Tickets (Available game day at ticket booth):
$7.00 Adults
$3.00 (students & senior citizens)
12 and under are free
| Coach's Corner with Robert TalleyL Week 3 Preview |
| Meet Stonehill Senior CB/KR Kevin Anderson |
The Game: Stonehill College hits the road for the first time as it heads to Manchester, N.H., to face Saint Anselm College in the "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk" at Grappone Stadium tonight. The Skyhawks are coming off a huge 13-0 victory over Southern Connecticut State University on Saturday, marking the program's first ever win over the Owls in 16 tries. The Hawks look to their home opener to shake off a pair of season opening setbacks at 12th-ranked Kutztown University and last weekend at Assumption College.
Media Info: Live video of tonight's game is available on a pay-per-view basis ($6.95) via www.saintanselmhawks.tv, with links also available through www.stonehillskyhawks.com. Ben Altsher has the play-by-play and Nick Anastos offers the hard-hitting analysis for the webcast, powered by Pack Network. WSHL 91.3 FM will also be broadcasting the game back to Easton with Tim Culverhouse and Brendan Murphy calling the action for the radio broadcast.
Against the Hawks: Tonight marks the 14th meeting all-time between these two programs. Stonehill holds an 8-5 advantage in the all-time series that dates back to 1999, having won each of the last seven encounters after a 35-7 victory in Easton, Mass., last November 5. The Skyhawks are 4-3 all-time here in Manchester, winning the last three visits to Grappone Stadium, including a 41-27 triumph in 2010. Head Coach Robert Talley is 5-0 in his career against Saint Anselm.
Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk: Tonight is a historic night in the history of the "Battle for the Ol' Bronze Hawk," as it marks both the earliest ever meeting for the coveted hardware as well as the first "Battle" ever contested under the lights. The "Ol' Bronze Hawk" is given to the winner of the annual football matchup between the Skyhawks and Hawks and was unveiled in 2006. Stonehill has held possession of the valued hardware each of the six years so far, outscoring Saint Anselm 222-78 in that time. A little repair work had to be done to the Bronze Hawk in 2009 as it had a wing clipped while being loaded into the team's equipment van after Stonehill's 35-0 win here in Manchester, in 2008. Stonehill won the "Ol' Bronze Hawk" for the seventh-straight year with its 35-7 victory over Saint Anselm last season.
Grzywacz |
Rookie of the Week: For the second straight week, a Stonehill freshman has been named the Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week with placekicker Stephen Grzywacz (GRIZ-wack) (Manchester, N.H.) receiving this honors this week after wide receiver Gordon McLeod (Weymouth, Mass.) took the honors after week one. Grzywacz converted the first two field goals of his collegiate career and also added a successful extra point try in Saturday's 13-0 win over Southern Connecticut State. His 37-yard field goal broke the scoreless tie with just three seconds remaining in the first half. He added a 25-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter that extended the Skyhawks lead to 13-0.
They're Honored: Stonehill placed its two defensive leaders from Saturday's big win over Southern Connecticut State on the Northeast-10 Conference's weekly honor roll. Senior defensive back Jareed Gaines (Lumberton, N.J.) and sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Weiss (Freehold, N.J.) spearheaded a Skyhawks defense that shut out Southern Connecticut State for the first time in 12 years. Gaines finished with a career-high matching 13 tackles (seven solo), including 1.5 for a loss. He also had three pass breakups, two of which came on third and fourth downs on the Owls' final drive of the game, including the second in the endzone, that sealed the win. Weiss dominated the line with five tackles (three solo), including 3.0 for a loss, with 2.0 sacks for a loss of nine and two quarterback hurries.
Skyhawks Going National: Stonehill College and the Northeast-10 announced this summer that its October 18 game against defending NE-10 champion and preseason No. 13 University of New Haven will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network. Kickoff for the contest here at W.B. Mason Stadium is just after 8 p.m. It marks the football team's first national broadcast. Stonehill will be announcing advance ticket sale information in the coming days.
Owls Off the Board: Stonehill handed Southern Connecticut State, picked second in the NE-10 preseason coaches poll, its first shutout since a 20-0 loss to Stony Brook in 2000 - a span of 128 games. Prior to Saturday, the lowest point total the Skyhawks had limited the Owls to was 14 in a 14-0 loss in 2006.
Quite a Catch: Senior wide receiver John Gomes (Hyannis, Mass.) set a new program record for career receptions with his four catches against Southern Connecticut State on Saturday. He finished the game with 128 receptions, passing Dan Cahill's (1992-95) previous record of 125 receptions.
Gaffney |
Sack Attack: Stonehill racked up six sacks in Saturday's shutout win over Southern Connecticut State, as well as an additional three tackles for lost yardage. Sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Weiss (Freehold, N.J.) led the way with 2.0 sacks and 3.0 tackles for a loss of 11 yards. Weiss and senior Ed Gaffney (Stonington, Conn.) are both third in the NE-10 for sacks (T-31st nationally) with 2.0 sacks after two weeks. Stonehill ranks 24th nationally in Division II with an NE-10 leading 3.5 sacks per game as a team. Weiss ranks seventh in the NE-10 with 3.0 tackles for loss this year.
Movin' On Up: Several Stonehill players are marching up Stonehill's career and single-season leader lists in program history
• Junior QB Logan Meyer (Ventura, Calif.) ranks fifth on the career list with 2,922 passing yards over his two seasons - 212 shy of John Darak (1997-99) for fourth place and 78 yards shy of becoming the program's fifth 3,000-yard passer.
• Senior Jermetrius Troy (Mattapan, Mass.) has 1,238 career rushing yards and is just one yards shy of Anthony Palmer (1996-97) for tenth all-time.
• Troy ranks tenth in program history with 12 career rushing touchdowns, three shy of moving into the top five.
• Senior John Gomes (Hyannis, Mass.) moved into third on Stonehill's career receiving list last weekend with 1,783 career receiving yards, passing Kevin Adamson (1989-92) who had 1,774 yards over his career. Gomes sits 179 yards behind Brian Adamson's (1991-94) 1,962 yards for second all-time.
• Gomes is also fifth all-time with 12 career touchdown receptions - three shy of Mike Plitchka (2004-05) for fourth place.
Getting Social: Fans and media members of Stonehill athletics now have two social media outlets to get updates on all 20 varsity programs. The department's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/stonehillskyhawks, and you can also follow @SkyhawkTalk on Twitter!
On Deck: Stonehill returns home next Saturday, September 22, to host Assumption College at W.B. Mason Stadium on September 22 as part of Family Weekend at the College at 6 p.m.