Stonehill Tailgating Information
BROCKTON ENTERPRISE: "Stonehill hosts winless Pace on Saturday"
Tickets (Available game day at ticket booth):
$7.00 Adults
$4.00 (students & senior citizens)
12 and under are free
Stonehill students are admitted free.
| Coach's Corner with Robert Talley |
The Game: Stonehill College, among teams receiving votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll, ranked seventh in the first NCAA Division II Super Region 1 rankings and fifth in the ECAC Lambert Meadowlands poll, could clinch a spot in the upcoming Northeast-10 Conference Championship, pending other results around the league, as it hosts Pace University for an NE-10 matchup for its Purple & White Game on Senior Day at Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon. The Skyhawks are winners of three straight and six of seven after a 38-28 come from behind win here over LIU Post last Saturday, while the Setters are still in search of their first win following a 55-21 setback to Assumption last weekend.
Media Info: Live video of this afternoon's game is available on a pay-per-view basis ($6.99) via www.stonehillskyhawks.tv. Charlie Bergeron, the voice of the Skyhawks, is in his 16th season of broadcasting the action powered by Pack Network. WSHL 91.3 FM will also be broadcasting the game with Brendan Murray and Tim Culverhouse calling the action for the radio broadcast.
Saluting Our Seniors: This afternoon marks the final regular season home game for Stonehill's 18 seniors who have played a vital role in the turnaround of the Skyhawks football program. Stonehill has won 20 games over their four years to date, posting a 17-14 mark in NE-10 play, behind the efforts of seniors John Alicia (Bridgewater, N.J.), Tim Bennett (Fillmore, Calif.), Brian Colvin (Havre de Grace, Md.), Jeff Egitto (Peabody, Mass.), Chris Esposito (Georgetown, Mass.), John Jenkins (Pittsford, N.Y.), Pat Jenkins (Pittsford, N.Y.), Jamal Johnson (Brockton, Mass.), James Lanier (Westampton, N.J.), Logan Meyer (Ventura, Calif.), Anthony Nichols (Canton, Mass.), Paul Piccirillo (Shelton, Conn.), Patrick Rooney (Salem, N.H.), Gordon Soper (Monroe, Conn.), Tom Sullivan (Tyngsboro, Mass.), Justin Willis (East Haven, Conn.), J.D. Wolfsburg (North Easton, Mass.) and Yoshio Yabe (Boxford, Mass.).
Henry Thevenin (1990-2011) |
For Henry: The Stonehill football team will also remember its 19th senior this afternoon. The late Henry Thevenin, '14, would have also been celebrating Senior Day this afternoon, but passed away on June 14, 2011, due to complications from a two month battle with leukemia. Senior Jamal Johnson (Brockton, Mass.), who was a close friend of Thevenin, will be a game day captain for Stonehill this afternoon and wear his number 91 for the game. The Skyhawks continue to maintain his locker in a place of prominence in the team lockerroom. In week one of the 2011 season against Curry, the team honored Thevenin by playing its first defensive play with ten players. Thevenin appeared in seven games for the football team, starting the last six, as a freshman in 2010. He totaled 18 tackles, eight solo, with a pass breakup for the Skyhawks. Thevenin was a 2009 graduate of nearby Brockton High School and prepped one year at Suffield Academy in Connecticut.
Last Week vs. LIU Post: Stonehill dug its way out of an early 14 point hole and posted its third straight come from behind victory with a 38-28 triumph over LIU Post in Northeast-10 here last Saturday. Stonehill clinched its first winning season since finishing 8-2 in 1996 with its sixth victory of the season. The Skyhawks forced another four turnovers with four interceptions, including a pair from junior Nate Morris (Providence, R.I.) and two in their own end zone, and posted a balanced 434 yards of total offense with 244 through the air and another 190 yards rushing. The win also keeps the Skyhawks in a three-way tie for first place in the NE-10 standings with American International and New Haven. Junior Nate Robitaille (Attleboro, Mass.) caught ten passes for 124 yards and a career-best three touchdowns for Stonehill this afternoon and finished with 153 all-purpose yards by adding two kickoff returns for 32 yards. Sophomore Colin Markus (Monroe, Conn.) went over 100 yards rushing for the second-straight week as he carried the ball a career-high 29 times for a career-best 203 yards and a touchdown. Morris finished the day with a career-high nine tackles (four solo) with the two interceptions and 56 return yards, including a 37-yard pickoff return for a touchdown that gave Stonehill a 31-14 lead with 5:46 to play. Junior Brian Harrington (Rockland, Mass.) posted his eighth double-figure tackle performance of the year with a team-high 13 stops (two solo).
Scouting the Setters: Pace enters this afternoon's game in search of its first win of 2013 after a 55-21 setback to Assumption last weekend. Freshman Delaney Wallace (Moorestown, N.J.) scored two first half touchdowns and finished the day with 48 yards on 28 carries for the Setters. He leads Pace with 377 yards on 131 carries and five touchdowns. Freshman Antawn Washington (Belle Glade, Fla.) has passed for 1,295 yards and seven scores, while junior Cameron Davis (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.) has 44 receptions for 614 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior Joe Roman (Staten Island, N.Y.) leads the Pace defense with 53 tackles (35 solo), including 0.5 for a loss of a yard, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Sophomore Tyler Owens (Salem, N.J.) has contributed 44 stops (21 solo), including 6.0 for a loss of 29 yards, with 3.0 sacks for a loss of 24, 2 forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Against the Setters: This afternoon marks the 19th meeting all-time between these two programs. The all-time series between the two is currently tied at nine wins apiece, but Stonehill has won the last two encounters, including a 43-7 triumph in Pleasantville, N.Y., last November, and five of six dating back to 2008. The Skyhawks are 6-2 all-time against Pace at home, winning the last five dating back to 2005 when W.B. Mason Stadium opened. Head Coach Robert Talley is 6-2 in his career against the Setters.
We Could Be Dancing: Stonehill is ranked seventh in the first edition of the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 rankings released by the NCAA Championships committee on Monday. It marks the first time in program history the Skyhawks have been ranked in the regional rankings used for NCAA Tournament selection. Stonehill is the lone NE-10 program appearing in the rankings. Six teams from each of the four regions in NCAA Division II football earn NCAA Tournament bids. If the season ended today, Stonehill would earn the first NCAA Tournament bid in program history by way of "Earned Access" which places any team from a Conference not represented in the top six of the final rankings into the NCAA Championships as long as they are ranked within the top eight.
Nate Robitaille |
Offensive Player of the Week: Stonehill junior wide receiver Nate Robitaille (Attleboro, Mass.) earned Northeast-10 Confernece Offensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career on Monday. He caught ten passes for 124 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in the win over LIU Post, setting a new single-season program record for receiving yards in the process. He scored the Skyhawks first three touchdowns after falling behind 14-0 early in the second quarter as the team scored 31 straight points to take control of the game. Robitaille also returned two kickoffs for 32 yards to finish the afternoon with 153 all-purpose yards. It marks the second time this season a Stonehill student-athlete has received the weekly honors with senior quarterback Logan Meyer (Ventura, Calif.) being named the award winner after week two.
Defensive Player of the Week: Stonehill junior cornerback Nate Morris (Providence, R.I.) earned Northeast-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in his career on Monday. He led a Stonehill defense that intercepted four passes against LIU Post on Saturday. He picked off a career-best two passes to give him a Conference-leading five for the season, returning one 37 yards for a touchdown that gave the Skyhawks a 31-14 lead with 5:46 to play. Morris also finished with a career-high nine tackles (four solo) in the victory. It marks the third straight week and sixth time in eight weeks this season a Stonehill student-athlete has collected the Defensive Player of the Week honors with junior linebacker Brian Harrington (Rockland, Mass.) earning the award four times this fall and junior corner Sterry Codrington (Freehold, N.J.) being named the weekly award winner after week seven.
They're Honored: Stonehill senior quarterback Logan Meyer (Ventura, Calif.), junior linebacker Brian Harrington (Rockland, Mass.) and sophomore running back Colin Markus (Monroe, Conn.) were all named to the Northeast-10 Conference's weekly honor roll for the second straight week on Monday for their efforts in Saturday's win over LIU Post. Meyer completed 20-of-39 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Harrington had 13 stops (two solo) for his eighth straight double-figure tackle performance. Markus rushed the ball a career-high 29 times for a career-best 203 yards and a touchdown. Markus, Harrington and juniors Nate Robitaille (Attleboro, Mass.) and Nate Morris (Providence, R.I.) were also all named to the NoontimeSports.com New England Football Weekly Honor Roll.
Votes of Confidence: Stonehill appears among teams receiving votes in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II poll for the third-straight week and fourth time this season overall. The Skyhawks received votes for the first time in program history in the September 23 poll with five votes and have collected one vote in each of the last two weeks before earning three votes this week.
#VoteTalley: Fans can now vote for head coach Robert Talley for the NCAA Division II Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year program at coachoftheyear.com. The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award recognizes college football coaches who demonstrate Sportsmanship, Integrity, Responsibility and Excellence both on and off the field. Endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame, the program awards one winning coach from each NCAA division (I-FBS, I-FCS, II, and III) with $50,000 to donate to a charity of their choice, a $20,000 grant to each school's alumni association, and the Coach of the Year trophy. Coach Talley has moved into the Top 15 entering this weekend. Remember to #VoteTalley once a day!
Polling Information: Stonehill moved up one spot to No. 5 in this week's Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Lambert Meadowlands Division II poll released on Monday. The Skyhawks made its first appearance in the prestigious regional poll in program history in the inaugural poll of the season at No. 8 before moving up to No. 6 last week. Stonehill, tied with California (Pa.) University for fifth this week, is one of three NE-10 members in the poll with American International ranked fourth and New Haven seventh, while the Skyhawks also faced top-ranked Bloomsburg this season.
History in the Making: Stonehill's 6-2 start is the program's best since it won seven of its first eight in 1996 on the way to an 8-2 season, which also marks the last time Stonehill finished above .500 before this season. Saturday's 38-28 win over LIU Post clinched the program's first winning season since 1996 and the Skyhawks 29-26 comeback win at New Haven clinched a second-straight winning record in the NE-10, marking the first time the Skyhawks have finished above .500 in back to back seasons since the NE-10 started sponsoring football in 2000 and the first time the program has posted back to back winning Conference records since 1995 and 1996.
What's On The Line: Stonehill has earned the inside track to its first appearance in the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Game on Saturday, November 16. The Skyhawks would seal a spot in the Championship by winning its two remaining games and could host the Championship with a New Haven win over American International today. Stonehill could potentially clinch a title game berth (but not home field) with a win this afternoon and AIC win over New Haven.
Comeback Kids: Stonehill has rallied from double figure deficits in each of the last three weeks and four times this season overall. The Skyhawks trailed LIU Post by 14 early in the second quarter last week before reeling off 31-straight points to take control. Stonehill rallied from a 12 point (26-14) deficit at the start of the fourth quarter to claim its 29-26 victory at New Haven in week seven. The Skyhawks erased three 14 point margins before claiming a 41-38 overtime victory at Assumption on September 20 and then dug out of a pair of 14 point holes in the first half at Southern Connecticut State on October 12 to win 23-21.
Top Target: Junior wide receiver Nate Robitaille (Attleboro, Mass.) has surpassed the program's single-season records for receptions and receiving yards this season. His 124 yards last weekend against LIU Post give him 916 yards this season, breaking the previous mark of 846 yards by former teammate John Gomes, '13, in 2012. His nine receptions at New Haven in week seven broke the previous record of 58 receptions set by Brian Adamson, '98, in 1996, and he now has a record 71 catches this fall. Robitaille enters this weekend four touchdown receptions shy of the program's single-season record of 13 set by Mike Plichta, '06, in 2005. Robitaille's 8.9 receptions per game is on pace to shatter the previous record of 5.8 per game by Adamson in 1996.
Logan Meyer |
Movin' On Up: Senior QB Logan Meyer (Ventura, Calif.) ranks third on the all-time single season lists for pass attempts (297), 11 shy of the single-season record of 308 by John Darak in 1998. Meyer is second for completions (148), 18 shy of his own single season record of 166 last season, passing yards (2,010), 205 shy of his own single-season record of 2,215 in 2012 and one touchdown pass shy of the single-season record of 24 by Dan Field in 1005.
Tops in Tackles: Junior linebacker Brian Harrington (Rockland, Mass.) has totaled a Northeast-10 Conference leading 112 tackles (2nd nationally) this season, also leading the Conference with 52 solo stops (10th nationally), while his 60 tackle assists lead the NE-10 as well. Harrington's 112 stops has moved him into third on Stonehill's single-season list, '00, 17 shy of Steve Sheeler, '04, who made a program-record 128 tackles in 2003.
20/20 Man: Senior quarterback Logan Meyer (Ventura, Calif.) has tossed 20 touchdown passes for the second-straight year, marking the first player in program history to have two 20 touchdown seasons. He enters this afternoon's game just one touchdowns shy of Dan Field's, '96, single-season record of 24 touchdown passes in 1995.
Aye, Aye, Captains: Head Coach Robert Talley named seniors Tim Bennett (DB), Logan Meyer (QB) and Justin Willis (RB) as team captains for the 2013 season after a vote of the returning players last spring.
Nick Claudio (right) |
Making an IMPACT: Prior to the start of spring ball, the Stonehill College football team welcomed Nick Claudio (Mattapoisett, Mass.) to its program during a draft ceremony through Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, Play Against Challenges, Together). Team IMPACT is a New England based non-profit that aims at improving the quality of life for kids facing life-threatening illnesses by creating unparalleled team based support systems with area college athletic teams. Nick is the latest from Team IMPACT to join the Skyhawk family as the football team joins the men's and women's basketball, field hockey and ice hockey teams to be involved with the program. Nick, 12-years old, was diagnosed with a brain tumor on his optic nerve in July, 2010, that put so much pressure on his optic nerve that it led to losing his vision. He has remained upbeat, being quoted as saying in a recent news article, "A loss of sight is never a loss of vision, you need to be able to look forward and keep moving." After losing his vision, he has adapted to life being blind by teaching himself braille, learning to ski and graduating from his elementary school at the top of his class. In July 2012, doctors found two additional tumors, one on his auditory nerve. In an effort to save his hearing, doctors opted to treat it with chemo and radiation rather than doing surgery which carries the threat of him going deaf.
Academic Success: Stonehill College has been recognized for its academic performance with regard to graduation rate by earning a 97-percent Academic Success Rating (ASR) as released by the NCAA last fall. The ASR considers the academic success rate of the institution based on the graduation rate of student-athletes while also giving credit for any student-athletes that transferred from the institution while in good academic standing. In addition to Stonehill's overall ASR of 97%, nine of Stonehill's 16 athletic programs (cross country and indoor and outdoor track & field are combined by the NCAA) received perfect scores of 100%. Stonehill's 97% ASR ranks second among NE-10 institutions behind just Saint Michael's College (98%) and ranks fifth overall in NCAA Division II. The football team maintained an ASR of 95% - signifigantly higher than the federal rate of 80%.
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 closes out the regular season next Saturday at Merrimack College at 1 p.m. The Northeast-10 Conference Championship weekend follows on Saturday, November 16, and potentially the NCAA Division II Tournament on Saturday, November 23. Postseason details will be posted on www.stonehillskyhawks.com as they become available.