Coastal Athletic Association (CAA Sports)

CAA FOOTBALL RECAP - NOV. 3

11/3/2007 4:00:00 AM

Below is a recap for each CAA Football game played this weekend. Please scroll down to find the CAA Football team and game you are interested in. This page will be updated as games go final so be sure to logon to CAASports.com throughout the day.

Northeastern 31, No. 8 New Hampshire 13
Boxscore

Senior Maurice Murray rushed for 206 yards and three touchdowns and the Northeastern offense scored on its first three possessions leading to an 31-13 upset over No. 8 New Hampshire at a rainy Cowell Stadium in Durham, N.H.

"[This was] one of the most rewarding wins I've had as a coach," Northeastern head coach Rocky Hager said. "I am so proud of them. It was a complete team victory."

The Huskies (2-7, 1-5 CAA Football) knocked off the ranked Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 CAA Football) for the second straight season. Last year, the Huskies topped the fourth-ranked Wildcats, 36-35 in overtime when the Huskies chose to go for the two-point conversion and John Sperrazza hit Alex Broomfield with the game-winning pass.

Today, the Huskies dominated the game on the ground, rushing 78 times for 282 yards. Murray alone had 55 carries and his 206 yards is his second-highest single-game total. Murray also tied his career mark in rushing touchdowns for a game with three. With his tremendous day, Murray is now the all-time NU leader in rushing touchdowns, is only three shy of the school’s total touchdown record, holds the all-time rushing attempts record and is only 215 yards short of the NU rushing mark.

Much of the credit can be given to an offensive line that allowed only three tackles for a loss in 90 offensive plays, including 78 rushing attempts.

"This is a top-10, maybe top-five performance by an offensive front in my coaching career," Hager said.

The Huskies began the game on the right foot as they took the opening kick 65 yards down the field for a touchdown as Murray went into the end zone on a three-yard run.

The Wildcats took possession, but ran only four plays before punting. Northeastern got the ball back and continued to run. They moved the ball 90 yards and Murray picked up his second score of the game, a one-yard run for a 14-0 NU lead.

The Husky defense came up big again as the Wildcats drove into the red zone, but fell short of scoring when UNH quarterback Ricky Santos’ fourth down pass sailed out of bounds through the end zone.

The Huskies came right back and scored again. They drove the ball 93 yards in 18 plays and put the ball in when junior quarterback Anthony Orio threw a fade pass to junior Alex Broomfield in the corner for a 21-0 Huskies advantage.

UNH finally scored with 59 seconds remaining in the second quarter as Santos connected with Chad Kackert for a 22-yard touchdown catch.

In the second half, the Huskies stopped UNH’s momentum when Santos’ handoff to tailback Robert Simpson was mishandled and fumbled, allowing senior Joe Mele to pick it up.

Two drives later, the Huskies got a 22-yard field goal from sophomore Mat Johnson that was helped out by an incredible 27-yard catch by sophomore Tony Lott down the sideline at the UNH 5 on fourth down.

Northeastern capped its scoring late in the fourth when Murray got the hat trick with his third touchdown of the game, a five-yard run for a 31-7 lead.

UNH scored with 2:39 left when Keith LeVan ran in for a one-yard touchdown. It was too little too late though as the Husky offense was on the field for 48 minutes, leaving the Wildcats little time to score. The Husky defense also did its job, limiting UNH to 270 total yards while forcing three turnovers.

The Huskies set a few records on the day. Murray shattered the school’s rushing attempts record, running 55 times, eight more than L.J. McKanas, who rushed the ball 47 times on September 23, 2000. His 206 yards also ranks ninth in Northeastern history for single-game rushing yards.

Orio went 11-for-12 for 153 yards and his 91.7 completion percentage is the best ever by a Husky quarterback in a single game with at least 10 passing attempts.

The Huskies will return home for their final Parsons Field contest of the season when they host Hofstra at 12 p.m. It will be Senior Day at Parsons Field and the team will honor its 11 seniors in a pre-game ceremony.

Rhode Island 12, No. 3 Massachusetts 6 (OT)
Boxscore

D.J. Stefkovich's one-yard run in the first overtime period helped propel Rhode Island to a 12-6 victory over No. 3 Massachusetts in a stormy game at URI's Meade Stadium.

The win was URI's first over a ranked opponent since Oct. 28, 2006, when the Rams downed #19 Maine, 3-0. It was the first victory over a top 10 opponent since Sept. 17, 2005, when Rhody took care of No. 8 William & Mary, 49-25. Both wins came at Meade Stadium.

Both teams had to deal with tough weather conditions, due in large part to the remnants of Hurricane Noel passing through the Northeast. Rain and wind gusts from the North at up to 50 mph made kicking and punting a near impossibility, depending on which side of the field you were on.

"It was bad. I don't think people watching could understand it down on the field," Stefkovich said. "It affected the offense, the defense, the kicking. It was bad footing for the running backs, just tough for everyone."

The UMass offense, led by quarterback and Rhode Island native Liam Coen, was unable to get its running or passing attack going. Coen was just 7-of-22 for 22 yards, while the Minutemen rushed 39 times for just 117 yards on the ground.

"I really have to tip my cap to the defense. They pitched a shutout," Stefkovich added. "UMass is a terrific offensive team, no matter the conditions, and to hold them scoreless is just outstanding."

On their first play from scrimmage, the Minutemen fumbled on their 12 yard line and URI's LT Brantley was able to recover. That fumble recovery set up the first score of the game - a 26-yard field goal from Bryan Giannecchini just 1:18 into the contest.

After several failed drives for both teams, Rhode Island began on their own 23 with 3:48 left in the first quarter. Attempting to punt on 4th-and-2 at their own 31, there was a bad snap, which Giannecchini recovered and ran to the back of the endzone for a safety, making it 3-2.

In the second quarter, Rhody tacked on another field goal, capping a 14-play, 74 yard drive which took 6:32. Giannechhini split the uprights from 23 yards out, and URI led 6-2 at the break.

The Rams received the ball to start the second half and went three and out. But another bad snap to Giannecchini became another UMass safety, making it 6-4 with 13:15 left in the third.

Since the Rams were heading into the wind - which had proven to be a losing proposition when trying to punt throughout the game - Rhody went for it on 4th-and-6 at their own 36 yard line with just under three minutes to play. Jimmy Hughes gained just two yards and URI turned the ball over on downs.

"Certainly going for it on fourth down on our own 36 is not what we usually do, but that's what the weather and field conditions dictated." Stowers explained.

It set up one of UMass' best scoring opportunities of the afternoon. Beginning the drive at the URI 36, the Minutemen drove all the way down to the Rhody three-yard line, but Brantley and Steve Marrella were able to wrap up UMass' Matt Lawrence on 4th-and-goal and got the ball back.

However, on the ensuing possession, Stefkovich was sacked in the end zone for UMass' third safety of the contest - tying their own NCAA record for most two-pointers in a single-game. The two teams entered extra play tied at 6-6.

UMass won the coin toss and deferred possession, but Rhody was able to strike first - and fast. Stefkovich found Jimmy Hughes on a 23-yard strike, taking him to the UMass two-yard line.

"That first play in overtime, it was similar to the one we used at Army," Stowers explained. "Not only did the conditions make it tough to throw the ball - and DJ made a heck of a throw - but it was also tough to catch the ball."

The sophomore quarterback from Westport, Conn. was unsuccessful on his first two attempts to get into the endzone, but got in on the third, giving URI a 12-6 advantage. It was the first and only touchdown of the game.

UMass was able to get to the 15 yard line and a first down, but had their chances ended when Adrian Owen intercepted Coen's pass at the URI three-yard line.

It was Owen who also made the game-clinching play on Sept. 29 at Brown, when made a tackle at the one-yard line as the Bears were driving.

"With the exception of the Delaware game, everytime we lost this season, it was because we shot ourselves in the foot," Owen said. "But today, taking down the No. 3 team in the country, I think we've proved a lot to ourselves, our coaches, and everyone out there. URI football made a big statement today."

No. 7 Delaware 37, James Madison 34
Boxscore

James Madison had the big plays on offense, but the University of Delaware took advantage of four turnovers and turned them into a key 37-34 Colonial Athletic Association football victory in a showdown between two Top 20 football powers Saturday afternoon at sold out Delaware Stadium.

The No. 7 ranked Blue Hens (8-1, 5-1 CAA), coming off a 59-52 win over a Navy a week ago, pulled out their second straight high-scoring victory as they recovered three JMU fumbles and intercepted a pass and All-American Omar Cuff continued his record-breaking season by running for 101 yards and three touchdowns. The 12th-ranked Dukes (6-3, 4-2 CAA), an NCAA Tournament participant a year ago, lost for the second straight week after winning six straight games.

Delaware, which avenged a 44-24 loss to James Madison a year ago, defeated the Dukes at Delaware Stadium for the sixth straight time as the Hens withstood a punishing JMU ground attack that totalled 403 yards on the ground.

“This was a great game between two outstanding teams,” said Delaware head coach K.C. Keeler, whose team reached the eight-win mark for the third time in his seven-year tenure. “You look up at the scoreboard and see that they’ve run for over 400 yards and you wonder how you won. But getting those turnovers was huge and made such a big difference. To get a win over a very good JMU team and be on the verge of a conference championship is a great thing.”

Cuff, a Walter Payton Award candidate as the top offensive player in NCAA FCS and the nation’s leading scorer, continued to waltz into the end zone at a record pace. The senior running back rushed 28 times for

101 yards and three touchdowns, the last an eight-yard burst that put the Hens up 37-27 with 12:50 remaining. He surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark for the 17th time in his career and also caught seven passes for 66 yards, surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving yardage mark for his career.

Cuff improved his rushing touchdown season total to 27 and his overall touchdown mark to 31. He set CAA records for rushing touchdowns and overall touchdowns in a season, breaking the standards set by current National Football League players Marcel Shipp (Massachusetts) and Brian Westbrook (Villanova), and his 31 total touchdowns tied the NCAA FCS single season mark established by Kevin Richardson of Appalachian State in 2006. Cuff needs three rushing touchdowns to tie Richardson’s mark set last season.

Also for the Hens, quarterback Joe Flacco completed 33 of 41 passes for 257 yards and also ran for a touchdown while Aaron Love caught nine passes for 94 yards. Defensively, Delaware redshirt freshman cornerback Anthony Walters intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble to pace a unit that took advantage of four Duke turnovers. Kicker Jon Striefsky remained perfect on the season as he converted a school-record tying three field goals, all in the first half, to improve to 13 of 13 for the season.

“I think our kids played as hard as they have all season,” said James Madison head coach Mickey Matthews. “Delaware has the two best offensive players in league in Joe Flacco and Omar Cuff but we have to stop turning the ball over. We gave them too many short fields.”

Of Delaware’s seven scoring drives, four covered 45 yards or less as the Hens scored directly off three of the miscues.

James Madison piled up 442 total yards with 403 of that coming on the ground as Antoinne Bolton rushed for 172 yards, including long scoring jaunts of 55 and 48 yards seven minutes part in the third quarter, and Griff Yancey gained 171 yards and scored twice, one on an 86-yard burst early in the second half that pulled JMU to within 16-13. The run was the third longest in JMU history and the most by a Dukes player since the 1990 season.

The 403 rushing yards allowed by Delaware was the fourth highest in school history and the most since the 1996 campaign. The Hens allowed two opposing players to each rush for over 150 yards in the same game for the first time in school history and, after allowing 342 rushing yards in the win over Navy last week, have allowed 300 or more rushing yards in consecutive games for the first time ever.

Delaware jumped out to a 16-6 first half lead as Cuff opened the scoring with a one-yard dive and Striefsky booted field goals from 24, 31, and 37 yards, the last one coming with just three seconds left in half. The Dukes managed their only points of the half when Yancey scored from five yards out with 9:28 left in the half to cap a 57-yard drive.

A controversial call set up Cuff’s first touchdown. JMU’s Scott Noble rushed two yards to the Dukes’ 35 yard-line and appeared to be down after running into a pack of Delaware defenders. But Blue Hen defensive end Matt Marcorelle grabbed the ball out of Noble’s hands and raced all the way down to the JMU seven-yard line. JMU staff and players argued, but the play stood and two plays later Cuff opened the scoring with his one -yard dive with a 2:58 left in the opening period.

A wild third quarter featured five touchdowns, 35 points, and two lead changes with Delaware escaping the stanza with a slim 30-27 advantage.

Yancey started the scoring with his 86-yard run on a play in which he appeared to be stopped at the line of scrimmage. But he escaped from the pack and raced untouched for the score to cut the lead to 16-13 with 12:01 left in the third quarter. Just three minutes later, JMU scored again and took what proved to be its only lead of the game at 20-16 when Bolton broke free and scampered 48 yards for a touchdown with 8:54 left in the period.

Delaware countered with a nine-yard run by Cuff with 6:01 left that gave the Hens a 23-20 lead and the advantage swelled to 30-20 when Flacco scored his first touchdown of the season on a three-yard sweep with 3:46 left. Flacco’s touchdown was set up when Walters intercepted a pass by Rodney Landers and returned it to the JMU seven-yard line. Flacco scored two plays later.

Bolton capped the third quarter scoring when he broke off for another big gain, dashing 55 yards and scoring with 1:42 left in the stanza to narrow the lead to 30-27.

Cuff scored what proved to the game-winner when he capped a 78-yard drive with an eight-yard run to up the lead to 37-27 with 12:50 left to play. But James Madison refused to give up and cut the gap again, this time to 37-34 when Landers scored from six yards out with 8:12 to go.

James Madison had the chance to gain the lead when they got the ball at their own 29-yard line with 3:39 remaining. After Landers ran for 24 yards to the JMU 37-yard line, the Hens forced the pivotal turnover of the game on the next play when Yancey got loose up the middle and moved inside UD territory but fumbled after a hit by Delaware safeties Charles Graves and Anthony Bratton. Walters recovered the fumble at the Delaware 31-yard line to end the drive and preserve the win for the Blue Hens.

No. 11 Richmond 35, No. 23 Villanova 27
Boxscore

Tim Hightower carried the ball a season-high 36 times for 187 yards and touchdown, while Eric Ward was 17-of-24 passing for 178 yards and two more scores, as No. 11 Richmond beat No. 23 Villanova, 35-27, in a Homecoming thriller at UR Stadium Saturday afternoon. The Spiders (7-2, 5-1) have now won four straight games.

The win sets the stage for first-place showdown next Saturday at No. 7 Delaware (8-1, 5-1) as both teams will enter tied atop the CAA South Division standings. Kickoff at Tubby Raymond Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.

Hightower, who became just the third back in Richmond history to run for over 3,000 career yards, also set a new career rushing touchdown record with his 30th. He has 16 this season. The senior has rushed for 1,388 yards this season and 3,176 in his career.

A game that saw seven lead changes finally swung the Spiders way for good with 1:27 remaining in the third quarter when Ward hooked up with Kevin Grayson on a 20-yard TD strike. Grayson, back after missing the last two games with an injury, was then on the receiving end of the ensuing two-point conversion toss from Ward that put the Spiders on top 28-21.

On its next drive, Villanova (5-3, 3-3) went 10 plays in 4:03 but could only muster a 35-yard field goal from Joe Marcoux to pull within four at 28-24. The field goal was one of three on the afternoon for Marcoux, who missed a chip shot from 20 yards wide right late in the half.

Ward's nine-yard TD run with 5:53 remaining in the game was the capper on another clock-eating drive by the Spiders. The 12-play, 73-yard series that milked 6:31 off the clock in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach, leaving the visiting Wildcats less than six minutes to make up nine points.

Marcoux's 28-yarder was good with 17 seconds remaining but Villanova's on-side kick attempt was recovered by Joe Stewart to seal Richmond's third win over a top-25 team this season.

Andrew Howard put Richmond on the board first with a field goal on the Spiders' opening possession of the game. But Villanova responded with some trickery to jump ahead 7-3. WR Phil Atkinson took a backward pass from QB Chris Whitney, and then Atkinson hit Brandyn Harvey for a 43-yard touchdown strike down the sidelines.

Whitney was 13-of-24 passing for 186 yards and two TDs and was also Villanova's leading rusher with 64 yards on 16 carries. Harvey, who made five acrobatic catches, finished with 135 yards in receptions.

Hightower gave Richmond the back as the senior plunged in from a yard out just 31 seconds into the second quarter. Villanova went the more conventional route to recapture the lead as Whitney hit Atkinson for a nine-yard TD at the 11:08 mark of the second quarter.

The back-and-fourth first half rolled on with Richmond going 80 yards on eight plays, capped by a 22-yard TD run from Josh Vaughan that put Richmond up 17-14 with eight minutes to play in the first half.

The Spiders were able to force Villanova into a missed field goal late in the half and took their three-point advantage into the locker room. With the win, the Spiders improved to 22-2 (6-0 this season) under head coach Dave Clawson when leading at the half, 18-4 when scoring first and a spotless 17-0 when surpassing 30-points.

Stewart reeled in a career-high four catches for 36 yards, including two clutch receptions that moved the chains on third down. Justin Rogers, who returned last week from an injury, was dazzling on kick off returns with three for 90 yards, including a 55-yarder.

Eric McBride finished with a game-high 14 tackles, while defending CAA Defensive Player of the Week Stephen Howell made nine stops including interception early in the second half. Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. made six stops and was in on a sack.

Although Villanova entered the game as the league leader in turnover margin with a plus-13, Howell's interception was the game's lone turnover.

No. 20 Hofstra 38, William and Mary 14
Boxscore

Quarterback Bryan Savage completed 15 of 17 passes including two touchdown strikes, and also rushed for three touchdowns to lead the 20th-ranked Pride of Hofstra to a 38-14 CAA victory over William and Mary at Shuart Stadium Saturday. Hofstra improves to 7-2 on the season including a 4-2 mark in the CAA. William and Mary falls to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in conference action.

Savage, who recorded the most rushing touchdowns by a Hofstra player since Terry Crenshaw rushed for four against Stony Brook in 2004, passed for 196 yards and threw scoring passes of six yards to senior receiver Charles Sullivan and 12 yards to junior Ottis Lewis. He also rushed 13 times for 57 yards and scored on runs of 12, 1, and 11 yards. Savage's passing yards moves him up two places into 10th place on the Hofstra single-season passing yards chart. He now has 2,317 moving past Don Gault (2,134 in 1965) and Anton Clarkson (2,239 in 2004).

The Pride, who played without senior running back Kareem Huggins, out with an ankle sprain, received 57 yards on 15 carries from red-shirt freshman Everette Benjamin, and 81 yards on 23 carries from classmate Jeff Aime. Sophomore fullback Bryant Carpenter recorded season-highs of five catches for 57 yards. The Pride tallied 356 yards on offense while holding William and Mary to 263. Senior linebacker Gian Villante led the Hofstra defensive charge with nine tackles while sophomore Luke Bonus added seven stops.

William and Mary, which entered the game averaging 413.9 yards per game, was led by quarterback Jake Phillips who completed 12 of 22 passes for 92 yards, and rushed 12 times for 54 yards. Freshman tailback Courtland Marriner rushed 14 times for 60 yards and had two catches for 19 yards including a 16-yard scoring grab. Junior linebacker Josh Rutter and sophomore safety David Caldwell posted a game-high 12 tackles.

William and Mary got on the board first thanks to a Hofstra miscue. The Tribe stopped the Pride on three plays forcing Hofstra to punt from their 38-yard line. But the snap from center was high and sailed over the head of punter Chris Hanly, who fell on the ball at the Pride 3-yard line. Two plays later Terrance Riggins rushed two yards for the William and Mary score. Brian Pate’s extra-point gave the Tribe a 7-0 lead with 9:16 to play in the first. It would be their last score for a long time as the Pride would score the next 38 points.

Hofstra would score on its next three possessions to build a 21-7 lead after one quarter. After the Tribe scored, it took just two plays to travel 62 yards as Savage hit Lewis for a 62-yard gain, and then, after a offsides penalty on the Tribe, rushed 12 yards for the touchdown. It was Savage’s sixth rushing touchdown of the year. Rob Zarrilli’s extra-point tied the score with 8:25 to play in the quarter. After the Pride defense held the Tribe to three-and-out on its next possession, Savage once again went to work quickly, going 47 yards on five plays and hitting Sullivan for a 6-yard touchdown pass. It was Sullivan’s 10th scoring grab of the season. Zarrilli boosted the lead to 14-7 with the point-after.

On William & Mary’s next possession, Phillips was picked off by Hofstra red-shirt freshman linebacker Deron Mayo, who returned his first college interception four yards to the Tribe 34-yard line. Several plays later, after a 19-yard completion to freshman Anthony Nelson moved the ball to the one-yard line, Savage called his own number for his second TD run of the game and a 21-7 advantage.

Hofstra added to the lead with 4:46 to play in the half. Savage found Lewis in the corner of the end zone for a 12-yard score that capped a 10-play 74-yard drive and gave the Pride a 28-7 lead at the break. By halftime, Savage was already 11 for 12 and had 165 of Hofstra’s 188 yards.

Hofstra boosted the lead on the opening possession of the second half as Benjamin led the Pride on a 9-play, 66-yard drive by rushing six times for 32 yards, before Savage rushed for the score from 11 yards out. Zarrilli’s extra-point gave the Pride a 35-7 lead with 10:42 to play in the third quarter.

Hofstra would tack on three more points early in the fourth quarter on a 20-yard field goal from Zarrilli for a 38-7 lead. William and Mary came right back and went on a 7-play, 70-yard drive, with back-up quarterback Mike Potts hitting Courtland Marriner for a 16-yard touchdown with 6:54 to play in the game, that closed out the scoring.

The Hofstra victory, combined with losses by Massachusetts and New Hampshire on Saturday, puts the Pride back in the hunt for the CAA’s North Division title. The Minutemen of UMass, who lost in overtime at Rhode Island Saturday, are now 7-2 on the year and 5-1 in the conference. Hofstra and UMass will meet in the regular season finale on November 17 at Shuart Stadium at Noon. New Hampshire slipped to 6-3 and 3-3 in the North with a loss to Northeastern, the Pride’s next opponent on Saturday, November 10 at Parsons Field in Boston. Game time is 1 p.m.

Maine 16, Towson 13
Boxscore

Troy Harris intercepted Sean Schaefer's potential go-ahead conversion pass and returned it for two points with 2:02 remaining, helping the University of Maine hold on for a 16-13 Colonial Athletic Association football victory Saturday over Towson University.

Maine backup quarterback Mike Brusko came off the bench in the first half to replace injured starter Adam Farkes and directed two second-half scoring drives on a cold, rainy and windy afternoon at Alfond Stadium as the Black Bears (3-6, 2-4 CAA) won their second straight game.

Tailback Jermaine Henderson gave Maine the lead for good, capping a 12-play, 72-yard march with a 5-yard scoring run with 3:38 left in the fourth quarter. Bobby Donnelly's PAT kick made it 14-7 Maine.

Towson (3-6, 1-5 CAA) responded with a quick 53-yard drive and Rasheed McClaude's 1-yard plunge got the Tigers within a point, setting up the failed conversion pass.

Tailback Jhamal Fluellen carried 19 times for 82 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, before leaving the game with a left-arm injury. Brusko wound up rushing for 56 yards and completing seven of 10 passes for 66 yards. Schaefer threw 250 yards for Towson.