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Ticket Information
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The Game
Stonehill College hits the road for the final time for the 2023 season as it visits Duquesne University for a Northeast Conference matchup at Arthur J. Rooney Field this afternoon. The Skyhawks visit Pittsburgh for the first time in program history following their second bye week of the season. Stonehill dropped a 28-17 decision at Wagner College its last time out two weeks ago, while the Dukes can clinch their sixth NEC title and the Conference's automatic bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs with a win today after winning 34-26 at Wagner last weekend.

Media Info
This afternoon's game is being broadcast live on ESPN+ after the Northeast Conference flexed the matchup as part of its 2023 Football Broadcasting package. John Schmeelk (play-by-play) and Tim Benz (analyst) will be calling the action on ESPN's online broadcasting service and produced by Linacre Media and directed by Justin Diaz. The broadcast can be accessed via the ESPN Watch app (subscription) through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku. Radio coverage in Pittsburgh and through the iHeart Media app is presented by 104.7 FM ESPN Radio Pittsburgh, with Alex Panormios (play-by-play) and Tad Maurey (analyst) on the call.

Flexing for the Cameras
With the Northeast Conference opting to flex this afternoon's game into its 2023 broadcasting package, it marks the second-straight year Stonehill and Duquesne will meet on ESPN+, and the second-straight year the Skyhawks will be featured by the NEC for two games. Stonehill posted a 24-20 victory over the Dukes at W.B. Mason Stadium last season in its first NEC contest in program history. This is the last of a program-high four ESPN+ broadcasts for the Skyhawks this season, including a stretch of three games over a four game period earlier this fall, along with back-to-back road games at Georgetown and Fordham. The Skyhawks are 2-2 all-time in games broadcast on the ESPN family of networks. Stonehill also owns a 21-17 triumph over the University of New Haven in 2016 as part of the Division II Football Showcase at W.B. Mason Stadium. The Skyhawks also faced New Haven in a game televised on CBS Sports Network in 2012 (L, 45-41).

Last Time Out
Wagner erased a 14-point deficit 30-seconds into the second quarter, holding Stonehill scoreless in the second half, to rally for a 28-17 victory in Northeast Conference action on Hameline Field. Steven Krajewski threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to freshman wide receiver Jaylen Bonelli, to lead Wagner to the comeback win. The duo combined for a 12-yard touchdown with 17-seconds remaining in the first half that pushed the Seahawks in front and the defense did the rest, holding Stonehill scoreless in the second half, to seal the win. Krajewski completed 27-of-32 passes for 160 yards and the three scores without an interception, while Bonelli caught five of those passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Junior running back Rickey Spruill rushed the ball 19 times for 101 yards. Senior Roberto Auguste paced the Wagner defense with 11 tackles (three solo), including 0.5 for a loss of a yard, and one of the Seahawks three interceptions on the afternoon, while freshman Zachary Ricci had a 49-yard interception return for a touchdown that knotted the score at 14-14 in the second quarter. Junior wide receiver Chris Domercant (Bellingham, Mass.) scored both Stonehill touchdowns to stake the Skyhawks to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, collecting four passes for 86 yards. Senior Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) registered a game-high 118 all-purpose yards with 90 yards on 23 carries to go with five catches for 26. Senior Micah Brown (Depew, N.Y.) paced the Stonehill defense with nine tackles (six solo), while classmate Anthony LaMonica (Dorchester, Mass.) led the Stonehill defensive effort with a career-high matching eight tackles (three solo), including 1.0 tackles for a loss of a yard, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry.

Against the Dukes
This afternoon marks the second meeting all-time between these two programs. Stonehill has the early advantage in the series after posting a 24-20 victory at W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton last October in the Skyhawks NEC debut. Stonehill visits Rooney Field for the first time today and head coach Eli Gardner is 1-0 all-time against the Dukes, while Duquesne head coach Jerry Schmitt is 0-1 against the Skyhawks.

Last Time They Met
Stonehill put an exclamation point on its NEC debut, notching a 24-20 triumph over Duquesne at W.B. Mason Stadium. Jermaine Corbett totaled 193 all-purpose yards, rushing the ball 26 times for 130 yards to go with three receptions for another 63, including a 50-yard touchdown reception on the second play of the fourth quarter that gave Stonehill the lead for good. Ashur Carraha finished with 183 total yards for Stonehill on 12-for-18 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns, along with 34 yards on four carries with a touchdown.  The Stonehill defense did the rest, holding Duquesne to just three points in the second half, including a scoreless fourth quarter, with key interceptions from fifth-year Kevin Porch and Anthony LaMonica down the stretch sealing the NEC debut win. Abdul Janneh paced the Duquesne offense with ten receptions for 57 yards and two touchdowns. Todd Hill paced the Dukes defense with six solo tackles, including 3.0 tackles for a loss of 14 yards, including 2.0 sacks for a loss of 13, and a QB hurry.

Keystone State History
While Stonehill is playing in the city of Pittsburgh for the first time in program history, the Skyhawks do have some history in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth, albiet mostly on the more eastern part of the Keystone State. Stonehill is 4-2 all-time in games played in the Commonwealth, with a 4-1 mark coming at Bloomsburg University, after splitting two visits in 2022. The Skyhawks opened with a 33-30 double-overtime win at Bloomsburg last season, before being edged by Saint Francis (Pa.) University, 17-13 in Loretto last October that snapped a four-game win streak in the Commonwealth. Stonehill is 5-7 all-time against Pennsylvania schools after Saint Francis tipped the Skyhawks 15-10 at W.B. Mason Stadium in September, with a 1-2 mark all-time against the two Pennsylvania NEC members.

Prime Performers
Junior wide receiver Chris Domercant (Bellingham, Mass.) earned Prime Performer status from the Northeast Conference following her efforts in Stonehill's matchup at Wagner on October 28. Domercant tallied 86 yards and a season-best two touchdown catches on four receptions against the Seahawks. He opened the game with a 65-yard catch and run score for the Skyhawks' longest play of the year just 13 seconds after the game's opening kickoff before he capped an 86-yard drive with a five-yard catch in the early moments of the second quarter for a 14-0 lead. Domercant earns Prime Performer honors for the second time this season and is one of seven Skyhawks to earn a total of 13 NEC Prime Performer selections this season. Senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) leads the way with four selections, while classmate and running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) has received the recognition three weeks. Seniors Perry Shelbred (Ridgefield, Conn.) and Micah Brown (Depew, N.Y.), along with junior Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.) and sophomore Zavion Woodard (Cockeysville, Md.) have all been selected once.

Stonehill's NEC Prime Performers:
Oct. 30 - Chris Domercant (WR)
Oct. 23 - Jermaine Corbett (RB), Sam Murphy (LB)
Oct. 9 - Sam Murphy (LB), Ashur Carraha (QB), Zavion Woodard (RB)
Oct. 2 - Sam Murphy (LB)
Sept. 18 - Jermaine Corbett (RB), Chris Domercant (WR)
Sept. 11 - Jermaine Corbett (RB), Perry Shelbred (K), Micah Brown (DB)
Sept. 4 - Sam Murphy (LB)

Polling Information
Stonehill is ranked 11th in this week's New England Football Journal weekly rankings following the bye week. The Skyhawks were ranked as high as No. 7  following their win at Georgetown in week three, and was ranked No. 13 in the NEFBJ preseason ranking. The Skyhawks are ranked second among the Northeast Conference's four New England programs behind No. 9 Merrimack and ahead of No. 13 Central Connecticut State and No. 15 Sacred Heart. Harvard leads the rankings for the sixth-straight week, with Boston College No. 2. Stonehill is 2-2 against teams in the rankings.

The Month to Shine
Stonehill has posted a 10-4 record in the month of November under head coach Eli Gardner. The Skyhawks won both November games in 2021 and 12 of their last 16 despite dropping its last two games of the 2022 season in November.

Give Back on the Bye
Stonehill held its annual "Community Service Day" to wrap up its second bye week of the season last Friday. The Skyhawks spread throughout the community to lend helping hands to several locations Easton and the neighboring towns over the course of the entire day. Community Day is an initiative started by Eli Gardner during his time as head coach as the football program embraces the College's commitment to service. Stonehill football players volunteered their time for the following organizations last Friday:
• HOPE House of Possibilities in Easton
• Trinity Catholic Academy in Brockton
• Assembly of God Church in Brockton
• Boys & Girls Club of Metro South in Taunton
• The Arc of Greater Brockton
• Easton Children's Museum
• The Farm at Stonehill
 
Walsh Milestone
Stonehill fifth-year offensive lineman Thomas Walsh (Waldwick, N.J.) is projected to make his 30th career start for the Skyhawks this afternoon. He has started all eight games at left tackle for the Skyhawks this season and played 33 career games over his career dating back to his freshman season in 2019, when he played six games. Walsh earned second-team All-Northeast-10 honors as a junior in 2021.

Aye, Aye Captains
Stonehill head coach Eli Gardner and his coaching staff have named four captains for the 2023 season. Fifth-year offensive lineman Thomas Walsh (Waldwick, N.J.) has been named a captain for the second-straight year and is joined by postgrad lineman David Satkowski (Southbury, Conn.), senior wide receiver Cameron Alves (Cranston, R.I.) and senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) as captain following a vote of their teammates during spring ball.

Celebrating 75 Years
Stonehill College, founded in 1948 is celebrating its 75th Anniversary during the 2023-24 academic year. In September 1948, some 134 students — many of whom were veterans from World War II — gathered with the eight teachers who would serve as their faculty to celebrate Mass at the Chapel in Donahue Hall. That small gathering of students and teachers marked the beginning of Stonehill College. The College will host a 75th Anniversary Celebration on Friday, September 29 (Rain Date: Saturday, September 30). This event will coincide with Family Weekend as well as the Skyhawks NEC matchup with Saint Francis University (1 p.m.). All are welcome to attend our outdoor Jubilee Mass, which will be followed by music, games and more. The festivities will conclude with a fireworks display.

MOVIN' ON UP!
Stonehill College announced in early April, 2022, that it had accepted an invitation to join the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference (NEC), beginning a four-year Division I transition period to conclude in 2026. The Skyhawks entire set of 23 varsity programs will now compete in the NEC, with the exception of equestrian, women's ice hockey (NEWHA) and men's ice hockey (independant) starting last fall.

GETTING SOCIAL
Fans and media members of Stonehill athletics now have three social media outlets to get updates on all 23 varsity programs. The department's Facebook page is www.facebook.com/stonehillskyhawks, and you can also follow @GoStonehill on Twitter and "StonehillSkyhawks" on Instagram. Stonehill football also has its own Facebook and Twitter accounts: @StonehillFB.

ON DECK
Stonehill closes out its 2023 season at W.B. Mason Stadium next Saturday when it celebrates Senior Day against Long Island University for an NEC matchup at 1 p.m.