For Mass-Dartmouth linebacker Mike Henricksen, the assignment is the Springfield triple option offense. For the Corsairs coaches, it was prepare for a second-round playoff game and also find enough turkeys to feed the team. UMass-Dartmouth athletics photo

By Joe Sager
D3sports.com

For the first time, the turkey is on the table – literally – for UMass-Dartmouth this week.

The Corsairs are set to make their first-ever appearance in the second round of the NCAA D-III tournament when they make the short trip Saturday to Springfield.

“It’s a great feeling. We worked toward this goal all season. We wanted that 11th game all year,” Corsairs senior linebacker Mike Henricksen said. “It’s been an honor to work with the group we have. I think we’ve come a long way. We’re excited for the challenge.”

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While being in the NCAA playoffs for the first time since 2022 poses some challenges, so does preparing for a game during Thanksgiving week.

“I have to figure out how to get 15 turkeys because these guys can eat,” Corsairs coach Josh Sylvester said with a laugh. “We have a really supportive administration. We’ll have a team meal on Thursday, maybe have a couple pie-eating contests, too. We’ll get the coaches involved because we can eat, too. We’re really excited about the opportunity.”

Having Thanksgiving dinner together is a nice break for the team, which spent its off week preparing for Saturday’s matchup with No. 23 Springfield (10-0).

“We’ve just been sticking to what we know what to do – we got back to work at practice,” Corsairs quarterback Dante Aviles-Santos said. “The week off gave us time to pull back a little and spend more time on game plans and focus on our bodies a bit. It doesn’t change the fact that, when we’re out there, were still going to work – it’s not really like taking the week off. Similar to what Springfield did, I am sure – just staying true to what we know.”

The squad capped a strong regular season two weeks ago with a 47-42 win over Plymouth State.

“It’s a good feeling to be in our position. There’s a lot of other teams that are in the same position as us,” Henricksen said. “I think taking the time to get our bodies and minds right and really prepare ourselves for Springfield is huge. Rest is always nice, especially at this time of the season. We don’t think a bye week will ruin the flow. We just attack every day like we have every other day this year.”

The program last participated in the playoffs two years ago, so the veteran-laden team wants to lean on the lessons learned from that experience.

“Having been in this position before, a lot of us know what to expect,” Henricksen said. “With it being an away game, we know it’s going to be a hostile environment. We all share that win-or-go-home mentality. We know Springfield will share that same feeling.

“We have to be ready to go and play a good football game. Since it’s the playoffs, there’s a different juice we need to have getting off the bus. We have to do whatever it takes to win a game against a really good football team.”

The Corsairs have found success on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they average 54.2 points per game, which ranked third in the county at the conclusion of the regular season. Aviles-Santos, a mainstay under center, has thrown for 2,462 yards and 38 touchdowns with only four interceptions. Running backs Jalyn Aponte (692 yards), Kevin Brown (637) and Marvens Jean (538) complement him in the backfield. Angel Sanchez (72 catches, 944 yards), Jael Cabrera (38-544), Naseim Harrison (22-397) and Jalen Kopecky (20-180) are the top passing targets.

“I think that’s a testament to our culture and camaraderie as a team that we have so many guys who are unselfish, but can get the job done,” Aviles-Santos said. “Offensively, we have a bunch of guys who could go to other schools and get all the touches and awards, but chose to come here. We know there’s more on the table than individual awards. We all have a common goal and no one does it by himself. We have a very good offense and it’s fun to be out there handing the ball off or throwing it out to different guys and seeing what they can do.”

The depth is apparent defensively, too. The Corsairs allow 15.4 points per game and Henricksen leads the squad with 75 tackles.

“We’ve all been in certain situations and we’ve faced adversity. We know how to work off each other,” he said. “As a unit, defensively, we band together and work well together because we have such a veteran group; we look forward to the challenge each week.”