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NEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Ness Davis, Duquesne
NEC Co-Offensive Player of the Week: Jaylin Baker, Stonehill
NEC Defensive Player of the Week: Jake Lopinto, Robert Morris
NEC Special Teams Player of the Week: Logan Chenette, Stonehill
NEC Rookie of the Week: Benjamin Newman, Wagner
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October 5 |
September 28 |
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September 14 |
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August 31 |
Preseason Poll Release |
Streaming/TV Package Release
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Ness Davis, Duquesne
Running Back, Senior, 5-11, 200 lbs., Athens, GA/Athens Christian (Arkansas-Pine Bluff)
Week 8 Stats: 181 rushing yards, 18 rushes, 1 rushing touchdown
Davis’ second-half surge powered Duquesne to a commanding 52-21 win over Wagner at Rooney Field on Saturday. The veteran running back rushed for a career-high 182 yards, the most by an NEC player against an FCS opponent this season, to help the Dukes move to 2-1 in NEC play with their second-straight triumph. With his team trailing by a 21-17 count at the break, Davis contributed 148 rushing yards to an explosive — and dominant — second half that saw Duquesne outscore its counterpart by a 35-0 margin that was part of a game-ending 42-0. With three runs of 20-or-more yards in that stretch, the Athens, GA native put on exclamation point on his standout performance with a 27-yard touchdown run with 6:41 left to play in the fourth quarter. Davis, who ranks second in conference play with 95.7 rushing yards per game, is the first Duke this season to take home NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week distinction.
Jaylin Baker, Stonehill
Wide Receiver, Sophomore, 6-1, 190 lbs., San Antonio, TX/Brandeis
Week 8 Stats: 103 receiving yards, 7 receptions, 1 touchdown catch (game-winner at LIU)
Baker delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday, capping a seven-catch, 103 receiving yard outing with the game-winning touchdown catch in the Skyhawks’ thrilling 18-14 win at LIU. With just five seconds remaining, the sophomore wide receiver hauled in a 32-yard scoring strike from fifth-year signal caller Jack O’Connell to lift Stonehill to the comeback win over the Sharks, who entered the contest with an unblemished 3-0 record in NEC play. In addition to answering the call for his team, Baker became the first Stonehill receiver to surpass 100 receiving yards in a game. He is the second Skyhawk this season to earn Offensive Player of the Week distinction from the NEC, joining two-time honoree O’Connell.
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jake Lopinto, Robert Morris
Linebacker, Sophomore, 6-1, 235 lbs., Columbus, OH/Licking Heights
Week 8 Stats: 11 tackles (5 solo), 2 interceptions, 2 pass breakups
Lopinto was a defensive disrupter in Robert Morris’ 28-14 home win over Mercyhurst, a victory that pushed the Colonials’ NEC record to 2-1. The sophomore linebacker was all over the field, snagging two interceptions to become the first NEC player this season to record multiple picks against an FCS opponent. The Buckeye State native delivered even more to that ball-hawking performance, racking up 11 tackles, including five solo stops, while breaking up two passes. Lopinto has made life miserable for opposing offenses all season. Posting double digits in tackles for the second time this season, he currently ranks second on the circuit in the category behind teammate Amanuel Dickson with 9.1 stops per game. This is his second NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Defensive Player of the Week award this season.
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Logan Chenette, Stonehill
Punter, Senior, 6-3, 195 lbs., Hull, MA/Hull
Week 8 Stats: 5 punts, 236 punt yards (61-yard long), 47.2 yards per punt, 3 inside-20, 2 50+ yards
Chenette booted five punts an average of 47.2 yards in Stonehill’s come-from-behind 18-14 triumph at then-undefeated LIU on Saturday. Covering 236 yards on five attempts, the senior and Commonwealth State product blasted two punts over 50 yards and placed three inside the 20-yard line. In the opening quarter, Chenette registered a season-long 61-yarder that pinned the Sharks back to their own four-yard line. LIU would come up empty on that drive after an unsuccessful conversion on a 4th and 1 at their own 24-yard line. The veteran punter also forced LIU to start a drive on its own 10-yard line with a 45-yard boot at the end of the first half while his 53-yard boot in the third quarter placed the Sharks on their 15-yard line in an eventual three-and-out. This is Chenette’s first NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Special Teams Player of the Week award of the season, and his second career honor.
NEC/ATLANTIC TOMORROW'S OFFICE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Benjamin Newman, Wagner
Quarterback, Redshirt Freshman, 6-2, 210 lbs., East Rochester, NY/East Rochester
Week 8 Stats: 28-37 completions, 237 passing yards, 3 touchdown passes, 1 interception (14-15, 149 passing yards, 3 touchdown passes in first half)
Wagner was flying high in the first half with Newman calling the shots at Duquesne on Saturday. The redshirt freshman was dealing in the game’s first 30 minutes, completing 14-of-15 passes for a red-hot 93.3 completion percentage. Passing for 149 yards through the air and three touchdowns in that stretch, he helped put the Seahawks up by a 21-17 count at intermission. Newman continued to light it up in the second half as the East Rochester, NY native finished with 237 passing yards, a personal-best against an FCS opponent this season, behind a 75.7 completion rate (28-fo-37). With the performance, he secured his second NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s office Rookie of the Week award.
#NECFB PRIME PERFORMERS (Week Eight)
Deonte Douglas, CCSU (DB, Jr)
Douglas made five stops — all solo — and registered a career-best five breakups to help Central Connecticut preserve its undefeated record in NEC play with a 42-20 home win against New Haven on Saturday. The junior defensive back broke up a pass in the end zone on a 3rd and 10 in the third quarter which led to the Blue Devils blocking a Chargers’ field goal attempt on the ensuing play.
Brett Griffis, CCSU (QB, 5th-Yr)
Setting the tone with a three-yard touchdown run on the first drive of the game, Griffis hit three different receivers with touchdown passes to lead Central Connecticut past New Haven by a 42-20 final on Saturday. The fifth-year signal caller finished the game with 218 passing yards after completing 11-of-21 throws.
Carson Camp, DUQ (QB, Gr)
Camp accounted for four Duquesne touchdowns on Saturday after he threw for two and ran for two more. Sparking the Dukes’ game-ending 42-0 run with back-to-back rushing scores 3:27 apart, the graduate student finished the afternoon with 180 passing yard.
Ness Davis, DUQ (RB, Sr)
Davis racked up the yardage in Duquesne’s 51-21 home win against Wagner on Saturday. Leading all NEC rushers with a career-high 181 yards, including 148 in a pivotal second half that saw the Dukes erase a 21-17 halftime deficit, the senior running back contributed a fourth-quarter 27-yard touchdown run to his team’s game-ending 42-0 run. Davis was also pegged the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Luke Miller, DUQ (LB, Sr)
The tackler finished in double figures on Saturday after he racked up 10, including six solo stops, in Duquesne’s 52-21 win over visiting Wagner. Miller, a senior, added 1.5 tackle-for-loss, 1.0 sack and two forced fumbles for a Dukes’ defense that pitched a second-half shutout in their second NEC triumph.
Rafael Fasolino, LIU (LB, R-Sr)
Fasolino stuffed the stat sheet in LIU’s first NEC defeat of the season, an 18-14 final against Stonehill. Finishing with six tackles, including five solo stops, the redshirt senior linebacker added 1.5 tackles-for-loss and an interception that was returned for 24 yards.
Jake Tripptree, NHVN (QB, Jr)
Tripptree became the sixth different NEC quarterback this season to throw for 300-or-more yards in his first career start at Central Connecticut. Converting on 25-of-46 passes, the junior transfer from UConn racked up 304 passing yards with a 15-yard touchdown throw in the third quarter.
Mekhi Kilburn, RMU (CB, Sr)
Hunter returned his first-ever interception as a collegian 89 yards to the house to put Robert Morris up by a 28-7 count with 12:18 left to play against Mercyhurst on Saturday. The senior cornerback added three tackles, including a pair of solo stops.
Jake Lopinto, RMU (LB, So)
Lopinto became the first NEC player this season to record multiple interceptions against an FCS opponent on Saturday. Picking off Mercyhurst’s quarterback early in the second quarter before turning the trick again nine seconds into the second half, the sophomore linebacker added 11 tackles and a pair of pass breakups to his impressive stat line. Lopinto was also named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Defensive Player of the Week.
Adjatay Abegesah, STO (LB, Jr)
Abegesah’s first of two sacks at LIU on Saturday resulted in a safety 46 seconds after opening kickoff. Pushing the Sharks back a total of 20 yards in the Skyhawks’ 18-14 win, the junior linebacker finished the day with five tackles.
Jaylin Baker, STO (WR, So)
Baker completed Stonehill’s comeback at then-undefeated LIU on Saturday when he made an acrobatic catch in the end zone with five seconds left on the clock. The sophomore wide receiver became the first Skyhawk to eclipse the century mark in receiving yards this season in the 18-14 win after he caught seven balls for 103 yards. Baker also took home NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Benjamin Newman, WAG (QB, R-Fr)
Newman was lights-out in the first half at Duquesne on Saturday, completing all but one of his 15 passes while throwing for three touchdowns and 149 yards to help Wagner take a 21-17 advantage into the break. The redshirt freshman closed out the contest with 237 passing yards, a personal-best against an FCS opponent, and a 75.7 completion percentage. Newman was also named the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow’s Office Rookie of the Week.
#NECFB SLATE ROUTES (AROUND THE LEAGUE IN 9 SENTENCES):
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT: For the second straight season, two-time defending NEC champion Central Connecticut is off to a 3-0 start to NEC play with wins over Wagner, Mercyhurst and New Haven.
CHICAGO STATE: Kicking a 33-yard field goal on the game’s opening play at Lindenwood for the first made three-pointer in program history, rookie Donovan Blair turned in a perfect 3-for-3 effort in field goals.
DUQUESNE: Closing out Saturday’s win over Wagner with 42-unanswered points, Duquesne put up a season-best 52 points against an FCS opponent.
LIU: LIU’s rushing offense ranks second against NEC competitors with 180.0 yards per game, while the Sharks’ defense is also second after limiting league foes to 73.3 rushing yards per contest.
MERCYHURST: Averaging 107.5 receiving yards in his past two games, junior Amare Lattamore has caught for multiple touchdowns in each of those games with two against both CCSU and Robert Morris.
NEW HAVEN: Junior quarterback Jake Tripptree registered career highs in completions (25), attempts (46) and passing yards (304) at Central Connecticut on Saturday.
ROBERT MORRIS: Throwing for two scores in Saturday’s win over Mercyhurst, sophomore Carson Haggard tops the league’s charts with 18 touchdown passes, 1,932 passing yards and 241.5 yards per game.
STONEHILL: Stonehill, which has limited each of its past three opponents to 14 points or fewer, boasts the league’s top defense in NEC play after conceding just 10.3 points over three contests.
WAGNER: Rookie quarterback Benjamin Newman had a sensational first half against Duquesne, going 14-of-15 with 149 passing yards and three touchdown throws.
#NECFB EXTRA POINTS: