for something much different in the Boroughs Brawl, but you can only look forward.
5. Long Island
The Sharks had CCSU pinned back against their own goal line, but the past is the past and now Long Island is one of the best teams in the league yet cannot win the conference. Injuries derailed this season for the Sharks, but this has probably been the best season for the former LIU-Post since joining the NEC in football. They’ll be in their Super Bowl this week taking on Wagner in the Boroughs Brawl.
6. New Haven
The Chargers finished their season and are now in recruiting mode with Head Coach Mark Powell doing one of the better jobs in the league this season by getting the Chargers to .500.
7. Robert Morris
The Colonials couldn’t top their rivals up north on I-79, and so will look to finish their season playing spoiler against in-city rival Duquesne at the Joe. Quarterback has been an interesting position for the Colonials this season as they’ve tried a few different players. The upshot of that is that Duquesne won’t know what to expect, and there will be some emotion behind this game. Hopefully, the Dukes aren’t scoreboard watching.
8. Stonehill
The Skyhawks are a better team than their record, but unfortunately haven’t been able to put it all together in recent weeks. We may have been one year early in our prediction for a big jump, but this has been a solid team and a good job improving from the previous year by the coaching staff.
9. Saint Francis
The Red Flash are going into their final game as a member of Division I at Stonehill. There has never been a more obvious storybook ending than this and we expect to see it.
Mercyhurst Will Earn $1,035,000 Against FBS Opponents in 2026
We’ve been audible proponents of scheduling buy games. The benefits to an entire athletic department are immense. Keep in mind that this isn’t paying for goal posts- this is paying for field hockey players, water polo, etc. Everything that makes an athletic department go and contribute to the holistic development of student athletes- people- well, that’s funded in part through buy games in particular and revenue sports in general.
When I’m on a radio show, it’s always for these buy games. This past season, it was discussed a lot that 9 game conference schedules are not good for the future of these games. The opportunities in the future may be limited and, as such, it’s good to see Mercyhurst continue to be able to take advantage of them.
Documents obtained by NECBlitz indicate a payout of $360,000 for the game against New Mexico State, $325,000 for a game against Western Kentucky, and $350,000 for a game against New Mexico. These are in line with the usual payout for playing a mid-major FBS school. Payouts go higher- several hundred thousand dollars higher- for P4 school games.
These three games will be the first FBS contests in Mercyhurst Lakers history.
And remember- if you win one of these, you'll remember it forever.
New Haven Removes Interim Tag from Head Coach Mark Powell
Credit: Clarus Media
Just prior to hosting Merrimack for their tenth and final game of the season, word leaked out via Pete Thamel: New Haven had removed the interim tag from Then-Interim Head Coach Mark Powell, who would be tasked with moving forward as New Haven transitioned from D2 to the big leagues of Division I and the NEC. Even at the time, the move was applauded. That was before New Haven defended the Blue and won the first all-Division I game in New Haven’s history with a blistering 4th quarter attack on the Merrimack Warriors.
Since then, of course, the reviews have only been better. But let’s take in what this season was and what Coach Powell had to work through. I happen to be on the side that this extension was the right move.
When New Haven announced the move to Division I, there was generally very little surprise on the outside. It wasn’t that we knew New Haven was about to join the NEC- I had no indication, at any rate- it was that New Haven joining was never unexpected. When I’ve looked at who could be a candidate in Division II in the past, I’ve done so using New Haven as the model for what you could expect any transitioning school to look like.
These moves happen quickly, though- very quickly, and the sensitive nature of them means that it tends to be a very closed off decision making process. Famously, Jim Boeheim had no idea that Syracuse was joining the ACC. In the case of New Haven, AD Devin Crosby did describe a very quick process. The entire process took 14-16 days.
The outcome was ultimately positive for New Haven, but it did leave a brief time period where it wasn’t clear what the schedule would look like. That led to some instability and especially some transfer portal entries. It was with that backdrop that Coach Powell became the interim head coach.
It’s probably true that any new head coach has to begin his tenure by keeping players who might transfer in the fold in today’s game. Coach actually had a harder job. Many of those players had already entered the transfer portal prior to his even becoming HC. His first days as coach didn’t include the usual press conferences or pomp and circumstance that a coach might usually receive. Instead, he had to call his players who had entered the portal and ask them to consider returning to New Haven. According to Mr. Crosby, he immediately succeeded with 11 players who had entered the portal. This is something we can’t stress enough: they had left even before he was named interim coach.
At that point, the sources we spoke to indicated that the main reason players had left was to play a full season in 2025. The scheduling uncertainty was perhaps somewhat overstated at this point. It was true that New Haven didn’t have any games booked, but as we had seen from Mercyhurst the year prior, it’s not impossible to compile a near-complete schedule. We spoke to players entering the paper at that time who had told us that they simply didn’t know if they’d play 0 games, 4 games, or a full schedule. The connections in the athletic department and coaching staff allowed for a nearly full schedule- 10 games, to be put together. By the time we spoke to AD Crosby, there were a handful of prospective games already nearing completion including Albany. (I suspect that Saginaw Valley State and Sacred Heart were misnamed in our video interview, but you can’t blame him- I’m not sure anyone at New Haven was sleeping much at that point). What they were able to compile is roughly equivalent to what Mercyhurst was able to pull off the year prior, including a season concluding home game against a Division I opponent.
Coach Powell once told me that he went to school literally across the street from the University of New Haven. His grandfather, Carm Cozza, was the Head Coach at Yale- also in New Haven- for 32 seasons and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. I can’t imagine there’s too many candidates out there more familiar with the landscape of FCS football in the Northeast than Powell is. In that transition period, there’s a rebalancing of how recruiting should look and what your team’s pitch and attributes are. The school doesn’t change, but recruiting against Kent State is different from recruiting against Franklin Pierce. Having someone familiar with first and foremost what New Haven is- the city, certainly, but also what it can mean for your lifetime- is obviously an advantage.
When every other pitch changes, what’s a better anchor than showing recruits that New Haven is a place you return to? Or, in some cases, stay at for 32 years?
New Haven went 5-5 on the season and won every D2 and lower game. This was anything but trivial.
The Chargers were very successful in a 2024 campaign bookended by losses to perennial D2 power and AD Crosby’s alma mater Slippery Rock. They won the NE10, which is always a competitive conference, but when I began reviewing the roster information after the transition to Division I, all of the superlatives and all-conference names, save one, were conspicuously missing. (That one remaining player did later transfer). It seemed the Chargers were graduating a ton of talent and leadership. My first thought was that this was clearly a program built to succeed, but that they probably weren’t going to be favorites in the NE10 this season.
In addition to the transfer portal losses already mentioned, New Haven was already looking at somewhat of a rebuild in 2025 as a Division II school. They’re used to success these days in New Haven, but it was going to be a hard road to get there.
Couple that with injuries and a subsequent redshirt for Zaon Laney as well as a season ending injury for Josh Tracey, and the Chargers weren’t even lucky from an injury perspective in 2025. I think this kind of underscores how good of a performance it was to get to 5 wins. To get there, the Chargers won the lower division games, but they also upset Merrimack in a season ending victory on the Blue and beat CAA opponent Albany.
The Albany game was sort of emblematic for how New Haven was able to win games in 2025. They roared out to a fast start and the defense slowed the Great Danes down enough to hang on for the duration of 60 minutes. Despite the injuries, you saw a team that improved throughout the year. I don’t think New Haven could have beaten Albany in Week 1, but I sure bet they wished they had another crack at Marist around midseason one the kinks were worked out on a new staff and a new roster. The team was playing some of its best ball at the end of the season despite the injuries.
At a level where things like momentum still matter in recruiting, New Haven sure does enter the season with a lot of it- and a permanent head coach, to boot.
The nature of college football is ultimately like any other job. You have to prove it, over and over again. Coach Powell got the chance to do it for 2025 and succeeded by bringing the Chargers to .500. They’ll be anticipated to bring back top level talent again next season and the expectations are going to be high in New Haven. Coach Powell has a contract through 2028. He’ll have to keep proving it.
But he’s only got 31 years left to catch up with his grandfather.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 12: We’re Blue
If I recall correctly, CCSU winning the NEC wasn’t much of a popular pick in the preseason- and that includes from yours truly. The Blue Devils looked good and were strong in 2024, but it sometimes felt there was an element of luck to their success.
I don’t think anyone can feel that way anymore after a dismantling of Stonehill. Couple that with a shocking Duquesne loss and the Blue Devils can finish no lower than tied for first in the NEC. This doesn’t mean they’ve locked up the autobid to the FCS playoffs yet, though. But the magic number for CCSU is now 1 win with two games remaining.
Central Connecticut
As if it could be anyone else after that introduction. CCSU came out roaring against a good Stonehill team and the game was never close. Brady Olson was brilliant with a 20/30, 261 yards, 2 TD to 0 INT performance. Despite that, Elijah Howard’s 178 yards and 2 TDs will probably be the performance immortalized in the NEC weekly awards.
Long Island
LIU was even higher than this early in the season when they were healthy and had just beaten Eastern Michigan. Injuries happened and the Sharks slumped. Now, they’re back in the kind of form they took up to Ypsilanti and delivered a huge blow to Duquesne’s playoff chances with a 29-11 win. It’s too late for LIU to make the playoffs, but they can play spoiler and win their rivalry game at the end of the season in the Boroughs Brawl against Wagner.
Wagner
The Seahawks won their third consecutive game in a close battle with Robert Morris. Just win, baby. The Seahawks are eliminated from winning the playoff autobid, having lost in overtime to CCSU several weeks ago. They were that close to being in the driver’s seat to earn a spot in the playoffs. Andre Hines has emerged as a star and the Seahawks are playing good enough defense to win. The Boroughs Brawl is looking like a big game for both teams.
Duquesne
They’re still alive. The Dukes lost to LIU to drop them to two losses in the NEC, but with winning out and a Mercyhurst win against CCSU, Duquesne will still make it into the playoffs. Now, they’re in win or go home mode and when CCSU travels to Pittsburgh this weekend, the Dukes will have to send a message. Once again, they’re still alive. Now they have to keep it.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers bounced back with a last second win against Saint Francis, but that’s kind of been the trend for playing Saint Francis the last two weeks. Dylan Evans was a big factor again and making a push for the all-Blitz team, scoring a last second touchdown. The Lakers will host Robert Morris next week.
New Haven
The first season for the Chargers is done, and they went out the right way. They removed the interim tag off of Coach Mark Powell and went out and upset Merrimack on the Blue. AJ Duffy was one of the most electric quarterbacks in the NEC this season and considering the injuries the Chargers had to endure, 5-5 was a success that could have even been improved on.
Robert Morris
Bobby Mo wasn’t able to hold off Wagner to get win #3, and as such they fall down to here. They’ll close out their season with home tilts against Mercyhurst and a rivalry game with Duquesne.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks weren’t able to hang with CCSU, but have games against Wagner and Saint Francis remaining that they should be able to compete in and even win. If the Skyhawks can pull off two wins to finish the season, they’d finish 5-7 and well above where most prognosticators had them at the start of the season.
Saint Francis
Let’s call the shot right here- Saint Francis will close out the season with a win against Stonehill and leave Division I on a high note. As of now, they’ve come close a handful of times but haven’t closed out a game yet. It’s only a matter of time before they break through.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 11: Cardiac Connecticut State
Credit: Bree Smith
We’re finally narrowing down the contenders in the NEC title race, and it’s looking like the two schools who started the year as the favorites are going to finish as the favorites.
Stonehill’s upset loss to Robert Morris (in a fantastic performance by the Colonials, by the way) turned the race from a presumptive three way dance into the two way sprint between Duquesne and Central Connecticut State. CCSU is at 4-0 in conference while Duquesne is at 3-1, but as long as they both win the other two games they’re still playing, it looks like the deciding contest will be on November 15th in Pittsburgh, PA. But we quote Coach Masella seemingly every week for a reason: “The NEC is a funny thing.”
Not too much goes chalk in this league, and anything can still happen. It only takes one of the two powers 60 minutes of looking ahead or looking behind to shake up everything again.
Central Connecticut State
There’s no compelling argument for anyone else at this point. We had thought LIU would be a tough opponent for the Blue Devils given their recent resurgence and new health at the quarterback position, but it took a Blue Devils blocked field goal in the closing seconds for CCSU to escape overtime. Not that it would seemingly even matter- Cardiac Connecticut State is better at closing out close games then anyone, and the result would annoy any stats fan. Think close games are just variance? Think again. Coach Lechtenberg has his teem believing that they’ll win in these situations, and they play as such. Don’t ever get into a dog fight with CCSU. Stonehill will hope to do just that and come out with a win this week.
Duquesne
Duquesne was idle this past week, a chance to get the taste of a close defeat at Wagner out of their mouths and to refocus as they get Long Island this week in Brookville, NY. This is a bad time to play LIU, as the Blue Devils showed. Duquesne is well equipped with athleticism on defense to stop the Shark attack, but having the athleticism and succeeding with it are two different things. I like Duquesne this week, but you can’t count out the healthy Sharks.
Wagner
The Seahawks have turned around their season with a close call against CCSU, a win over Duquesne, and most recently an escape against a determined Saint Francis team. Coach Masella deserves all the credit in the world for keeping his squad believing after a difficult start to the season, and now they’re playing their best ball. They have an elimination game against RMU this week that could go either way. Andre Hines has emerged as a star at running back, but Sam Martin on the defensive side of the ball has been a one man brick wall the past two weeks. It’ll be hard for RMU to score on the rejuvenated boys from Staten Island.
Long Island
The Sharks are coming off of a heartbreaking loss to CCSU. They had goal to go with seconds remaining and were unable to convert, settling for a chip shot field goal which was subsequently blocked. CCSU juju is undefeated, after all. But with health at the quarterback position, the Sharks are actually able to run their offense the way they intended to for the first time since Eastern Michigan. They might just be able to give Duquesne a scare with nothing left to play for except to be a spoiler.
Robert Morris
Now riding a two game winning streak, the RMU football program was close to being at rock bottom before turning it around with consecutive wins- one against rival Saint Francis, and one against rising star Stonehill. The game against Wagner will determine how the rest of the season feels for the Colonials, who are one loss away from elimination.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks took Bobby Mo to the limit but were unable to win a game that they probably should have been able to close out. Now traveling to Central Connecticut, Stonehill had to have that one and that 3 point swing is going to leave a big mark on their 2025 campaign. But a win against CCSU throws the conference right back into chaos.
Mercyhurst
The Lakers were idle this past week and after climbing high in the rankings early in the season, two straight losses have put them close to the basement. The bright side is that Adam Urena and co can close out the season with momentum with some winnable games and a chance to be an ultimate spoiler in the season finale against CCSU.
New Haven
The Chargers haven’t been able to match their early season high against Albany, but they’re closer than you might think. Depth is often a problem in these transition seasons, and when you look at just how competitive New Haven has been early in games, it leads you to wonder if they just need to build out their midcard a little bit. This week is their season finale on the Blue against Merrimack.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash were able to take Wagner to the last play of the game, but the field goal was good and as a result they remain here at the bottom of the polls. Geno Calgaro has been as good as we expected all season long, He anchors a defense that is ferocious when they’re on their game.
Family Matters: Catching up with DL/EDGE Brian Guerrero on LIU Visit
We had the chance to catch up with 2026 LIU Sharks target DE/EDGE Brian Guerrero of Baltimore, MD, currently at Mergenthaler HS. Guerrero is a player that schools across the NEC are competing for. He’s got offers from Robert Morris, Central Connecticut State, New Haven, and most recently the Long Island Sharks. With all of that notice he’s taken in across the Northeast, it’s almost surprising that we’re just checking in with him after a visit now.
Guerrero had a chance to see the Sharks in action on October 25th, which ended up being a win over New Haven and a bit of a resurgence from the Sharks. They entered conference play injury-ridden, limping through the first two contests (both losses) before they got healthy.
Now that they have, they’ve scored consecutive wins over Robert Morris and New Haven, with the latter serving as a second outstanding game for Luca Stanzani, who was the clear cut NEC Offensive Player of the Week following the game. It was this team that Guererro had the luxury of seeing in person.
Brookville, NY was a great place to be on Saturday. The win was big and the fans were alive for the Sharks. The fans were also big for Guerrero. They were welcoming to the Sharks target, making sure he knew that they’d welcome him back to their campus in a Sharks uniform next season. The atmosphere was definitely a positive part of the experience. This was a game day visit, not the longer and more structured official visit, so the time was a little more abbreviated with a chance to see the field, campus, and gameday experience. You do it as a player of interest with some special access to the coaches, but it’s not the inside experience that you get if you stay for a weekend.
But that field access for pre-game is always a special thing. It really doesn’t matter how many football fields you’ve been on or if you’re actively playing on another one- or routinely covering what happens on one. The opportunity to talk with Coach Cooper was also appreciated for Guerrero, who has built good relationships with the LIU coaching staff. In particular, he’s grown close with EDGE coach and recruiting coordinator Devin Merritt. “I go out of my way to call him. It’s not like I’m just a player. He sees me as a person and I see him as a person,” Guerrero told NEC Blitz.
There’s also a pretty interesting family connection that you might not have guessed judging by Guerrero’s current location in Baltimore. It isn’t the biggest factor in his recruiting, but it’s definitely something that has always made him familiar with Long Island. Familiarity isn’t everything in recruiting, but it’s never hurt, either.
Guerrero’s mother was a basketball player at LIU prior to the athletic department merger. As you’d guess, the opportunity to follow in her footsteps and keep Long Island in the family is something he’s definitely thought about. “LIU has been a school I’ve had in mind. It would be great to play for Long Island like my mom did, except on the football field instead of basketball.”
As of right now, Guerrero’s recruitment is still 100% open. But with all of those NEC offers on the table and his own high opinion of quality of ball being played in the league, we’re hopeful that we’ll be seeing him around on a campus near you next season.
NEC Football Power Rankings Week 10: Hawks 2-UP
Credit: Daniela Bedoya
I think we implied heavily that chaos was coming to the NEC soon.
That delivery was made on Saturday.
Wagner nearly upset CCSU the week prior at home and followed up the near miss with an upset of a heavily favored Duquesne team that looked safe heading into Staten Island. Had Wagner managed to beat CCSU and Duquesne, the title picture in the conference would be looking both different and completely unexpected. We liked Wagner to win a few league games this season, but knocking off Duquesne was not on our schedule. Maybe we shouldn’t be so surprised. We knew the Seahawks were as talented as they’d been under Coach Masella heading into the season. They just seemed to be close, but not quite there on the rebuild yet.
Despite Wagner flipping the table, we’re actually still where we were last week in many ways. If Duquesne or CCSU win out, they get to hang the banner and go to the FCS Playoffs. There’s paths for almost everyone at this point, except for Saint Francis. The Red Flash are officially eliminated from the playoffs and an outright championship (still a path to win a share, but not the tiebreaker) in their final year of Division I competition. Stonehill- the other Hawk team in the league- has the best shot outside of the top 2 teams after a big win of their own over Mercyhurst, and not an insane path to do it- win out, and have CCSU beat Duquesne.
Central Connecticut State
Unsurprisingly, the Blue Devils default here even though they were idle this past week. They’re taking on a rejuvenated LIU team that spent a week at the top of these rankings already this season. With the injury bug hopefully in the rearview mirror, look for the Sharks to give CCSU a very good game here and challenge for this spot. Wagner’s defense gave CCSU some fits last week and QB Brady Olson uncharacteristically turned the ball over. He’s been so careful with possession this season. A chance to refocus and not put more miles on Elijah Howard will have the Blue Devils ready to go again.
Duquesne
I like to punish teams a little more than this for losses, but as of right now it doesn’t feel right putting Wagner in 2nd place and the Dukes have beaten Stonehill, so I can’t drop them lower than this for right now. There were probably two areas that the Dukes can correct in this bye week to ensure that a loss like this doesn’t happen again. First, the Dukes had special teams miscues all day, from a botched fake punt and then a difficult sequence late in the game where they actually recovered a muffed punt, but after a 3 and out had two consecutive pre-snap penalties (one on a kick that was good), pushing them back 10 yards and turning a makeable field goal into a miss. Second, the Dukes could not stop Wagner on the ground. They’ve got a handful of good backs on Staten Island led by Andre Hines, but the Dukes could not find a way to contain the Seahawks on the ground- particularly late in the 4th when it mattered the most. The Dukes will get right and their goals are still in front of them.
Stonehill
The Skyhawks catapult back up after a wire to wire win over Mercyhurst. The offense was able to finish their drives, which has been the biggest issue for the Skyhawks to this point, and the defense kept Mercyhurst at bay for most of the game. QB Jack O’Connell looked like a rushing threat for the first time all season, and he threw for 2 TDs when he wasn’t moving the chains on the ground. Stonehill will welcome in Robert Morris this weekend and every game is now vital to their postseason chances. I like Stonehill here to continue making a run up the standings in the league and to keep things interesting heading into a huge November 8th showdown with Central Connecticut State.
Long Island
Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water, the Sharks are officially back. Luca Stanzani was a shoo-in for offensive player of the week, and while New Haven has had some struggles against NEC teams this season, any time you have guys lined up on the opposite side of the field it’s hard to be responsible for 5 touchdowns. We’ve got a good one with lots of chaos potential this Saturday as the Sharks are riding a wave back into contention.
Wagner
The Seahawks beat Duquesne this week and were competitive with CCSU last week, but I want to see it end with a victory one more time before we put them in the top half of the rankings. Andre Hines is looking like one of the best backs in the league right now and Jack Stevens had an efficient day with the football. Defensively, the Seahawks kept Duquesne out of the end zone and offensively the Dukes were run over by a powerful running game. The Seahawks may just have found their winning combination.
Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst has lost the previous two games two teams that we expected to be among the best in the league during the preseason. The Lakers had a lot of magic early on, but now they have to regroup. Proving you’re for real isn’t always starting out the season fast and competing in games no one expects you to. Once the target is on your back and you slip up, how you respond is key. It’s also one of those life skills that sports teaches you better than anywhere else.
Robert Morris
Robert Morris beat Saint Francis in the final edition of a long-running Pennsylvania rivalry game behind the motor of Ethan Shine. The RB ran for 123 yards against a stout Red Flash defense and while the game was competitive late, the Colonials took the lead at half time and never relented again. QB Zach Tanner looked healthy again, too, with 2 TDs to 0 INT. The matchup against Stonehill this week will tell us if the Colonials are truly on the upswing.
New Haven
New Haven is approaching the end of their season but has already finished out their NEC slate at 0-3 following the loss to LIU this past week. New Haven started quickly again- this has become their trademark- but were unable to hold on and once the Sharks took back the lead they didn’t let up. The Chargers were hit hard in the transfer portal and suffered from the injury bug, but the win against Albany alone has made this season something of a success in the transition.
Saint Francis
The Red Flash are the first team truly in conference (New Haven competes as an independent) that are eliminated from NEC Championship contention and the FCS Playoffs. While the Red Flash do technically have a narrow path to a shared championship, the tiebreakers do not work in their favor and they are unable to advance their season past Stonehill on November 22nd, which we can now officially say is the final Division I football game in Saint Francis history.
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.
Duquesne at Wagner Preview 10/25/25
The Dukes are heading to Staten Island this week to take on a Wagner squad that almost knocked off Central Connecticut State last Saturday. The Seahawks had a chance to win the game late with an accurate field goal kicker in the red zone, but threw an end zone interception to knock themselves out of scoring range. The Dukes, meanwhile, are coming off of a road trip to Erie that saw them knock off fellow unbeaten conference foe Mercyhurst.
Trap Game
Let’s call it what it is- this is a talented Wagner squad that can play with anybody. Their record is what it is, but with their backs against the wall they’ll be as hungry for a win as any team in the league. The Dukes hit an emotional high last week with a win against Mercyhurst in a terrific atmosphere under the lights.
In the biz, we call these “trap games.”
Wagner has shown the makings of a strong offense that just hasn’t put it together yet. Time is running out to get it straightened out this seaon, but the piees are excellent. Brady Anderson is as good of an OL anchor as you can ask for. Jordan Barton has improved throughout the season and looks like he’s taken hold of the starting QB job. Andre Hines is a wrecking ball out of the backfield. There’s definnitely talent here.
Sometimes it just takes more than that for everything to fall into place. But more often than not, given time and enough talent, it does.
The Seahawks are due for a game where the offense gets rolling. There’s every chance that it happens in this one.
Three Headed Monster
The Dukes have Ty Riddell, Joey Isabella, and the likely offensive rookie of the year in Ryan Petras. They can sling the rock just fine.
Of course, they can pound the rock, too, and they’ve got a lot of options to do it.
We knew heading into the year that Taj Butts was going to be a problem for opposing defenses, and that Solomon was the second half of a dynamic duo. After JaMario Clements left for Wake Forest, though, the Dukes added Ness Davis. There are a lot of good running backs in this league. Elijah Howard, Brian Trobel, the aforementioned Andre Hines… there’s not shortage. But Davis has looked right up there with them. I don’t envy voters (or myself) for havintg to come up with a first team list that only includes two running backs. It’s hard to see any scenario where Davis gets snubbed, though.
Prediction
From conversations I’ve had, the Dukes began this week well aware that there’s a high that comes off of an emotional win. The physical edge and desire to impose their will that they had against Mercyhurst will be hard to replicate. You just can’t do that week after week; there’s a reason why performances like that, when they occur, are so special.
In any case, there’s been an effort to make sure everyone on the Bluff understands that this is the kind of setting that makes let-down games. Knowing is half the battle, and I don’t think the Dukes will be coming out flat. Look for Wagner to continue to evolve offensively, but the edge rushers for Duquesne will be able to limit Barton’s time to throw. The scrambble drill will be important for the Wagner offense, which is usually not ideal for executing a gameplan.
Dukes win.
“It’s Genuinely a Great Atmosphere” - Mercyhurst Target Kamari Pittman on Gameday in Erie
Let’s get the obvious part out of the way first- it didn’t go Mercyhurst’s way on Saturday against Duquesne.
But the game was a big moment for the Lakers, and West Bloomfield, MI DL Kamari “Tank” Pittman was one of the Lakers targets who was able to see the in-state clash under the lights up close. West Bloomfield, by the way, are also known as the Lakers, so at least there’s the familiarity there.
We checked in with Pittman early in the week leading up to the visit, but by the time we hit Thursday, everything was just a little bit bigger, when Pittman received an official offer from Mercyhurst to play football in Erie at the Division I level. With the offer in hand, Pittman had the chance to see Saxon Stadium as a place where he might play some day. He felt welcomed there immediately.
“Leading up to the game the coaching staff introduced themselves and after they provided us a campus tour,” Pittman told NEC Blitz. “While getting closer to kickoff Coach Burke and the rest of the staff made me feel welcomed by speaking and introducing themselves personally.”
During the pregame period, he had a chance to see the way the Lakers warmed up through drills- as well as the coaching he’d be getting. “You can see the intensity as well as the love for the game with not just the players but the coaches as well with them motivating the guys and helping correct them,” he said. “The student section is here early and seems to have a ton of energy with them hyping up the players while doing the drills!”
The Lakers students had packed the stadium early, and there was more than just a country music concert from an alum at stake here. Lakers fans were there to talk football. “The fans were great when it came to communicating with them speaking and treating me like I was apart of their actual family, so honestly I feel as it was a great community and place to be,” Pittman said.
While the game didn’t go the way Lakers fans, players, and coaches wanted, that didn’t stop the coaches from keeping it going all game, something that impressed Pittman. “It was a great atmosphere, though, with the coaching staff showing their commitment to the team as well as winning due to the fact that they kept the same high energy from start to finish no matter the score!”
At this point early in the process, Pittman is still evaluating his offers. We’ll keep our eyes open to see if he’ll be joining the NEC next season.
“I Am 10000% Committed to Wagner.” Inside an Official Visit on Grymes Hill with OL Alexander Citrullo
Jacksonville, FL offensive lineman Alexander Citrullo might not have been born here in the Northeast, but he’s intent on making it his home anyway. The Wagner commit for 2026 (one of two that we’ve tracked down) was on hand for the NEC Sports Instant Classic (TM) between Central Connecticut State and the Seahawks this past Saturday. What he saw only reaffirmed what he already knew- that Grymes Hill was the place for him to play his college ball.
So what’s an official visit like in the NEC?
I think most of us on the outside have always wanted to follow a recruit on an official visit. Unfortunately, my eligibility is looking pretty expired, but what we got this past weekend from Citrullo is probably the next best thing. I’ve always been curious about how Coach Masella and the staff at Wagner do so well recruiting Florida, so hearing it from a commit who’s excited to get up to NYC in January was the best way to do it.
Citrullo flew in on Friday morning and was given a tour of the campus on Staten Island. After that, he got the kind of red carpet treatment we only dream about in media (I am usually elated when I get a Diet Mountain Dew). “[We had] lunch at the dining hall with several coaches including Coach Sino and Coach Czelusniak. Then went over to the field to watch the JV game and met the school president and the athletic director,” Citrullo said. “My whole family met with Coach Masella and had a great talk. Stayed for practice and team meetings and even went over some pass protection with Coach Sino.”
It’s been a long time since I’ve made it back out to New York City from out here in the western frontiers of the NEC, but whenever I do I’ve got a list of pizza places to hit up. One of those is Denino’s Pizza on Staten Island.
Imagine going from Florida pizza to Staten Island pizza in the span of a weekend. You’d commit, too.
That was the setting for dinner on Friday night, along with several coaches and player host James Aldridge.
On Saturday, Citrullo attended the homecoming festivities on the beautiful campus of Wagner College. Homecoming for Wagner football is kind of an interesting concept, too, because the head coach of the program is an alum and one of the greats for the Seahawks. It’s definitely a compelling argument that it could be a place any prospective recruit could want to return to, too. But like anywhere else, the central activity on Homecoming is, ultimately, football.
“[I had] on field access for pregame and truly felt like I was already part of the team,” Citrullo said. “After the game I got to hang out with some of the team in Manhattan. I felt like I was home. I am looking forward to being here in January.”
On Sunday, New York City was allowed to be the primary recruiter, along with New York State legend Dinosaur BBQ. I’ve got to ask Syracuse, NY school Le Moyne if they use the famed Empire State staple in their pitches, too.
And as far as the football game went, we’ve already mentioned the overtime thriller was an instant classic. Experiencing it as a recruit was apparently a lot like watching it as media. Citrullo told us, “The game was great. It didn’t end the way we wanted, but it was a great game. The fumble recovery for a touchdown was great and reminded me of Devin Lloyd from the Jags against the Chiefs.”
Jaguars? In this climate?
You can take the Jaguars fan out of Florida, but… well, we’ll see what happens with four years up north where he belongs.
NEC Blitz Adds Camden White to Mercyhurst Football Radio Team
Former Laker stalwart Camden White will be joining us at color commentary for our first radio broadcast on 11/22/25.
White was an NFL draft prospect in the 2025 class. He was invited to the Buffalo Bills team combine and was one of the standout players in the first Division I team for Mercyhurst. As a graduate student, White was good for 34 tackles and 3.5 sacks. We covered his journey as he sought out a pro day to compete at.
White will add playing experience and expertise to the Lakers radio broadcast team. He played in last season’s Mercyhurst at Central Connecticut State game. He notched 2 tackles in the contest, a Blue Devils win.
Today, White resides in Erie and is training the next generation of great defensive linemen and linebackers at DLB Elite.
“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.
Stonehill Locks Down 4th OL Commit, Kaiden Knox
Stonehill has been on a hot streak with linemen lately, and that only continued last week when they secured a commitment from 6’5”, 300 lb OT Kaiden Knox from North Schuykill, PA. Sources close to the program have confirmed to NEC Blitz that Knox was a priority recruit for the Skyhawks, which makes this commitment a big win for the program. There’s sometimes an idea that recruiting is a lot like playing roulette, and that higher ranked guys are more likely to hit. Don’t fall for that. It’s definitely true that star ratings correlate to reaching the pros, but when a program designates a player as a priority, it’s a careful evaluation that the player meets what they’re specifically looking for at the position for what the position coach, coordinator, and head coach all want to do. It’s got a whole lot more homework to it than roulette ever had.
We had the opportunity to speak with Knox following his commitment to the Skyhawks. His recruitment began in a sort of atypical way.
“Coach Berardelli gave me a call to check in and asked how I was doing and how summer workouts were going. I told him things were going great,” Knox told us. “Then he said, ‘I don’t usually do this, but you’re the first person I’m offering just off a phone call.’”
That had to be some impressive game film. Well, you decide:
The offer was a big deal for Knox, but actually heading into Shovel Town is what sealed the deal.
“I went up for a game day visit and ended up staying overnight for my official visit. The game day atmosphere was incredible. The fans, the energy, the players, everything stood out,” Knox said. “After the game, they took my mom and me to a hotel and then out to dinner with some of the players. I got to hang out with them for a couple of hours, which was awesome.”
So the atmosphere at Stonehill for a big conference win against LIU was on point, and the relationships with the players made Knox feel like it was somewhere that he could be. But visiting the football facilities and speaking with Coach Gardner was the sugar on top.
“The next day, I went back to the facility and talked with [Coach Gardner]. A few days later, I decided to commit. I really liked the facilities, the school, and the overall vibe.”
Knox pointed to Coach Dylan Berardelli as someone he developed a strong relationship over the recruitment process.
Kaiden Knox is the 7th Stonehill commit and the 4th who plays OL as at least one of his positions.
In Depth Look: Chicago State’s New Member Agreement to Join the NEC
Recently, we were able to obtain a copy of the New Member Agreement between Chicago State and the NEC. This document is from way back in Deccember of 2023 when the Cougars agreed to join. So it’s old news, I suppose.
But just because it’s old news doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not worthwhile to talk about. For one thing, I haven’t previously seen the nitty gritty details of the contract discussed. And for another, we’ve obviously been talking a little bit about the prospects of Chi State going from the NEC to the OVC. Our opinion? Not happening.
Our opinion isn’t based purely on conjecture. Some of it is from a deep read of this very contract, and so let’s talk about the in depth details that are worth knowing about the terms between the NEC and Chicago State.
Membership Terms
This looks to be pretty standard stuff. Chi State agrees to provide the documentation that proves it is meeting conference obligations, will put all of their teams in the NEC for sports sponsored by the league, and will actually meet obligations. This is in the Conference Code, which I do not have a copy of.
Intellectual Property
This section is an agreement that Chicago State and the NEC will mutually announce that Chicago State is joining the NEC. Additionally, the NEC can use Chicago State’s name, logos, and brand identities without paying a fee.
Representations and Warranties
An interesting note in this section is that outstanding obligations to the former conference is a requirement here. I was unaware that this was something that would be necessary- in the days of big exit fees, it would seem to me that sometimes a large fee might take some time to repay. It does also mention the importance of the school being able to meet the transition obligations, which I suspect is in reference to the transition from Division II to Division I, but I can’t confirm this.
Sorry. I’m not a lawyer.
It also requires that the president of a university is able to enter into the agreement, Chicago State is an associate member in any other conference in good standing, and that there is no agreement preventing Chicago State from meeting obligations.
Payments
We’ve all been waiting for this. Payments are the juicy part, after all.
Unfortunately, this is one of the sections that is somewhat censored. But there’s still some good information here. Remember, most of this contract- if not all- is likely very similar to the ones any new addition would have signed.
The NEC will reimburse either half or a blacked out flat fee of any associate membership exit fees. (I had long been told that the NEC was willing to reimburse RMU to get them to leave the OVC-Big South, and this seemingly confirms that). It appears this is considered the Signing Bonus.
If, however, Chicago State leaves within 10 years of joining, it will have to pay back said signing bonus. This is in addition to fees for entering the conference (blacked out) and an exit fee. There are two fees outlined: one for within the first four years in the conference, and one within the first ten years. These are blacked out, but we can assume the four year fee is higher.
Chicago State pays annual dues to be in the conference, and there is a separate additional football dues. Chicago State gets revenue distribution as outlined by the NCAA.
Given the known fees, can Chicago State really leave for the OVC? I guess it depends on what’s blacked out.
Termination
Chicago State has the right to leave the conference as outlined by the Conference Bylaws (we don’t have a copy of this). They’ll pay the termination fees as outlined (the NEC will not recoup expenses unless the association is long term) and the fee is not considered a penalty, which I suspect is a legal consideration of some kind. If the Entry Fee is not yet paid off, it is due immediately upon termination of membership.
Miscellaneous
This agreement takes place in New Jersey and any lawsuits must be heard there. This (along with the Conference Code) embodies the entire understanding between the NEC and Chicago State. The agreement is binding, even if there is leadership changes. A signed facsimile is still binding. There’s a clause about defending the conference in the event of a withdrawal from another league, but this does not apply to Chicago State.
Exhibit A
If Chicago State discontinue a sport sponsored by the conference, a financial penalty is assessed. Chicago State needs to reach average operating budgets for all conference sports by 2026-27. Chicago State agrees to get the Front Row equipment, an instant replay system, and at least 3 LED scorers tables for the basketball court.
Again, I am not a lawyer, but that’s the contract as I understand it.
NEC Blitz to Broadcast Mercyhurst Football, Baseball via Internet Radio
WALDEMEER PARK - We promised to work diligently to bring Mercyhurst sports to the fans in Erie and throughout the northeast in new ways. Thanks to Mercyhurst University’s unparalleled effort, Mercyhurst football and baseball is coming to internet radio through NECBlitz.
NECBlitz’s internet radio network will seek to provide an alternative experience to fans. You’ll hear expert commentary from the people most invested in the programs. We’ll continue to provide the high quality written coverage for football that you’ve come to expect while adding another dimension for us to promote sports in the northeast and the scholarship athletes that make it great.
NEC Blitz's first radio presentation of Mercyhurst football will be 11/22 at Central Connecticut State. The radio coverage will continue with select baseball games throughout 2026 and football coverage continuing into the 2026 season.
NECBlitz publisher AJ Mayowski said, “There are two things that are definitively true about NEC Blitz. The first is that our passion lies in NEC Football. The second is that our connection with the city of Erie is unsurpassed. By entering into this partnership with Mercyhurst University, we can safely say that we’ve only improved on what was already a perfect combination.”
With this addition, NECBlitz has partnered with academic institutions to bring baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, and now football to new frontiers. “We’ve got our dream team for each and every sport we plan to cover in this academic year. Now comes the hard part- proving that we belong and that we add unique value to another facet of sports in our region. I have never been more excited to meet a challenge in my life,” said Mayowski.
The Lakers finished 15-15 in NEC play in 2025.
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.
Game Notes: CCSU at RMU, 2nd Half
Once again, it’s not in my nature to ask, but tips through the button on the bottom right are always appreciated. We’re bringing radio in limited quantities this academic year and expanding it greatly next season, and that isn’t easy. The more you help, the more I can do- I promise.
CCSU is taking a 14-0 lead into the half. Certainly not insurmountable. It’s been one of those games where CCSU looks a little better and has moved the ball better than RMU, but they haven’t really been able to capitalize and we’re still in a tight ballgame. RMU will receive the kick.
Drive 1: RMU gets the ball after a touchback. A read option led to an accidental knee down to start the half, but a deep throw from Panteck to Middletown to the sideline gets them to the 40. Following that, a pick six on the screen pass puts CCSU up 21-0. There’s that opportunistic CCSU defense- two years in a row.
Drive 2: Touchback. RMU has to start it now if they’re going to comeback in this game. The first run from scrimmage is a hit out of bounds. RMU is already at midfield. RMU gets close on a safety valve pass to Donta Whack but the Colonials will have to punt.
Drive 3: CCSU from their own 13. Incomplete on another verts route down the sideline- a play both teams have liked today- and then Howard gets 5 on the read option. Interesting shift from RMU to Olson’s side- they recognized on the DL what was coming- but Howard cut away from the shift in response and won that battle. A first down on a short pass gets them to first down, where the Colonials defense has continued to get tougher to move the ball on. Another incompletion and the RMU pass defense has never looked better. A little mid screen to the TE doesn’t get more than a yard and CCSU will have to punt.
Drive 4: A huge hit on the punt, but RMU holds on to start at the 33. Incompletions follow and the Colonials need to punt again. The punt goes out of bounds and CCSU will start at the 31.
Drive 5: Elijah Howard starts off with a monster 26 yard run that saw him power through the Colonials defense. He’s closing in on 100 today and looks like he’s back at his midseason form. On a 3rd and 10 with a 5 wide set Olson runs a draw for 9 and the Blue Devils will go for it. Illegal motion, but with an incomplete pass RMU starts at the 35.
Drive 6: Holding on the first play negates a solid 5 yard gain for Donta Whack. A pass on second down will get the Colonials back to 2nd and 11, but this time Whack can’t get anything going. The RMU OL has looked excellent at times today, but they’re not dominating in this game. An excellent pass across the middle on a diving catch to Middleton who has been quietly having an excellent game. Panteck is sacked on the next play after attempting a scramble and again the OL didn’t look big on their play. Richard Ransom has a catch and run down the far sideline but steps out at the 38. That was inches from the big play the Colonials needed. A deep pass is completed- well out of bounds and Middleton is down.
Ethan Shine gets the Colonials into the Brewer Airport Toyota Red Zone for the first time today (19 yard line). Incompletions follow after a short gain and on 4th and 7 RMU misses the field goal. 21-0, CCSU.
Drive 7: At the 20, CCSU misses on a pass with a fair amount of pressure and we go into the 4th quarter. On the first play, Olson took a shot on a sack. The Blue Devils have to punt. It’s a great return negated by a running into the kicker. Rekick gets RMU to start at the CCSU 48.
Drive 8: Middleton just unable to pull in a tough pass to start the drive. Panteck somehow avoids the rush and gets a 2 yard drive out of what should have been a big sack. That’ll go on his film. He took a shot at the end of it and goes down. Jake Wolf comes in and hits Middleton on a deep ball and Middleton is down again. RMU is in the red zone at the 9 yard line. On 3rd and 6 the Central Connecticut fans get loud and the Colonials stay on for 4th down. This will get reviewed- called out of bounds on the field. Looks like a TD. Touchdown.
Drive 9: RMU recovers the onside kick and Wolf is in at QB. He gets 8 on the read option- hands off the next one, and the RMU OL is getting push again for the first down. The next play is a deep shot to Chas Middleton and Wolf is looking great. It’s completed and roughing the passer goes on top of it, and suddenly RMU is at the 7 yard line. Donta Whack takes it in and we’re looking at a two point conversion. Wolf has to throw it out of the back of the end zone and it’s still a two score game, 21-12 CCSU.
Drive 10: CCSU muffs a midrange kick and manages to recover. They’ll start at their own 37. Howard takes the ball twice- CCSU is bleeding out the clock, which I admit is my favorite strategy in football- and with an 18 yard gain goes over 100 for the day. Olson on a QB keeper after that, and the RMU defense is finally showing some signs of crumbling. As of right now , both offenses have scored 2 touchdowns. Special teams and a pick six are the real difference here. Howard carries the ball and is looking unstoppable with another big gainer and CCSU is in the red zone. A TD here is probably back breaking.
Donovan Marcus is in now and we’re at 3rd and 10 with the game bleeding past the 5:00 mark. another incompletion and it’s decision time for the Blue Devils. Hennessy comes on the field and drills the kick. 24-12, Blue Devils. I’m not sure RMU has 24 points in them today.
Drive 11: RMU starting at the 32. They get a swing pass to start but the clock is ticking fast. Wolf hits a big throw to Carter on the run and just behind the sticks. The Colonials aren’t ready to give this one up as we approach the 3 minute mark. Another pass to Carter on the sideline and we’ve found a good connection for the Colonials here. They go to the well a 3rd time and the Blue Devils nearly get an interception out of it. A scramble out of bounds gets the Colonials to the 30, but we aren’t in the 2 minute warning yet and the Colonials have got to get moving. False start on the next play.
4th and 11 and this is the game. RMU just gets the first down pending the spot but it looked like a false start. This one will go to replay as they’re marked short.
Game Notes: CCSU at RMU, 1st Half
We’'ll be providing live thoughts here to avoid flooding the Twitterverse. Not a bad turnout for CCSU fans. Saw a few very filled tailgates. I feel bad asking about this, but if you enjoy what we’re doing today, you can always buy me a coffee with the button in the bottom right of this page. (RMU provides me with free diet Mountain Dew; I don’t necessarily need it for today). But that kind of stuff is always appreciated, and it really does help to keep me coming on-site.
I guess moving forward, the Northeast Conference won’t be on these trophies.
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CCSU will receive t he kickoff. RMU won the toss and deferred. Definitely a big first series for the Colonials. They’ve been good in the first quarter all season defensively, but the weather favors the better offense, which has been CCSU so far this season.
Drive - 1: CCSU finds weak spots in the middle on the first 2 players but Marsh Jr. unable to hang on on the 2nd pass. Looks like an intentional strategy. The swing pass on the next play is big and the Blue Devils are past the 50 already. The Blue Devils are moving quickly. Working horizontal now. Olson with the scramble up the gut next play and we’ve got 3rd and 4 for a big stop chance for the Colonials. 4th and 4, CCSU stays on the field and overthrows. The Colonials bend but don’t break.
Drive 2: Cooper Panteck at QB. Big first throw as he underthrows just a little to perfectly place a deep ball and we’re on the CCSU side of the field. On 3rd down, Panteck has to throw the ball away and the Colonials punt.
Drive 3: High snap leads to a sack on play 1 for CCSU. If RMU is going to win this game, they’ll probably need a few of these plays to go their way. CCSU has to punt here and RMU starts at the Blue Devils 44.
Drive 4: RMU with a good gain from Donta Whack- UMass transfer, just like Brady Olson- for 5 yards on a play where RMU’s front looked spectacular. Panteck throws a pick, though, and that CCSU defense just keeps getting turnovers.
Drive 5: Near the 50 (good field position for everyone today), Olson fires another strike over the middle before Elijah Howard finally gets involved on a short gain. Marsh Jr. with a good 2nd yard gain and 3rd and 3 for CCSU to extend the drive although we’re in 4 down territory here. Howard catches a dink and dunk and stepped out of bounds before he could really get shifty. First down. Read option, Olson gets a yard and gets hit hard, but gets up fast and delivers a bomb next play to Wadley. Touchdown and CCSU is up 7-0 with 5:07 to go in the first. That was for 34 yards.
Drive 6: RMU had a shot to break a good one on the kickoff but just got tripped up. Their own dink and dunk attempt went for no gain and on a 3rd and 5 there’s an overthrow and the Colonials will punt again. CCSU should have good field position here.
Drive 7: CCSU starts modestly and on a 3rd and 5 Olson is just a little behind Ricky Ortega, but the former QB makes a great play on it and the drive continues into RMU territory. The Blue Devils are having some trouble on the run, but there’s not seeming to be any overarching strategy on the passing game- they’re doing just fine throwing to several areas of the field and it doesn’t seem to be middle only or going horizontal on the Colonials to gas them. Another bomb results in pass interference and CCSU is on the 29. Now Howard makes a few men miss, gets shifty, and this time Howard is having no trouble running. 14-0, CCSU.
Drive 8: Quarter ends and RMU gets to midfield. Donta Whack is looking good and RMU seems to have the OL to compete here, if they can sustain drives. Lots of good push up front and you have to give the Colonials the edge from an OL standpoint. On a 3rd and 1, read option for Panteck goes for a big run but the holding penalty sends them back. It’s still a first down but a shorter gain to the 39. As a runner, he’s looked good already. and he’s shown the ability to make big passes.
On the next two plays, Whack isn’t able to find room up the middle as CCSU gets stout up front. Panteck gets hit for a sack on 3rd down by #13 and #9 (!!!) and the Colonials have to punt on 4th and 17. A great punt and the Colonials down them at the 5. Running into the Kicker is declined.
Drive 9: Olson opens it up trying to get a lot of the yards back down the sideline. RMU looked a little early but not enough to draw the flag. Donovan Marcus is in this drive. A pass down the opposite sideline goes incomplete, but there’s an unsportsmanlike penalty after the play as there was a little too much chatter and CCSU retains possession. Another pass interference on the next play gives CCSU 15 more and the discipline has to be better here. Elijah Howard gets the ball and goes outside to the 27 yard line. Those penalties killed the Colonials. They had a real chance for great field position here. On a 3rd down, It appears there’s a TD deep but OPI should bring it back… only there’s a roughing the passer also, and two personal fouls and I’m watching the referees actually consult a rulebook on the field. Replay 3rd down. Marcus gets a few yards and CCSU will punt here. A very strange drive. RMU starts on the 6th after a punt.
Drive 10: Still looking solid on the run game. Ethan Shine now moving the pile. The offensive line really does look pretty solid for the Colonials even to the outside. Kai Holloway gets a first down on a out route and we’re close to midfield again. The teams have really kind of lived in the middle of the field. Jet sweep gets a first down and Ethan Shine gets a pancake (let’s remember here for my benefit- about 2:35 in the half). At the 2 minute wardning RMU gets to Kai Holloway again in the middle of the field and we’re closing in on field goal range. The Colonials get to the 24 on the next pass. You can really hear the Central fans here. 1:12 remaining; 4th and 9 after another one of those underthrows just doesn’t connect this time, and now the field goal unit comes out. No good- Doink.
Drive 11: 2 minute drill time. They get a big pass down the middle of the field (34 yard line). An 11 yard out gets a first down, but another dropped snap leads to the 3rd timeout being used by CCSU. On the 17, they’ll attempt to get to the end zone. A short pass gets them to the 10 and CCSU’s Hennesy will attempt from the 17 (ball spotted on the 10). RMU attempts to put Hennessy on ice. The kick is up and no good. 14-0, halftime.