CAA FOOTBALL WEEKLY RELEASE - NOV. 23
CAA Football Players of the Week -- Nov. 24
CAA Football announced its Player of the Week honorees, Monday, Nov. 24. Five individuals earned honors after helping each of their squads to wins on the field Saturday, including James Madison’s Markus Hunter, Massachusetts’ Tony Nelson, New Hampshire’s Terrence Klein, Richmond’s Sherman Logan and Rhode Island’s Brandon Johnson-Farrell.
Nelson, the CAA Football Offensive Player of the Week, helped Massachusetts end its 2008 season with a 28-14 win over Hofstra. The Germantown, Md., native rushed for 204 yards on 28 carries, accounting for all but 32 of UMass’ rushing yards. The junior, who scored two touchdowns on one-yard runs, also hauled in three catches for 16 yards in the win. Through the first half Nelson had carried the ball just 16 times, but had generated 111 yards and two touchdowns for an average of 6.9 yards a carry. Nelson ended the day averaging 7.3 yards per carry, while his mark of 204 yards in a game was the first for a UMass running back since Steve Baylark rushed for 200 yards in a game during the 2006 season.
Klein grabbed one of two CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week honors after helping secure a 28-24 road-win for New Hampshire at Maine. The Westwood, N.J., native recorded two key interceptions on the day, catapulting the Wildcats to their fifth-straight berth in the postseason. Both of Klein’s picks came in the fourth quarter as the Black Bears were trying to assemble game-winning drives. The first came with 3:02 left in the game, halting a two-play Maine drive inside Black Bear territory. After a UNH punt on the ensuing possession, Klein again single-handedly stopped a Maine drive by intercepting a pass inside of New Hampshire territory with just 18 seconds left in the game. The junior finished the day with three total tackles to go with the two game-saving interceptions.
Logan notched the second of two CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week honors after he had a hand in pushing Richmond to a 23-20 overtime win at William and Mary. The Virginia Beach, Va., native led a Spider defensive effort which limited the Tribe to just 12 yards of offense in the first half. The sixth-year senior, who finished the day with four total tackles and a sack for 10 yards, played a huge role during the game’s overtime period. William and Mary took possession first in overtime and managed just two yards, before calling for a 39-yard field-goal attempt. Logan got pressure up the middle and was able to get his left hand on the kick, logging the first blocked kick of his career and giving the Spiders an opportunity for their second-straight trip to postseason play. Richmond then took its ensuing drive five yards before Andrew Howard connected on the game-winning field goal.
Hunter, the CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Week, helped James Madison’s special teams in the Dukes’ 58-27 win on the road at Towson -- a win which gave JMU the outright 2008 CAA Football Championship. The High Point, N.C., native was in on three special teams tackles in the win, while also contributing a blocked punt and blocked-punt recovery. The redshirt freshman logged the blocked punt recovery with a 1:47 left in the first quarter, which gave the Dukes the ball at the Towson 34. Four plays after the blocked punt James Madison scored a touchdown to go ahead 20-7. Towson’s first possession of the second half ended with another blocked punt, this time it was Hunter who got his hand on the kick which again gave the Dukes the ball inside of Towson territory.
Johnson-Farrell earned CAA Football Rookie of the Week honors after helping Rhode Island to its first conference win of the season, topping Northeastern on the road, 24-19. The Odenton, Md., native caught one pass for eight yards and rushed once for six yards in the win. The freshman’s biggest impact on the game came with 7:50 left in the first half. With a 7-0 lead, Northeastern was punting from its own 40-yardline when Rodney Mitchell got a hand on Ron Conway’s kick. Johnson-Farrell picked up the loose ball and ran it back 32 yards for a touchdown knotting the score at 7-7. For the year, Johnson-Farrell has logged 1,478 all-purpose yards which places him second among freshmen in the category.
Check out page 22 of the weekly release for a complete rundown of CAA Football’s weekly honorees.
CAA Football Launches Another Landmark TV Package
CAA Football will feature an even larger television package than the league debuted at the beginning of its Inaugural Season.
CAA Football Commissioner Tom Yeager announced a 41-game television schedule as part of the league’s Media Day Celebration at the ESPNZone in Baltimore, Md. The schedule, the largest conference television package among the nation’s Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), is highlighted by a conference-only package of 21 games on Comcast regional television networks CN8, The Comcast Network and Comcast SportsNet.
The 21-game conference-only package covered by the Comcast networks features the most competitive games airing on regional networks spanning the East Coast. CN8 will air 12 match-ups throughout its Maine to Virginia footprint. Comcast SportsNet networks including Comcast SportsNet New England and Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic will cover an additional nine games throughout the 13-week season, with additional distribution possible on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, CSS, SNY and YES Network, schedule permitting.
The remaining 20 games on the 2008 CAA Football Television package will include two non-conference games on CN8, one on Comcast SportsNet, seven broadcasts on the ESPN family of networks and a single game on both the Big Ten Network and NESN. WABI-TV in Maine will provide coverage for five of the Black Bears’ six home games this season. Madison Square Garden Network (MSG) has plans to broadcast one contest, Towson will play a non-conference match-up on CSTV and WMUR-TV in New Hampshire will provide coverage of New Hampshire’s contest at Dartmouth.
Television listings for every game are listed throughout this release.
CAA Football In The Polls
For a complete rundown of both the Sports Network Top-25 and the FCS Coaches Poll visit page 24 of the weekly release. Below are highlights and notes about CAA Football in this week’s rankings.
The Sports Network Top-25
No. 1 James Madison carries on what is now a 10-week span CAA Football has owned the top-spot in the poll. The last time a CAA Football school was ranked No. 1 in consecutive weeks was in 2006 when New Hampshire held on to No. 1 from Sept. 11-Oct. 9 (five weeks).
The Dukes’ No. 1 ranking also marks the ninth-straight week they have been in the poll’s top spot -- the first time since 2005 JMU has been at the top of The Sports Network Top-25 for consecutive weeks.
On Sept. 22 both Richmond (No. 1) and James Madison (No. 2) became the first duo from a single-league to hold the Top-2 spots in The Sports Network Poll since 1991. It also marked the first time in CAA Football’s 62-year history (Atlantic 10 and Yankee Conference) it has ever held the Top-2 spots in any National Top-25.
CAA Football’s six ranked squads in the Sports Network’s Top-25 mark the 13th time in the last 14 weeks the league has had at least six in the poll. From the 2008 Preseason poll until Oct. 6, Delaware, James Madison, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Richmond and Villanova represented the CAA -- William and Mary replaced Delaware in that same group Oct. 20, while Maine replaced Massachusetts in the group Nov. 17.
CAA Football’s six ranked squads in the Sports Network’s Top-25 are three more than any other conference can boast this week -- the Ohio Valley, Southern and Southland Conferences all have three teams in the Top-25. The CAA alone has four of its six among the Top-10, and all six among the Top-20. No conference can equal the CAA’s mark of three schools in the Top-10.
CAA Football teams among the 2008 Sports Network rankings continue a weekly string of at least three league squads ranked among the Top-25 since the poll’s inception.
CAA Football also extends its string of at least two teams in the Sports Network Top-10 to 54-straight weeks. The league can now boast having at least two teams in the Sports Network Top-10 in 80 of the last 84 weeks.
FCS Coaches Top-25
James Madison’s No. 1 ranking in this week’s poll continues the first-time accomplishment of CAA Football owning the top spot in the FCS Coaches Poll in consecutive weeks (now 10-straight weeks). When the Dukes first earned the No. 1 ranking (Sept. 22) it marked a first for CAA Football, as no team from the league had ever been ranked No. 1 by the Coaches during what is now the poll’s two-year existence.
On Sept. 22 both James Madison (No. 1) and Richmond (No. 2) held the Top-2 spots in the poll, marking another first-ever for CAA Football in the FCS Coaches Poll. Since the poll debuted in 2007 no league has held the Top-2 spots in the same week.
Since the FCS Coaches Poll debuted, CAA Football has had at least four squads ranked every week (28 weeks). The league’s total of six in this week’s poll marks the 25th-straight edition CAA Football has had five-or-more squads listed.
CAA Football has had four-or-more teams among the Coaches Top-15 each of the last 27 weeks of the Top-25 -- the poll has been released a total of 27 weeks dating back to the 2007 Preseason edition.
CAA Football Owns Five Of Top-10 Toughest FCS Schedules
Five CAA Football teams’ schedules ranked among the 10 toughest schedules in the FCS this season when calculating opponent’s win-loss record. The NCAA, which tabulates this information, includes only games played against the official roster of 118 NCAA FCS programs.
Rk. - Team - Conference - Total
1. - Delaware - CAA Football - 69-44 (.611)
2. - Massachusetts - CAA Football - 73-50 (.593)
3. - James Madison - CAA Football - 65-47 (.580)
4. - Chattanooga - Southern - 63-47 (.573)
5. - Dartmouth - Ivy League - 53-40 (.570)
6. - Lehigh - Patriot - 59-45 (.567)
7. - Villanova - CAA Football - 62-50 (.554)
8. - Lafayette - Patriot - 58-47 (.552)
9. - Hofstra - CAA Football - 68-56 (.548)
10. - Holy Cross - Patriot - 57-48 (.543)
Career Milestone Watch
James Madison quarterback Rodney Landers needs just 10 more passing yards to become only the fifth FCS quarterback to rush and pass for 3,000 yards in his career. A 10-yard completion for Landers, who already has rushed for 3,084 yards in his career, would put him in the company of Willie Taggart (Western Kentucky, 1995-98) -- 3,957 rushing & 3,029 passing, Greg Hill (Georgia Southern, 1996-99) -- 3,309 rushing & 3,369 passing, Matt Cannon (Southern Utah, 1997-00) -- 5,489 rushing & 3,531 passing, David Dinkins (Morehead State, 1997-00) -- 3,765 rushing & 5,572 passing.
In 2008, Towson’s Sean Schaefer became just the third quarterback in FCS history to complete 1,000 passes in his career. Prior to Schaefer’s milestone toss at Villanova (Nov. 15), only New Hampshire’s Ricky Santos and Cal-State Northridge’s Marcus Brady had reached the 1,000 career completion mark. Santos owns CAA Football’s career completion record of 1,102.
CAA Football’s National Honor List At 19 After Regular Season
CAA Football’s national honor total is up to 19 after 13 weeks of regular-season play in 2008 -- seven more than any other FCS conference has won this season and four more than the league’s overall total of 15 in 2007.
Prior to the Oct. 20 release of National Players of the Week, which did not include any CAA Football players, league student-athletes had been recognized at least once in seven-straight weeks to open 2008.
The Sports Network and College Sporting News, both publications which devote major coverage to the FCS level of college football, select National Player of the Week honorees following each week of competition during the 2008 regular season.
CAA Football athletes were honored nine of the 12 weeks in 2007, and boasted a total of 15 national winners. CAA Football’s total in 2007 trailed only the Southern Conference’s 16 National Player of the Week honorees.
Check out page 22 of the weekly release for a complete rundown of CAA Football’s National Players of the Week.
Payton/Buchanan Watch
The Sports Network recently released its final Watch lists and ballots for both the Walter Payton and Buck Buchanan awards. CAA Football has one on the updated Payton Watch List -- James Madison’s Rodney Landers -- and three on the updated Buck Buchanan Watch List -- Maine’s Jovan Belcher, James Madison’s Marcus Haywood and Villanova’s Greg Miller.
The Walter Payton Award is given to the most outstanding offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision, while the Buck Buchanan Award is awarded to the most outstanding defensive player in FCS.
Below are the CAA Football athletes which appear on The Sports Networks final list and those players’ to-date statistics.
Walter Payton Award
-- Rodney Landers, QB (James Madison) - 89-138-3-1236 pass yds, 64.5%, 15 TD, 112.4 pass yds/game, 201-1377 rush yds, 14 TD, 125.2 rush yds/game, 1377-1236-2613 total yds, 237.5 total yds/game, CAA Football Offensive Player of the Year
Buck Buchanan Award
-- Jovan Belcher, DL (Maine) - 12 G, 39 solo, 54 assisted, 93 total, 15.5-73 TFL, 7.5-45 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 PBU, CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year
-- Marcus Haywood, DB (James Madison) - 11 G, 41 solo, 35 assisted, 76 total, 3.5-9 TFL, 4-48 INT, 1 FF, 6 PBU
-- Greg Miller, DL (Villanova) - 11 G, 29 solo, 12 assisted, 41 total, 13.0-62 TFL, 5.5-42 sacks, 2 FF, 3 PBU
Three CAA Football Head Coaches Among Eddie Robinson Award Finalists
The Sports Network released its list of 20 finalists for the 2008 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award. Three of CAA Football’s 12 coaches appear on the list, including James Madison’s Mickey Matthews, Maine’s Jack Cosgrove and Villanova’s Andy Talley.
Both Matthews and Talley are seeking their second career Eddie Robinson honor. Matthews, the 2008 CAA Football Coach of the Year, was named the Eddie Robinson Award winner in 1999. Talley garnered the National Coach of the Year honor in 1997.
Matthews led the Dukes to the No. 1 overall seed in the 2008 NCAA Division I National Championships and had his team holding on to the No. 1 ranking in both national polls for each of the last 10 weeks.
Talley has guided his Wildcat squad to a 9-2 mark during the 2008 regular season. Talley became the all-time winningest coach in CAA Football (Atlantic 10 and Yankee Conference) history with a 24-13 win over New Hampshire, Nov. 8, and has since pushed his overall league win total to 100 games. Villanova, under Talley’s direction, is back into the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2002 when it advanced to the semifinals before falling to McNeese State.
Cosgrove motivated his 2008 Black Bears to a remarkable six-game win streak from Oct. 11-Nov. 15, which included wins on the road over two ranked foes. Maine, which was 2-3 prior to the streak, was awarded CAA Football’s fourth at-large spot into the 2008 NCAA field of 16, after it fell to New Hampshire on the final weekend of the season -- a game played in what some called blizzard-like conditions.
CAA Football -- NCAA Championship Notebook
-- James Madison’s No. 1-overall seed is the first for the league since 2005 when New Hampshire earned the top-seed. That same year the Wildcats lost their quarterfinal match-up against to Northern Iowa.
-- CAA Football’s five berths in the NCAA Division I National Championships mark the second-straight season the league has sent five to the playoffs. Prior to 2007, no conference had ever sent more than four teams to postseason play.
-- The five CAA Football teams in this season’s Championships up the league’s overall mark to 66 berths since the 1978 NCAA Championships selection.
-- CAA Football has sent two-or-more teams to the postseason in each of the last 18 years, which ranks as the longest active streak among all conferences. Massachusetts was the only squad to represent the league in 1990.
-- Two of CAA Football’s five teams in the postseason are making their first appearances in the NCAA Championships since the 2002 season (Maine & Villanova). Maine advanced to the quarterfinals in 2002 before losing to Georgia Southern. Villanova lost to McNeese State that same season in the semifinals.
-- At least one CAA Football team has played in the National Championship game four of the last five years.
-- CAA Football teams are a combined 32-29 (.525) in NCAA Division I National Championship first round games.
-- The five CAA Football squads in this year’s postseason are a combined 16-25 in all-time postseason play, but those same teams are 13-10 in playoff games dating back to 2002.
-- The five CAA Football opponents in this year’s first round action (Colgate, Eastern Kentucky, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois and Wofford) are a combined 9-12 against CAA Football squads in NCAA Division I Championship games.
-- CAA Football is 52-59 (.468) all-time in NCAA Division I National Championship games, but the league is 27-17 in playoff games dating back to the 2002 season.
DELAWARE (4-8, 2-6 CAA)
Season Complete
-- The Blue Hens’ eight losses in 2008 sets a school record. Ohio State and Tennessee now remain the only long-standing NCAA Division I schools which have never lost eight games in a season.
-- Delaware extended scoring streaks in its game against Villanova -- 160-straight games scoring a point since 1996 and 168-straight home games scoring a point since 1983.
-- The Blue Hens finished 2008 averaging 17.5 points and 275.8 total yards per game - the program’s lowest single-season totals since 10.2 ppg in 1960 and 271.1 yards per game in 1961.
-- Delaware picked up four All-CAA Football honors following the regular season. Junior safety Charles Graves was the Blue Hens’ lone First Team honoree. Senior center Kheon Hendricks and junior defensive lineman Matt Marcorelle picked up Second Team All-CAA Football recognition. Robbie Agnone was a Third Team All-Conference selection at tight end.
HOFSTRA (4-8, 2-6 CAA)
Season Complete
-- Sophomore Aaron Weaver tied current Pride assistant coach Kahmal Roy and NFL standout Marques Colston for eighth on the Hofstra single-season receptions list with 70 for 595 yards.
-- Junior Luke Bonus led the Pride in tackles for the second time (2006) in his career finishing the season with 96, including 42 solos. He equaled his single-season solo tackle best of 42 set as a freshman, but fell two stops short of tying his season best total tackle number of 98 in 2006. Bonus finished the season with six tackles at UMass.
-- Freshman receiver Christian Dennis led the Pride at UMass with five catches for 55 yards. Dennis stepped into action late this season, and posted 15 catches for 153 yards.
-- Hofstra logged two All-CAA Football honors following the regular season. Junior linebacker Luke Bonus was one of four First Team All-League linebackers. Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Weaver also earned Second Team honors.
#1/1 JAMES MADISON (10-1, 8-0 CAA)
This Week: hosts #8/9 Wofford (9-2)
Next Week: To be determined
-- JMU’s 10 wins this regular season sets a team regular-season record for victories. The Dukes have had five other seasons with nine regular-season wins. Madison’s 10-game win streak is the second-longest in school history.
-- James Madison’s 8-0 league mark is the squad’s best-ever conference finish. Its out-right league crown marks a Division I level first for the Dukes’ program.
-- Sophomore running back Griff Yancey garnered his second three-touchdown games of the season and the third of his career in the win over Towson.
-- Madison rushed for 440 yards in the win at Towson. The mark is just two off the school’s Division I single-game record of 442 (1991, Towson). The school’s overall single-game rushing mark is 501 while at the Division III level.
-- JMU lost two fumbles at Towson -- marking the team’s first TO’s in five games.
#20/21 MAINE (8-4, 5-3 CAA)
This Week: at #4/4 Northern Iowa (10-2)
Next Week: To be determined
-- The Black Bears concluded the regular season winning six of their last seven games to finish with at least eight wins in a season for the first time since the 2002 season.
-- Maine finished second in the CAA North Division for the second time in the last three seasons -- falling to New Hampshire in the final game of the regular season. The Black Bears were picked to finish fourth in the North according to the preseason coaches poll, released by the league in July.
-- Maine had seven All-League selections following the regular season. In addition to earning First Team honors, senior defensive lineman Jovan Belcher earned Defensive Player of the Year recognition. Freshman fullback Jared Turcotte and senior offensive lineman Ryan Canary also were First Team honorees. Senior linebacker Andrew Downey was an All-League second team selection. Senior running back Jhamal Fluellen, senior lineman Chris Arnao and senior cornerback Lionel Nixon, Jr., all earned Third Team honors.
MASSACHUSETTS (7-5, 4-4 CAA)
Season Complete
-- Tony Nelson, CAA Football’s final Offensive Player of the Week in 2008, had his seventh-career 100-yard rushing game and sixth this season with 204 against Hofstra. Nelson had 111 in the first half alone against the Pride.
-- Nelson finished his junior season with 1,325 yards to place him eighth on the school’s single-season rushing list.
-- UMass placed a total of 11 on the league’s All-Conference lists. Senior running back Tony Nelson, senior wide receiver Victor Cruz, junior Vladimir Ducasse, senior linebacker Josh Jennings, senior cornerback Courtney Robinson, junior safety Jeromy Miles and senior punter Brett Arnold all were part of the league’s First Team. Senior quarterback Liam Coen was the Minutemen’s lone member of the All-League Second Team. Junior wide receiver Jeremy Horne, senior offensive lineman Sean Calicchio and junior defensive lineman Kyle Harrington all earned All-CAA Football third team honors.
#10/10 NEW HAMPSHIRE (9-2, 6-2 CAA)
This Week: at #9/8 Southern Illinois (9-2)
Next Week: To be determined
-- New Hampshire’s game at Maine was played in snow and strong winds, but the Wildcats still managed 28 points and outrushed the Maine ground-game, 163-134.
-- New Hampshire’s defense limited Maine to just 232 total yards in last weekend’s win. Maine came into the game averaging 340.6 yards overall, and 130.2 yards on the ground.
-- The Wildcats captured the 2008 CAA North Division crown, and retained the Brice-Cowell Musket for the sixth consecutive season with its win over Maine.
-- Senior wide receiver Mike Boyle needs just 74 more receiving yards this season to reach the 1,000-yard mark in 2008.
-- R.J. Toman has tossed 27 touchdown passes this season, and rushed for four more. To date he has thrown only eight interceptions.
NORTHEASTERN (2-10, 1-7 CAA)
Season Complete
-- Phil Higgins made 15 tackles in the final regular season game against Rhode Island, finishing 2008 with 122 stops, fifth-most in NU single-season history. He also finished the regular season as CAA Football’s leading tackler.
-- John Griffin earned his first career 100-yard rushing game with 110 yards on the ground against Rhode Island. He also scored a career-high two touchdowns.
-- Alex Broomfield missed the Rhody game due to injury, but finished his NU career as the only Husky in the school’s Top-10 in career rushing attempts and receptions.
-- Northeastern earned five All-CAA Football honors following the regular season. Senior tight end Brian Mandeville earned All-CAA Football second team recognition. Senior running back Alex Broomfield, junior offensive lineman Kevin Newhall, junior linebacker Phil Higgins and sophomore safety Nate Thellen all earned Third Team All-Conference honors.
RHODE ISLAND (3-9, 1-7 CAA)
Season Complete
-- Rhode Island closed out the season 1-7 in CAA Football play following a 29-14 victory over Northeastern on the road.
-- Senior Jimmy Hughes led the way offensively against Northeastern with 142 yards of all-purpose offense and one touchdown. The running back closed out his Rhody career with a season-high 93 yards rushing in the game.
-- Senior quarterback Derek Cassidy closed out his collegiate career against Northeastern going 13-of-22 for 157 yards passing.
-- Rhode Island garnered a total of two All-Conference honors following the regular season. Sophomore linebacker Matt Hansen was part of the league’s Second Team defensive unit. Freshman Brandon Johnson-Farrell, the league’s final Rookie of the Week honoree, also logged Third Team punt return honors as awarded by the coaches.
#7/6 RICHMOND (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
This Week: hosts #21/22 Eastern Kentucky (8-3)
Next Week: To be determined
-- Saturday’s win over William and Mary marked just the third four-year sweep of the Tribe in the history of the series. The Spiders won seven-straight in the four years between 1912 and 1915, five-straight between 1919 and 1922 and four-straight between 1959 and 1962.
-- The Richmond victory over William and Mary clinched just the fifth nine-win campaign in the 126 seasons of Spider football (1998, 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2008).
-- Cornerback Justin Rogers picked off his fifth and six passes of the season against William and Mary, placing him in a tie with four other Spiders for fourth on the single-season list. Assistant Coach Scott Burton had five picks each in 1991 and 1992, while Head Coach Mike London had six in 1982. Jeff Nixon’s eight picks in 1976 is the school record, while Nixon (1978) and Taylor Lackey (1985) each had seven.
-- Richmond has picked off 21 passes this season, best the record-20 set in 1973.
TOWSON (3-9, 1-7 CAA)
Season Complete
-- Towson’s loss to James Madison marked the 15th time in Sean Schaefer’s career he passed for more than 300 yards and the sixth time in 12 games this season. Schaefer finished his career as the eighth-leading passer in NCAA FCS history with 11,644 yards.
-- Senior Marcus Lee became the Tigers’ career pass receiving leader against James Madison, hauling in six catches for 58 yards. The senior caught at least one pass in all 45 career games, and is tied for eighth on the CAA’s all-time receptions list. Lee finished his career with a school record 225 receptions for 2,389 yards and 13 touchdowns.
-- Towson picked up a total of four All-CAA Football honors following the regular season. Senior wide receiver Marcus Lee and senior safety Drew Mack were both made part of the Second Team. Senior quarterback Sean Schaefer, one of the most statistically-accomplished quarterbacks ever at the FCS level, was part of the league’s Third Team. Senior linebacker Jordan Manning also brought in Third Team All-League honors.
#6/7 VILLANOVA (9-2, 7-1 CAA)
This Week: hosts #16/16 Colgate (9-2)
Next Week: To be determined
-- Villanova had two 100-yard rushers in the win at Delaware -- the first time since Nov. 4, 2006. Aaron Ball had 105 yards rushing, while Chris Whitney had 102 yards rushing.
-- The Wildcats’ 317 yards rushing against Delaware marked the seventh time in the last eight games the Wildcats have eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark.
-- Quarterback Chris Whitney has 443 rushing yards this season. The most by a Villanova quarterback during head coach Andy Talley’s 24-year Wildcat career.
-- The Wildcats have won nine regular season games for the first time since 1997 and it is the first time since 2001 Villanova tallied seven conference victories.
-- Aaron Ball needs 40 rushing yards to become the third Wildcat in school history to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. He will join the likes of Brian Westbrook (three season) and Curtis Sifford (one season).
#19/18 WILLIAM AND MARY (7-4, 5-3 CAA)
Season Complete
-- Quarterback Jake Phillips had his 19th-career game of 200-plus passing yards, finishing the Richmond game with 204 yards (20-of-42). The senior also scored the team’s lone touchdown on a one-yard run (the score was the 75th combined TD of his career).
-- With 100 yards of offense (rush, receiving, returns) against Richmond, true freshman tailback Jonathan Grimes set the school’s single season record by averaging 162.0 yds/game in all-purpose offense.
-- William and Mary garnered a total of 10 All-Conference honors as well as a major individual award following the regular season. Freshman Jonathan Grimes was named the league Offensive Rookie of the Year, in addition to picking up First Team Kick Returner and Second Team Running Back honors. Junior placekicker Brian Pate and junior defensive lineman Adrian Tracy also earned First Team knods. Junior tight end Rob Varno and senior cornerback Derek Cox were Second Team honorees. Senior quarterback Jake Phillips, junior wideout D.J. McAulay, senior linebacker Josh Rutter and sophomore punter David Miller were on the Third Team.
#21/22 EASTERN KENTUCKY AT #7/6 RICHMOND
Saturday, Nov. 29 - 1:00 pm
UR Stadium (21,319), Richmond, Va.
Series: Richmond leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2007, Richmond 31-14 in Richmond, Va.
Eastern Kentucky (8-3)
Coach: Dean Hood (Ohio Wesleyan, 1986)
Career: 8-3 (First year)
School: 8-3 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: CJ Walker (11 G, 142-679 yards, 7 TD)
Passing: Allan Holland (11 G, 177-294-6-1940 yards, 8 TD)
Receiving: Stephen Sizemore (11 G, 46-349 yards, 2 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Tyjuan Jones (11 G, 47 solo, 47 assisted, 94 total)
Sacks: Chris Hall (11 G, 6.0-37 yards)
Interceptions: Zach Denton (11 G, 6-99 yards)
Richmond (9-3, 6-2 CAA)
Coach: Mike London (Richmond, 1983)
Career: 9-3 (First year)
School: 9-3 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Josh Vaughan (12 G, 260-1413 yards, 14 TD)
Passing: Eric Ward (12 G, 164-259-6-2066 yards, 11 TD)
Receiving: Kevin Grayson (11 G, 46-622 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Eric McBride (12 G, 32 solo, 42 assisted, 74 total)
Sacks: Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. (12 G, 6.5-33 yards)
Interceptions: Justin Rogers (12 G, 6-116 yards)
#16/16 COLGATE AT #6/7 VILLANOVA
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 1:00 pm
Villanova Stadium (12,000), Villanova, Pa.
Series: Villanova leads 3-1
Last Meeting: Sept. 7, 2002, Villanova 20-0 in Hamilton, N.Y.
Colgate (9-2)
Coach: Dick Biddle (Duke, 1971)
Career: 104-48 (13 years)
School: 104-48 (13 years)
Offense
Rushing: Jordan Scott (8 G, 194-1054 yards, 12 TD)
Passing: Greg Sullivan (11 G, 110-184-7-1527 yards, 11 TD)
Receiving: Pat Simonds (11 G, 59-1054 yards, 8 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Greg Hadley (11 G, 48 solo, 22 assisted, 70 total)
Sacks: Austin Douglas (11 G, 6.0-20 yards)
Interceptions: Wayne Moten (11 G, 3-7 yards)
Villanova (9-2, 7-1 CAA)
Coach: Andy Talley (Southern Connecticut, 1967)
Career: 192-118-2 (29 years)
School: 164-100-1 (24 years)
Offense
Rushing: Aaron Ball (11 G, 190-952 yards, 11 TD)
Passing: Chris Whitney (10 G, 102-147-4-1149 yards, 8 TD)
Receiving: Phil Atkinson (11 G, 48-520 yards, 4 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Osayi Osunde (11 G, 39 solo, 26 assisted, 65 total)
Sacks: Tim Kukucka (11 G, 6.5-46 yards)
Interceptions: Ross Ventrone (11 G, 4-47 yards)
#10/10 NEW HAMPSHIRE AT #9/8 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 2:00 pm (ET)
McAndrew Stadium (17,324), Carbondale, Ill.
Series: First Meeting
New Hampshire (9-2, 6-2 CAA)
Coach: Sean McDonnell (New Hampshire, 1978)
Career: 69-49 (10 years)
School: 69-49 (10 years)
Offense
Rushing: Robert Simpson (11 G, 12-706 yards, 6 TD)
Passing: R.J. Toman (11 G, 199-293-8-2610 yards, 27 TD)
Receiving: Mike Boyle (11 G, 56-926 yards, 10 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Dino Vasso (11 G, 57 solo, 29 assisted, 86 total)
Sacks: Brian McNally (11 G, 2.5-16 yards)
Interceptions: Ryan Hinds (11 G, 4-218 yards)
Southern Illinois (9-2)
Coach: Dale Lennon (North Dakota, 1985)
Career: 111-35 (12 years)
School: 9-2 (First year)
Offense
Rushing: Larry Warner (11 G, 192-1172 yards, 10 TD)
Passing: Chris Dieker (11 G, 168-290-8-1920 yards, 15 TD)
Receiving: Damian Sherman (11 G, 29-414 yards, 5 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Brandin Jordan (10 G, 41 solo, 39 assisted, 80 total)
Sacks: James Cloud (10 G, 7.5-53 yards)
Interceptions: Korey Lindsey (11 G, 4-81 yards)
#8/9 WOFFORD AT #1/1 JAMES MADISON
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 3:00 pm
Bridgeforth Stadium (15,500), Harrisonburg, Va.
Series: James Madison leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Oct. 25, 1980, James Madison 3-0 in Harrisonburg, Va.
Wofford (9-2)
Coach: Mike Ayers (Georgetown College (Ky.), 1974)
Career: 152-116-2 (21 years)
School: 141-95-1 (24 years)
Offense
Rushing: Dane Romero (11 G, 185-991 yards, 19 TD)
Passing: Ben Widmyer (11 G, 69-104-2-1190 yards, 10 TD)
Receiving: Andy Strickland (11 G, 31-594 yards, 7 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Seth Goldwire (11 G, 36 solo, 50 assisted, 86 total)
Sacks: Mitch Clark (11 G, 8.0-60 yards)
Interceptions: Seth Goldwire (11 G, 2-61 yards)
James Madison (10-1, 8-0 CAA)
Coach: Mickey Matthews (West Texas State, 1976)
Career: 74-45 (10 years)
School: 74-45 (10 years)
Offense
Rushing: Rodney Landers (11 G, 201-1377 yards, 14 TD)
Passing: Rodney Landers (11 G, 89-138-3-1236 yards, 15 TD)
Receiving: Griff Yancey (11 G, 18-204 yards, 3 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Marcus Haywood (11 G, 41 solo, 35 assisted, 76 total)
Sacks: Arthur Moats (11 G, 7.0-50 yards)
Interceptions: Marcus Haywood (11 G, 4-48 yards)
#20/21 MAINE AT #4/4 NORTHERN IOWA
Saturday, Nov. 22 - 5:00 pm (ET)
UNI-Dome (16,324), Cedar Falls, Iowa
Series: Northern Iowa leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Dec. 8, 2001, Northern Iowa 58-26 in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Maine (8-4, 5-3 CAA)
Coach: Jack Cosgrove (Maine, 1978)
Career: 88-94 (16 years)
School: 88-94 (16 years)
Offense
Rushing: Jared Turcotte (12 G, 100-602 yards, 7 TD)
Passing: Michael Brusko (12 G, 52-81-3-756 yards, 7 TD)
Receiving: Jared Turcotte (12 G, 23-271 yards, 1 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Jovan Belcher (12 G, 39 solo, 54 assisted, 93 total)
Sacks: Jovan Belcher (12 G, 7.5-45 yards)
Interceptions: Lamir Whetstone (12 G, 5-20 yards)
Northern Iowa (10-2)
Coach: Mark Farley (Northern Iowa, 1987)
Career: 73-27 (8 years)
School: 73-27 (8 years)
Offense
Rushing: Corey Lewis (12 G, 221-1122 yards, 9 TD)
Passing: Pat Grace (9 G, 100-166-5-1333 yards, 10 TD)
Receiving: Johnny Gray (10 G, 29-380 yards, 2 TD)
Defense
Tackles: Josh Mahoney (12 G, 39 solo, 67 assisted, 106 total)
Sacks: James Ruffin (12 G, 8.0-42 yards)
Interceptions: Jamar Thompson (12 G, 4-60 yards)