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Ticket Information
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The Game
Stonehill College opens its second Northeast Conference schedule against Central Connecticut State University, its final opponent of its inaugural NCAA Division I FCS season last fall, at Arute Field this afternoon. The Skyhawks opened their second season at the Division I level with a 51-17 setback to No. 11/12 University of New Hampshire at W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton, Massachusetts, last Saturday, while the Blue Devils opened their first season under head coach Adam Lechtenberg with a 44-0 triumph over Division II American International College of the Northeast-10 Conference here last Saturday night.

Media Info
This afternoon's game is being presented live for NEC Front Row with Bruce Biel (play-by-play) and Mark Robbins (analyst) calling the action for the Central Connecticut State produced digital broadcast. 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.

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.

Last Time Out
New Hampshire, ranked No. 11 in NCAA I FCS by Stats Perform and No. 12 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) preseason poll, started fast with four first quarter scores on its way to a 51-17 triumph over Stonehill at W.B. Mason Stadium. Senior running back Dylan Laube scored three consecutive New Hampshire touchdowns three different ways in the opening quarter, while junior quarterback Max Brosmer completed 19-of-25 passes for five touchdowns to lead the Wildcats. Laube's three-straight touchdowns in the opening frame came with a 58-yard return of a partially blocked punt, 23-yard reception from Brosmer and 11-yard touchdown rush as UNH turned a 6-0 lead into a 27-0 advantage after a quarter of play. Laube finished with 229 all-purpose yards, rushing the ball 16 times for 89 yards, to go with 31 yards on two receptions and 109 total return yards. Junior Ryan Toscano paced the UNH defense with five tackles (two solo), including 1.0 tackles for loss. Senior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) scored two touchdowns for Stonehill, finishing with 92 all-purpose yards, including 24 carries for 66 yards and the two scores. Junior wide receiver Chris Domercant (Bellingham, Mass.) caught four passes for 71 yards, while classmate Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.) completed 15-of-19 passes for 178 yards. Senior Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) paced the Stonehill defense with six tackles (three solo), including 1.0 for a loss of two yards, and a pass breakup.

Against the Blue Devils
This afternoon marks the second meeting all-time between Stonehill and Central Connecticut State, the first here at Arute Field. The Blue Devils posted a 39-14 triumph over the Skyhawks in their first-ever meeting to conclude the 2022 season at W.B. Mason Stadium in Easton, Massachusetts. While this is Central head coach Adam Lechtenberg's first meeting all-time against the Skyhawks, Stonehill head coach Eli Gardner, in his eighth year as head coach (15th overall) is competing against the Blue Devils for the second time after the 2022 finale.

Last Time They Met
Central Connecticut State outscored Stonehill 27-0 in the second half, scoring 20 points in the third quarter alone, on its way to a 39-14 victory in Northeast Conference action on Senior Day at W.B. Mason Stadium. Senior running back Nasir Smith locked up the NEC rushing title with 218 yards on 29 carries, averaging 7.7 yards per attempt, and four touchdowns for the afternoon. Postgrad quarterback Shon Mitchell was an efficient 13-for-15 for 235 yards through the air and two touchdowns, with one of those scores going to sophomore Erik Surratt who finished with 132 yards on seven total receptions. Junior running back Tom Comella (Johnston, R.I.) recorded 155 all-purpose yards for Stonehill, carrying the ball a career-high 19 times for 84 yards to go with another 66 yards on three kick returns. Junior defensive end Michael Lockavitch (Shelton, Conn.) posted a career-high seven tackles (four solo).

A Purple Blue Devil
Central Connecticut State Director of Athletics Tom Pincince is a 1997 Stonehill graduate and former quarterback on the football program. He still ranks eighth on Stonehill's career passing list with 2,411 yards, while ranking ninth with 191 completions and eighth with 24 touchdowns passes. He set a program record with a 138.2 career pass efficiency rating, which stood until Anton Stoneking '21 broke it at 139.0. Pincence's career 8.0 yards per pass attempt still stands as a Stonehill record. Pincince was named Director of Athletics in January 2022 after serving as interim AD for over two years. He has been a member of the athletic department at CCSU for over 20 years, serving as Director of Athletic Communications for 17 years prior to his elevation as AD.

Another Familiar Face
Central Connecticut State special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Jermetrius Troy is a 2013 Stonehill graduate. The former Skyhawks running back still ranks eighth on the program's career rushing list with 1,611 yards and tied for ninth with 14 career rushing touchdowns.  

Prime Performer
Stonehill senior preseason All-NEC linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) was selected as a Northeast Conference Prime Performer by the Conference office on Monday. Murphy, who earns Prime Performer status for the first time in his career, paced the Skyhawks defense with five tackles, including 1.0 tackles-for-loss, and a pass breakup against No. 11 New Hampshire on Saturday.

Polling Information
Stonehill dipped three spots to No. 16 in this week's New England Football Journal weekly rankings to No. 16 after being ranked No. 13 in the Journal's Preseason rankings. The Skyhawks are one of four Northeast Conference representative in the poll, with Merrimack eighth, Sacred Heart 12th and Central Connecticut State 14th. The Skyhawks' week one opponent, New Hampshire is ranked No. 2 in the poll behind Holy Cross for the second-straight week.

Already Champions!
This could win you a trivia competition someday. Stonehill seniors Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) and Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.), who represented the Skyhawks along with head coach Eli Gardner at the NEC's Social Media Day at MetLife Stadium in mid-July, have laid claim to the first Northeast Conference Championship in Stonehill history when they won the Media Day cornhole title with a come from behind two games to one win over Central Connecticut State in the final. Corbett and Murphy also took a win over NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris and Associate Commissioner Ben Shove.

1,000-yard Man
Junior wide receiver Chris Domercant (Bellingham, Mass.) became the 15th player in Stonehill history to suyrpass 1,000 career receiving yards with his four receptions for 71 yards against No. 11 New Hampshire last week. He enters today's game with 1,047 career yards receiving on 52 career receptiomns - 117 yards shy of cracking Stonehill's career receiving yardage list. He trails Dan Smith '90 (1,164 yards) for tenth all-time in program history, while Domercant's 11 career touchown receptions is tied with Glen Lindstrom '93 for ninth all-time.

Corbett on the Cusp
Senior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) this afternoon's game 128 yards from moving into Stonehill's career top ten list for rushing yards with his 1,235 yards in 16 career games, while his 13 career rushing touchdowns are one shy of cracking the career top ten.

For Starters
Postgrad offensive lineman David Satkowski (Southbury, Conn.) is projected to start his 21st-straight game for Stonehill this afternoon. The three-year starting lineman has moved to center this season after starting 20-straight games at right tackle. Fifth-year offensive lineman Thomas Walsh (Waldwick, N.J.) made his 22nd career start against New Hampshire last weekend, while senior wide receiver Cameron Alves (Cranston, R.I.) has 18 career starts.

Passing Ashur
Junior quarterback Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.) enters this afternoon's game 116 passing yards shy of cracking Stonehill's career top ten list with 1,743 yards in ten career games played. He trails Tim Morrison '12 (1,859) for tenth all-time in Stonehill history - needing 257 yards to become one of only ten 2,000-yard passers in Stonehill history. Carraha's 14 career touchdown passes is tied for tenth all-time at the College with John Darak '00 - one behind Morrison for ninth place.

PRESEASON ALL-NEC
Stonehill has three selections to the 2023 All-NEC Football Preseason Team as selected by the Conference's head coaches and announced at the NEC Social Media Day at the EY Coaches' Club at MetLife Stadium in July. The Skyhawks first three preseason All-NEC selections in the program's brief NEC history are postgrad offensive lineman David Satkowski (Southbury, Conn.) and senior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.), both first team All-NEC honorees in 2022, along with with senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.).

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATIONS
Stonehill has been picked to finish sixth in the Northeast Conference preseason poll by the league's eight head coaches the Conference announced at its Social Media Day at MetLife Stadium in July. The Skyhawks are tied with Central Connecticut State for sixth in the NEC preseason poll, which is led by defending NEC Champions and NCAA I FCS Championship participant Saint Francis (Pa.) with five first place votes. Merrimack is picked second and received two first place votes, with Duquesne third with a first-place vote, tied with Sacred Heart. LIU received the remaining first place vote and is picked fifth, followed by Stonehill and Central Connecticut State in sixth and Wagner in eighth

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.

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 continues its three week road trip next Saturday with a non-conference matchup at Georgetown University on September 16 at 12:30 p.m. - marking the first ever meeting between the two programs. The Skyhawks next home game is a Family Weekend matchup with Saint Francis (Pa.) University on Saturday, September 30, as part of the College's Jubilee Celebration festivities at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m.