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Ticket Information
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The Game
Stonehill College finds itself in the thick of an early battle for first place in the Northeast Conference when it visits defending champions Sacred Heart University for an NEC football battle at Campus Field this afternoon.

Media Info
The game is being broadcast live digitally via NEC Front Row with Randy Brochu (PBP) and Freddie Coleman (analysis) calling the action along with sideline reporter Morgan Miller. Links to the broadcast produced by Sacred Heart Athletics are available online at stonehillskyhawks.com.

Last Time Out
Stonehill put an exclamation point on its NEC debut, notching a 24-20 triumph over Duquesne before a big Family Weekend crowd, with many more watching via ESPN3's digital streaming platform via the NEC Game of the Week, at W.B. Mason Stadium on October 1.
• Junior Jermaine Corbett totaled 193 all-purpose yards, rushing the ball 26 times for a season-high 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.
• Stonehill's 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 junior Anthony LaMonica down the stretch sealing the NEC debut win.
• Sophomore Ashur Carraha recorded touchdown passes on four of his nine completions (11 attempts)  for 183 total yards on 12-for-18 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns, along with 34 yards on four carries with a touchdown.
• Senior Steve Cmielewski totaled a career-high 11 tackles (three solo), with 1.5 tackles for a loss of three yards and a forced fumble.
• Sophomore Marje Mulumba added nine tackles (seven solo), with 2.0 tackles for a loss of 14 yards, including 1.0 sacks for a loss of nine.
• Corbett collected a pass on the near sideline from Carraha on the second play of the fourth quarter and scampered down the left side for a 50-yard touchdown that gave Stonehill the lead for good.
• Stonehill's defense held Duquesne to just 88 total yards in the second half, including 17 on 12 plays in the fourth quarter, with key interceptions from Porch and LaMonica down the stretch - the latter of which sealed the win with 1:21 to play.
• Stonehill pulled even at 10-10 with Carraha scampering for a 30-yard touchdown run with 9:48 left in the second quarter.
• The Dukes reclaimed the lead at the half, but Stonehill got a stop on the Dukes opening possession of the second half and then pulled even once again with Carraha hitting junior Will Diamantis for an eight-yard touchdown pass in the seam with 9:19 remaining in the third.

Against Sacred Heart
This afternoon marks the seventh meeting all-time between the two programs in their varsity football era, but a series that goes back well beyond that into the 1970s when the teams competed at the club level. Stonehill holds a 5-1 advantage in the  varsity series between the two that dates back to 1991, but the teams last met on November 2, 1996, with Stonehill recording a 42-10 triumph here at Campus Field. Stonehill has won the last five encounters between the two after the Pioneers won the initial meeting (19-6) in 1991.

Did You Know?
Stonehill's starting quarterback the last time it faced Sacred Heart in 1996 was senior Tom Pincince, '97 - the current Director of Athletics at fellow Northeast Conference and Nutmeg State member Central Connecticut State University. He completed 15-of-29 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, a six yard toss to Mike McSharry, who would later add a 69-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, to open the scoring on the day 1:07 into the second quarter.

Streaking
Stonehill has won its last six games dating back to its three game win streak to cap its final NCAA Division II season in 2021. The six-straight wins marks the second-longest win streak at the NCAA FCS level, matching Holy Cross and Princeton, and trailing only Weber State's current seven-game winning streak.

Road Trips
Stonehill has also won its last four games away from W.B. Mason Stadium after its double-overtime triumph at Bloomsburg to open the season - marking the fourth-longest road winning streak at the NCAA FCS level. Weber State and Sacramento State lead FCS with seven game road win streaks.

Perfect Starts
Stonehill is one of just eight unbeaten teams at the NCAA Division I FCS level at this point in the season with its 3-0 record. Holy Cross owns the best record at the FCS level at 6-0, followed by four 5-0 teams and a pair of unbeaten Ivy's (Princeton & Penn) at 4-0.

Polling Information
Stonehill which had its third bye week of the season last week, held at No. 5 in the New England Football Journal's Division I Top 16 for the second-straight week the website announced. Sacred Heart is close behind at No. 7 with its 3-2 overall record, while fellow NEC members Merrimack is No. 8 and Central Connecticut State No. 16.

Skyhawks Deliver
Stonehill was tabbed the FedEx Ground Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) National Team of the Week for the first time by StatsPerform following its 24-20 win over Duquesne in its Northeast Conference debut on October 1. Stonehill held Duquesne, which received three first place votes in the NEC preseason coaches poll, to just three points after halftime on 88 total yards in the second half, including 17 yards on 12 plays in the fourth quarter, getting key interceptions from fifth-year corner kevin porch and junior linebacker anthony lamonica down the stretch to seal the win.

Player of the Week First
Junior running back Jermaine Corbett is the first from Stonehill to earn NEC Offensive Player of the Week accolades for his efforts in the Skyhawks 24-20 triumph over Duquesne on Oct. 1. Corbett, who collected Northeast-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week accolades once in 2021, powered the Stonehill offense with 193 all-purpose yards in earning his first weekly award from the NEC. He rushed the ball 26 times for a season-high 130 yards on the ground to go with three receptions for another 63 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown catch and run on the second play of the fourth quarter that put the Skyhawks in front for good. Corbett also collected NEC Prime Performer status following his second-straight game for his efforts as well.

Rookie of the Week
Sophomore quarterback Ashur Carraha also picked up weekly honors from the NEC for his efforts in the 24-20 win over Duquesne by becoming the second Skyhawks to garner Rookie of the Week accolades. Carraha, who joins classmate jarel washington in earning NEC Rookie of the Week honors this season, completed 12-of-18 passes (66.7-percent) for 149 yards and two touchdowns, while adding another 34 yards on four carries and a score to finish the day with 183 total yards. He scored on a 30-yard scamper just over five minutes into the second quarter to knot the score at 10-10, before adding an eight-yard touchdown pass to junior will diamantis in the third quarter and then connecting with Corbett for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth.

Prime Performer
Stonehill senior linebacker Steve Cmielewski was also recognized by the NEC for his efforts in the 24-20 win over Duquesne with his selection as an NEC Prime Performer for the first time, along with Jermaine Corbett. Cmielewski spearheaded the Stonehill defensive effort on Saturday with a career-high 11 tackles (three solo), including 1.5 tackles for a loss of three yards and a forced fumble.

Vote of Confidence
Stonehill received one vote in the American Football Coaches' Association (AFCA) NCAA FCS Top 25 Coaches poll released on October 3 on the heels of the Skyhawks 24-20 triumph over Duquesne in its NEC debut two days prior.

Power Offense
Through two games, Stonehill has produced the No. 1-ranked scoring (44.3 ppg), total yards (429.0 yds/gm) and rushing (232.7 yds/gm) offense in the NEC. The Skyhawks are also ranked No. 4 in the NEC for passing offense with 196.3-yards per game.

But Don't Look Past That D-Fence
Stonehill leads the NEC in total defense, allowing 253.3 yards per game and scoring defense, yielding 16.7 points per game. Stonehill opponents have averaged 133.3 rushing yards per game (1st) and 120.0 passing yards per game (2nd).

Movin' On Up!
Stonehill College announced in early April 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 this fall.

Getting Social
Fans and media members of Stonehill athletics now have three 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 @GoStonehill on Twitter and "StonehillSkyhawks" on Instagram. Stonehill football also has its own Facebook and Twitter accounts: @StonehillFB.

On Deck
Stonehill is right back in action next week, that's correct, next week, when it remains on the road for its first visit to Saint Francis (Pa.) University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, for an NEC matchup that will be broadcast via ESPN3 at 1 p.m. The Skyhawks return to W.B. Mason Stadium the following Saturday, October 29, to host Merrimack College at 1 p.m.