Without BCS BS, SJF has a chance
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In 2006, MUC took out the Cardinals in the national semifinals 26-14 with Mark Robinson in the backfield and in 2007, MUC did a worse job mangling the St. John Fisher offense.
Well, this time, the Cardinals had a shot at MUC in Week 1 instead of after a full regular season, but things went no different, as 2006 D3football.com offensive player of the year Nate Kmic rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-3 romp.
Despite the score not being close, a couple breaks here or there may have turned the tide for the Cardinals, as one touchdown in the first half was the direct result of a fumble and another because of an interception.
MUC won its 21st consecutive opener, but unlike the BCS, all is not lost for St. John Fisher. The game against the Purple Raiders wasn't a regional game. So in the D-III way, it's a good measuring stick, but it alone won't prevent St. John Fisher from making another deep playoff run, like that other division does.
Focus on one game in each conference
With very few conference games in Week 1, we'll skip this feature this time, but it'll be back in Week 2.
Great performances
Defenses were shredded Saturday when 2007 Empire 8 co-champ Hartwick and NEFC foe Western New England faced off at Wright Stadium in Oneonta.
Hartwick's offense picked up right where it left off in 2007, putting up 63 points in a 63-37 pasting of the Colonels.
Senior receiver Jack Phelan had an otherworldly day for the Hawks, catching 13 passes for 289 yards (!) and six of senior quarterback Jason Boltus' seven touchdown passes on the day. Phelan earned the Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Week award and the ECAC Northwest Offensive Player of the Week award.
Boltus, last year's Melberger Award winner had a helluva day himself offensively, going 20-for-40 with 392 yards.
The game was pretty much back and forth for the first half and into the second, when WNEC's Justin Walz scored on a 2-yard run to cut Hartwick's lead to five.
WNEC's Jordan Capitani rushed for 200 yards, as Hartwick's defense also picked up when it left off in 2007. If defenses can stop Boltus and Phelan, the Hawks will be in for a long year. Coach Carr will have his “run and gun” offense ready, though.
Food for thought
In its last two regular season games versus Utica at the end of last year and against WNEC, the Hawks have scored 135 points. In those two games, Jason Boltus has thrown 13 touchdown passes and for 812 yards! Holy cow. Numbers like those will start getting you noticed at a higher level; I don't care what offense you run.
On Friday night, FDU-Florham faced off against The College of New Jersey in a barn-burner. FDU, picked by Kickoff to finish dead last in the MAC, took it to the Lions, and came away with a 42-41 win. It took a herculean effort from FDU-Florham junior quarterback Bill Winters, who went 17-for-30 for 272 yards and two touchdowns through the air, and also ran for 143 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries.
His final rushing touchdown of the night ended up being the game-winner. The Devils have another tough test this Saturday, venturing into New York to face Alfred.
Springfield's Mark Safer ran for 119 yards on only five carries in the Pride's win over Fitchburg State.
Cortland senior quarterback Ray Miles only completed 10 passes in the Red Dragons 51-37 win over Morrisville. But he threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns, so those 10 completions were pretty efficient.
In that same game, two Morrisville receivers went over the century mark. Eddie Hull caught 10 passes for 158 yards and Wendall Williams snagged five passes for 123 yards and a score.
Ithaca's Jason Chier blocked an extra point in the fourth quarter against Lycoming. The play was one of the key in the Bombers one-point win. Matt Crandall also scored the first touchdown of his career against the Warriors.
Norwich's Darnell Jackson and Guarshrom Jean-Gilles both ran for more than 100 yards in a 34-28 win over Mount Ida in a future matchup of North Atlantic Conference teams. Jackson ran for 104 and scored twice, one in the first quarter to open the scoring and once in the third quarter to help the Cadets retake the lead. Jean-Gilles ran for 106, including one for 49 yards. Jean-Gilles also threw for three scores as well.
Record breakers/milestones
Cortland senior running back Andrew Giuliano broke a 25-year-old rushing record in Week 1 against new NJAC foe Morrisville. Giuliano rushed for 281 yards and four touchdowns in 29 carries in the Red Dragons' 51-37 shootout victory. He beat the record of 276 yards, which was set by Dave Cook back in 1983 against St. Lawrence.
Alfred quarterback Tom Secky set a school record in his first game on the varsity, going 27-for-47 for 387 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-27 loss against non-conference foe Ursinus. The Saxons played from behind most of the day, but just came up short at the end.
Anytime you can break a record at longtime East Region power Ithaca, it's a feat. Ithaca tight end Brian Weverburgh had four catches on the day, giving him 74 for his career, breaking the record for most receptions by a tight end. The old record, 73, was set by all-American Jeff Erne from 1995-1999.
Kean running back Jared Chunn ran for a career-high 238 yards and three touchdowns in their 40-0 whitewash of the Merchant Marine Academy.
Other minutiae
In Springfield's 55-27 pasting of Fitchburg State, every touchdown scored by the Pride was by a freshman or a sophomore. That's good news for coach Mike DeLong and a very young Springfield Pride. Springfield also racked up 541 yards of offense on the ground and 638 overall. The Pride may do pretty well this season even without Chris Sharpe under center.
In the longest game of the weekend, the Liberty League's WPI squeaked by Mass-Dartmouth 34-28 in five overtimes. Yeah, you heard right. 5 OT's. WPI's Justin Wells scored the game winner on a two-yard scamper. The game was the longest in the history of both teams and may well have been the longest in Division III history, but the NCAA does not track a record for most overtimes in Division III. It’s the longest in the 10 seasons of D3football.com.
Another overtime game saw Brockport State win their first-ever NJAC conference game with a 26-20 victory in two overtimes over William Paterson. The Golden Eagles took a 14-point lead into the locker room after one half, but the Pioneers came back tying, and then taking a lead after senior Mike Lamego corralled his second interception of the day.
In extra time, Brockport forced an interception in the second overtime, and then Garet Lynch scored from eight yards away for the winning score.
Salisbury and Albright played a well-fought game, with the 12th-ranked Sea Gulls winning 30-28.
Salisbury had a two score lead late, but Albright converted an onside kick into a touchdown. Trying it a second time, the Lions made it a good one, but Salisbury recovered to run out the clock.
Top 10
With only about half the teams in my four conferences playing, this feature will also return next week.
Questions, comments
E-mail me at adam.samrov@d3football.com with any feedback or column ideas.