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SkyhawksVision on NEC Front Row Digital Broadcast

Ticket Information (Day of Game)
$15.00 Adults
$10.00 (students & senior citizens)

The Game
Stonehill College returns home for the first time in nearly a month as it hosts Merrimack College, among teams receiving votes in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division I FCS Coaches' poll, for a Northeast Conference (NEC) matchup as part of Homecoming Weekend at Timothy J. Coughlin, '80 Memorial Field at W.B. Mason Stadium this afternoon. The Skyhawks are winners of three straight at home dating back to last season, but aim to bounce back from back-to-back road losses at Sacred Heart University and Saint Francis (Pa.) University. The Warriors have won their last five after a 31-25 triumph over Sacred Heart in North Andover on Saturday.

Media Info
This afternoon's game is being presented live by SkyhawksVision on NEC Front Row with Charlie Bergeron ,in his 24th season as the Voice of the Skyhawks, calling the action directed by Matt Nelson. The broadcast can be accessed via stonehillskyhawks.com through its NEC Front Row portal (necfrontrow.com/schools/SC) or through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku via the NEC On the Run App. The game is also being broadcast live on WSHL-FM 91.3 in the Easton area, with Chris Cassidy and Christopher Robbins calling the action.

Hello Old Friend
This afternoon marks the 25th meeting all-time between Stonehill and Merrimack, who met 24 previous times as former members Northeast-10 and Eastern Football Conference rivals dating back to 1996 before the Warriors first made the jump to the Northeast Conference and Division I FCS after the 2018 season. Each team owns 12 wins in the all-time series, with Merrimack posting a 38-24 triumph here at W.B. Mason Stadium on October 13, 2018 behind 547 total yard of offense from Warriors QB Christian Carter, while Brian Kearns, Jr. '21 led Stonehill with 235 yards on 36 carries and two touchdowns. The win snapped a seven game win streak for the Skyhawks in the all-time series. Head Coach Eli Gardner is 2-1 in his career against Merrimack.  

Welcome Back Alumni!
Stonehill welcomes back its alumni of all ages and their families to campus for a full slate of activities for Homecoming Weekend. Highlights include a Fall Fun Fest on the Quad featuring live music, Spooky Science with the Chem/Biochem Club, face painting, photo ops, a petting zoo, pumpkin carving demonstration and lawn games, The Ames of Stonehill Tour, Campus Tours, a Football Game vs. Merrimack, and Volleyball vs. Fairleigh Dickinson.

Team IMPACT Awareness Game
Stonehill College is proud to host its Team IMPACT families for today's game. Joining the Stonehill captains for the opening kickoff will be the football team's Team IMPACT teammate Brayden. The College will also recognize its Team IMPACT teammates and families in attendance today between the first and second quarters.

Expected to be in Attendance Today Are:
Brayden - Football
Sammy - Men's Ice Hockey
Ian - Track & Field
Ariel - Women's Basketball
Sadie - Volleyball
Team IMPACT representatives: Linda Kelly & Kayla McDaid

IMPACT Teammate
The Stonehill football team is happy to have Team IMPACT teammate Brayden Tryon of nearby North Attleboro through Team IMPACT (Inspire, Motivate, Play Against Challenges, Together) after officially signing with the team last December. Brayden, the son of Ashley and Patrick Tryon, joins the Stonehill football program as an official team member and attends practices, games and team functions as he continues his progress after being diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of eight. Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit that connects children facing serious and chronic illnesses with local college athletic teams to form life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes, matched Brayden with the football team and they first met during the fall season. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, that connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming life-long bonds and life-changing outcomes.

Prime Performer
Fifth-year cornerback Kevin Porch (Neptune, N.J.) earned a spot among the NEC's Prime Performer list the Conference announced on Monday. Porch led a Stonehill defense that held Saint Francis to just three points after the opening quarter and forced two of the Red Flash's three turnovers on the afternoon. He registered five tackles (three solo), one forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and a pair of pass breakups for the day to earn NEC Prime Performer status for the first time.

Stonehill Prime Performers 2022 Season
Sept. 5: Perry Shelbred (K) & Jarel Washington (RB)
Sept. 12: Jermaine Corbett (RB)
Oct. 3: Jermaine Corbett (RB) & Steve Cmielewski (LB)
Oct. 17: Ashur Carraha (QB) & Tom Comella (RB)
Oct. 24: Kevin Porch (CB)

Polling Information
Stonehill held at No. 8 in this week's New England Football Journal's Division I Top 16 despite the setback at Saint Francis on Saturday, the website announced. Holy Cross (7-0) remains atop the NEFBJ Top 16, with Merrimack the top NEC program at No. 4 behind New Hampshire and Rhode Island. Sacred Heart (No. 7) and Central Connecticut State (No. 16) also represent the NEC in the rankings.

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, has earned NEC Rookie of the Week honors twice this season. 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 78-of-130 passes (60%) for 936 yards and an NEC-leading ten touchdowns, with just three interceptions.

Home Cookin'
Stonehill has won its last three home games dating back to the 2021 season, posting wins over Post (76-0) and Duquesne (24-20) at W.B. Mason Stadium so far this fall.

Power Offense
Through five games, Stonehill has produced the No. 1-ranked scoring (34.6 ppg) and rushing offense (201.6 yds/gm) in the NEC. The Skyhaws are second in the NEC for total yards (388.8yds/gm) and fifth for passing offense (187.2 yds/gm).

Spread the Wealth
Ten different Skyhawks have scored touchdowns this season, with junior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) leading the way with six. Six Stonehill players have scored their first career touchdowns this fall, including junior running back Tom Comella (Johnston, R.I.) with four total touchdowns.

Good Protection
Stonehill has yielded just nine sacks through five games - the third lowest total in the NEC this fall.

But Don't Look Past that D-Fence
Stonehill ranks in the top half  of the NEC in most defensive categories, ranking third in scoring defense (21.4 ppg), third in rushing defense (161.6 yds/gm) and fourth for total defense (345.8) and pass defense (184.2 yds/gm).

All About Corbett
Junior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) leads the NEC in rushing, averaging 103.8 yards per game - the lone NEC back averaging over 100-yards per game. He also ranks third in the NEC with five rushing touchdowns, but leads the Conference in scoring with 9.0 points per game, ranking ninth for total points (36).

The Band Perry
Junior placekicker Perry Shelbred (Ridgefield, Conn.) ranks third, behind  Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) among NEC scoring leaders with his 7.8 points per game. He has converted 7-of-8 field goal attempts, with a long of 40 yards, and is 18-of-19 on extra point tries as well.

Porch Picks
Fifth-year cornerback Kevin Porch (Neptune, N.J.) intercepted his second pass of the season at Saint Francis on Saturday and is now tied for fourth among NEC interception leaders. He also ranks third among NEC leaders with six passes defended, adding four pass breakups (6th NEC) to his two interceptions, while sharing the NEC lead with two fumble recoveries after adding his second of the year at SFU on Saturday as well.

Preseason Prognostications
Stonehill has been picked to finish eighth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll by the league's head coaches. Reigning NEC Champions Sacred Heart were picked to repeat this fall, earning five first place votes, followed by Duquesne in second with the remaining three first place votes. Following the Dukes are Saint Francis (Pa.) in third, Central Connecticut State in fourth, Merrimack fifth,  and then LIU and Wagner tied for sixth.

Aye, Aye, Captains
Stonehill head coach Eli Gardner and his coaching staff have named five captains for its inaugural Division I FCS season. Offensive linemen Joe Bastante and Thomas Walsh, along with tight end Cam Boes and defensive backs Masyn Lorick and Kevin Porch were voted to lead the Skyhawks for the 2022 season.

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 here at W.B. Mason Stadium next Saturday to host Wagner College for an NEC clash at 1 p.m.