Click here for live stats

Click here for live video

The Game
Stonehill College hits the road for the second-straight week as it visits Saint Francis University of Pennsylvania for the first time in its program's history for a Northeast Conference matchup at DeGol Field this afternoon. The Skyhawks are aiming to rebound from its first loss of the season at reigning NEC Champions Sacred Heart University, while the Red Flash are flying into just their second home game of the season winners of four straight after a 57-7 triumph at LIU last weekend.

Media Info
The game is being broadcast as part of the NEC's Game of the Week package through ESPN3 and ESPN app. Dave Popkin (PBP) and Rasheed Marshall (analyst) have the call of the game. Links to the broadcast and live stats are available via stonehillskyhawks.com.

Against Saint Francis
This afternoon marks the first meeting all-time between these two programs.

Keystone Success
Stonehill has enjoyed success playing in the State of Pennsylvania, including its 33-30 season-opening win at Bloomsburg in double-overtime. Stonehill is 5-4 all-time against Pennsylvania schools (all against Bloomsburg), including a 4-1 record all-time in the Keystone State, winning its last four visits to the state after the season-opening win.

Tom Comella

Last Time Out
Sacred Heart and Stonehill combined for nearly 1,000-yards of total offense as the reigning NEC champions outscored the Skyhawks 40-27 in a Conference matchup in Fairfield, Connecticut.
• Marquez McCray passed for 405 yards as he completed 21-of-30 passes with a touchdown, while adding another on the ground as he rushed the ball seven times for 29 yards to finish the afternoon with 434 of Sacred Heart's 594 yards of total offense in the contest.
• Sacred Heart and Stonehill combined for nearly 1,000 yards of total offense on 136 plays for the afternoon, with the Skyhawks adding 402 total yards in the contest.
• Junior Tom Comella (Johnston, R.I.) reached the end zone twice for the first time in his collegiate career, finishing with a career-high 164 all-purpose yards, while sophomore Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.) continues to show poise in his first year as the Skyhawks starting quarterback, completing 18-of-28 passes (64.3%) for 221 yards and three touchdowns for the afternoon without an interception for a 165.9 pass efficiency rating.
• Junior wide receiver Cameron Alves (Cranston, R.I.) career-best seven receptions for career-high 67 yards and touchdown.
• Sophomore defensive back CJ Davis (Springfield, Mass.) career-high ten tackles (career-best nine solo).
• Junior Justin Waters (Reisterstown, Md.) four tackles (two solo), 1.0 sacks for loss of a yard.
• Sacred Heart grabbed a 10-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.
• Stonehill got on the scoreboard on its next possession with Comella hauling in a pass from Carraha for a 46-yard pass and catch just four plays and 1:15 later.
• Sacred Heart extended the advantage to 20 points (27-7) with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter.
• Stonehill closed back within two scores when Carraha hit Alves for a four-yard touchdown toss with five-seconds left in the third quarter, but the Pioneers connected for a 75-yard touchdown pass on the very next play to close out the third with a 34-14 lead.
• Stonehill wouldn't go down without a fight, pulling back within two scores as freshman Nicholas Saccu (Monroe, Conn.) collected his first collegiate touchdown off a 17-yard toss from Carraha 2:11 into the fourth.
• Sacred Heart responded once more with a four-yard touchdown run with just under ten minutes to play.
• Stonehill drew back within two scores with a two-yard run from Comella with 2:16 remaining, but was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick to seal the game.

Polling Information
Stonehill dipped three spots to No. 8 in the New England Football Journal's Division I Top 16 this week, the website announced, proving the Skyhawks belong in the NEC despite the loss to reigning Conference champions Sacred Heart. The Pioneers are now the highest ranked NEC team in the poll at No. 6, followed by Merrimack (No. 7), Stonehill and Central Connecticut State (No. 16).

Carraha

Jerry Rice Watch List
Stonehill sophomore quarterback Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.) is among 25 NCAA Division I FCS players named to the watch list for the 2022 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award, presented to the national freshman of the year. Carraha, who is one of two from the NEC selected to the watch list, along with Saint Francis freshman WR Makai Jackson, has earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors twice this season, both coming after Stonehill's last two games. The Rice Award, now in its 12th season, is named after legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Past recipients include Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington), Miami Dolphins running back Chase Edmonds (Fordham) and San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance (North Dakota State). Carraha has started all four games for Stonehill at quarterback this fall and sits second in the NEC with 202.5 passing yards per game and an NEC-leading 158.6 pass efficiency rating. He has completed 60-of-99 passes (60.6%) for 810 yards and an NEC-leading ten touchdowns, with just two interceptions.

Rookie of the Week
Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.) earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors for the second time over the last three weeks the Conference on Monday. Carraha shined yet again, winning the weekly recognition following Stonehill's second-straight game, as the Skyhawks returned to action after a bye at reigning NEC Champions Sacred Heart last week. Despite the 40-27 setback to the Pioneers, Carraha threw three touchdown passes as he completed 18-of-28 passes (64.3-percent) for 221 yards without an interception to finish with a 165.9 pass efficiency rating and post his second 200-yard passing game of the season. He is the second Stonehill player to earn Rookie of the Week status from the NEC, joining classmate Jarel Washington (White Plains, N.Y.) who earned the award after week one.

Comella

Prime Performer
Junior running back Tom Comella (Johnston, R.I.) earned NEC Prime Performer status for the first time after recording a career-high 164 all-purpose yards at Sacred Heart on Saturday with two touchdowns. He rushed the ball a career-high 13 times for a career-best 96 yards and one score to go with his touchdown reception, finishing with a career-high 68 receiving yards on three catches. In addition to his 46-yard touchdown catch and run from Carraha, he added a two-yard touchdown run with 2:16 remaining in the fourth quarter that pulled Stonehill back within two scores to set up an on-side kick chance

Bright Lights, Big City
This afternoon marks Stonehill's second appearance of the fall on ESPN3 as part of the NEC's Game of the Week package. The Skyhawks posted a 24-20 victory over Duquesne in its NEC debut on ESPN3 on October 1. Stonehill football is now 2-0 all-time in games televised on ESPN3, including a 21-17 triumph over New Haven in the Division II Football Showcase in 2016. The Skyhawks also faced New Haven in a game televised on CBS Sports Network in 2012 (L, 45-41).

Power Offense
Through four games, Stonehill has produced the No. 1-ranked scoring (44.0 ppg), total yards (422.3 yds/gm) and rushing (219.8 yds/gm) offense in the NEC. The Skyhawks are also ranked No. 3 in the NEC for passing offense with 202.5-yards per game.

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 back in action next Saturday, October 29, when it returns to W.B. Mason Stadium to open a two-game homestand against Merrimack College for an NEC clash as part of Homecoming Weekend at the College at 1 p.m.