CAA Football Rewind - Sept. 8
Rob Washburn
Click on the play button on the photo above for highlights from Saturday's games.
Rhode Island 45, UAlbany 26
Boxscore
Rhode Island scored six touchdowns and a field goal on its first seven possessions and earned a 45-26 triumph over UAlbany. The Rams are 2-0 overall for the first time since 2005 and are 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2001. Quarterback JaJuan Lawson was 22-of-28 passing for 317 yards and four touchdowns, which were the most by a URI quarterback since 2011. Aaron Parker made nine catches for 146 yards and a TD and Isaiah Coulter had nine receptions for 109 yards and a TD. The Rams also scored on a 69-yard punt return by Ahmere Dorsey. Defensively, L.B. Mack tallied six tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. For UAlbany (0-2, 0-1 in CAA), quarterback Vince Testeverde was 21-of-32 passing for 228 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Karl Mofor rushed 52 yards and a TD on 10 carries and also caught five passes for 65 yards and a score. Defensively for the Great Danes, Tyler Carswell posted a game-high 14 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Villanova 31, Lehigh 9
Boxscore
Senior quarterback Zach Bednarczyk completed 16-of-29 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns as No. 12 Villanova (2-0) rolled to a 31-9 road win at Lehigh. Jarrett McClenton made six receptions for a career-high 114 yards, including TD catches of 62 and 28 yards. After falling behind 3-0 early, Villanova reeled off 31 consecutive points to move to 2-0 to start the season for the first time since 2009. The Wildcats' defense held Lehigh to 176 total yards, with only 32 coming on the ground. Christian Benford recorded a team-best six tackles and an interception.
Wake Forest 51, Towson 20
Boxscore
Despite a strong performance from quarterback Tom Flacco, Towson (1-1) suffered a 51-20 setback at ACC foe Wake Forest. Flacco completed 35-of-51 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns, with the completion total matching the seventh-highest in Tigers' history. The Tigers scored on their first two drives as Flacco hit Sam Gallahan with a 24-yard strike and Shane Simpson with an 8-yard scoring toss. Wide receiver Shane Leatherbury caught a team-high eight passes for 88 yards, including an 18-yard TD grab in the second quarter. Defensively, Diondre Wallace posted a team-high 16 tackles and forced a fumble.
Virginia Tech 62, William & Mary 17
Boxscore
William & Mary (1-1) dropped a 62-17 decision at 12th-ranked Virginia Tech. The Tribe fell behind 24-0 early in the second quarter before a 71-yard pass from Tribe quarterback Shon Mitchell to tight end Nick Muse set up a 4-yard TD run by Nate Evans. Mitchell finished 14-of-24 passing for 208 yards, including a 59-yard TD pass to DeVonte Dedmon in the third quarter. Dedmon finished with six receptions for 96 yards. Raeshawn Smith and Alex Purviance each recorded a career-high nine tackles to lead the W&M defense.
Delaware 37, Lafayette 0
Boxscore
Delaware's offense piled up over 400 yards and its defense posted a shutout as the Blue Hens (1-1, 0-1 in CAA) blanked Lafayette, 37-0. Quarterback Pat Kehoe threw three first-half touchdown passes and finished 18-of-28 through the air for 279 yards. Vinny Papale and Charles Scarff each had four catches and a TD. On the ground, DeJoun Lee rushed for a team-best 93 yards on 11 carries. The Blue Hens' defense limited Lafayette to just 118 total yards, including -18 on the ground. Linebacker Troy Reeder posted a team-high eight tackles and forced a fumble and Nasir Adderley picked off a pass.
Elon 45, Furman 7
Box Score
No. 15 Elon (1-1) posted its largest win ever of a nationally ranked opponent, cruising past No. 21 Furman, 45-7. The Phoenix defense held Furman to 262 total yards and forced three turnovers, including an 18-yard fumble return for a TD by Greg Liggs, Jr. just 53 seconds into the game. Offensively, Elon piled up 275 yards on the ground with Jaylan Thomas, Malcolm Summers and DeSean McNair each running for a score. Quarterback Davis Cheek was 12-of-15 passing for 173 yards and a TD, with Kortez Weeks making seven catches for 114 yards. Warren Messer and McAlister ingram each posted 11 tackles for the Elon defense.
James Madison 17, Norfolk State 0
Box Score
No. 2 James Madison defeated Norfolk State, 17-0, in a game that was ended after one quarter due to weather. Quarterback Ben DiNucci rushed for a team-high 67 yards on just four carries and gave the Dukes a 7-0 lead on a 5-yard run. JMU extended its advantage on a 76-yard punt return for a TD by D'Angelo Amos and Ethan Ratke tacked on a 28-yard field goal. JMU's defense held NSU to 29 total yards.
Richmond 52, Fordham 7
Box Score
Richmond (1-1) exploded for 35 points in the third quarter and overwhelmed Fordham, 52-7, in its home opener. The Spiders gained 585 yards of total offense and kept Fordham to only 188. Quarterback Kevin Johnson accounted for four touchdowns, completing 14-of-21 passes for 271 yards and 2 TD's and running for two more. Dejon Brissett caught four passes for a career-high 173 yards, highlighted by a 75-yard TD reception to open the second half. Deontez Thompson ran for 84 yards and a TD. Defensively, Samari Springs made five tackles and intercepted two passes.
Stony Brook 50, Bryant 21
Box Score
Jordan Gowins rushed for 146 yards and a TD on 14 carries and Donald Liotine added 107 yards on the ground and a 24-yard TD reception as Stony Brook (1-1) beat Bryant, 50-21. The Seawolves trailed 21-20 in the third quarter, but Liotine's TD catch and a 12-yard blocked punt for a score by Casey Williams put SBU in control. Gowins tacked on a 27-yard scoring run and Damarcus Miller followed with a 95-yard interception return for a TD. Quarterback Joe Carbone passed for 153 yards and a TD and also ran for two TD's. Defensively, Shayne Lawless had a career-high 17 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble and EJ Fineran added a 79-yard interception return for a TD in the second quarter.
Maine 31, Western Kentucky 28
Box Score
Maine (2-0, 1-0 CAA) overcame a 21-point first-quarter deficit and knocked off Western Kentucky, 31-28. It was Maine's first victory over an FBS opponent since 2013 and gave CAA Football multiple victories over an FBS foe for the third year in a row. Quarterback Chris Ferguson passed for 185 yards and three touchdowns, including strikes of 32 and 15 yards to Micah Wright. Deshawn Stevens also returned a fumble 50 yards for a touchdown that tied the game at 21-21 in the third quarter. Kenny Doak's 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference and the Black Bears blocked a potential game-tying field goal in the final minute.
Colgate 10, New Hampshire 3
Boxscore
New Hampshire (0-2, 0-1 in CAA) was edged 10-3 by Colgate in a defensive struggle. The Wildcats held Colgate to 214 total yards, but managed only 206 yards offensively. Trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, UNH trimmed the deficit on a 30-yard field goal by Jason Hughes. Linebacker Quinlen Dean recorded a career-high 16 tackles and also contributed two tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Quarterback Christian Lupoli was 14-of-24 passing for 133 yards, with All-America receiver Neil O'Connor making 10 catches for 111 yards.