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The Game
Stonehill College makes its shortest road trip of the season as it travels to North Andover to face the Northeast Conference's other Massachusetts member, Merrimack College for an NEC matchup that will be broadcast on ESPN+ to kick off the Conference's 2023 Football Broadcasting package at Duane Stadium this afternoon. The Skyhawks enter this afternoon's game looking to bounce back from back to back setbacks to previously nationally-ranked Fordham University and Saint Francis University, also a 2022 NCAA FCS Playoffs participant, in NEC play at W.B. Mason Stadium last weekend. The Warriors are looking to build off last weekend's 17-7 victory at Sacred Heart University for their first NEC win and victory over an FCS program this season.

Media Info
This afternoon's game is being broadcast live on ESPN+ as the Northeast Conference kicks off its 2023 Football Broadcasting package. Craig D'Amico (play-by-play) and Kevin Gilbride (analyst), the former National Football League head coach who won two Super Bowls in his time coaching with the New York Giants, calling the action on ESPN's online broadcasting service and produced by Pack Network. The broadcast can be accessed via the ESPN Watch app (subscription) through Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku. This is the last of three games over a four game stretch that have been broadcast on ESPN+, along with back-to-back road games at Georgetown and Fordham.

Bright Lights
Stonehill and Merrimack are kicking off the Northeast Conference's 2023 Broadcast Schedule with this afternoon's game on ESPN+. The Skyhawks are 2-1 all-time in games broadcast on the ESPN family of networks after splitting their two NEC Game of the Week appearances last year with a 24-20 win over Duquesne at W.B. Mason Stadium last season before falling to Saint Francis 17-13 in Loretto, Pennsylvania. 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
Saint Francis capped an 11-play drive over the final three minutes with a touchdown run with 19-seconds to play to secure a 15-10 triumph over Stonehill in a Northeast Conference matchup at W.B. Mason Stadium last weekend. Junior running back Deondre Scott scored on a one-yard plunge on second and goal to cap the deciding 11-play, 75-yard game-winning drive with 19-seconds remaining to lift Saint Francis to its first win of the season in a defensive battle. The touchdown answered a 51-yard field goal by Stonehill senior Perry Shelbred (Ridgefield, Conn.) with 3:38 remaining that pushed the Skyhawks in front by a point. Scott finished with 59-yards on 14 carries as Saint Francis posted 180 yards on the ground from its 309 yards of total offense on the afternoon. Junior Dawson Snyder caught 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Carter Glassmyer led a Saint Francis defense that limited Stonehill to 260 total yards with a game-high 13 tackles (11 solo), including 2.5 tackles for a loss of five yards, and 1.0 sacks. Senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) led a solid defensive effort from Stonehill with a season-high ten tackles (three solo), two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. Senior Micah Brown (Depew, N.Y.) added nine stops (five solo) and a forced fumble, while classmate Anthony LaMonica (Dorchester, Mass.) totaled six tackles (five solo), including 2.0 for a loss of three yards and a pass breakup. Senior Cameron Alves (Cranston, R.I.) scored the lone Stonehill touchdown on the afternoon, while classmate Tom Comella (Johnston, R.I.) finished with a game-high 121 all-purpose yards, carrying the ball a career-high 24 times for a season-best 93 yards.

Against the Warriors
This afternoon marks the 26th meeting all-time between these two programs. Merrimack holds a 13-12 edge in the series that dates back to 1996 after posting a 17-10 victory in the first Northeast Conference meeting between the two in Easton, Massachusetts, last season. The Warriors have won the last two meetings, but Stonehill has won four-straight over Merrimack here in North Andover, including a 45-21 decision at Martone-Mejail Stadium its last visit in 2017. Stonehill is 9-3 all-time here in North Andover, but this afternoon marks the Skyhawks first game against Merrimack at Duane Stadium, which opened just after Stonehill's last visit here in 2017. The road team has dominated the series, winning nine-straight in the series from 2000 through 2008. Stonehill head coach Eli Gardner is 2-2 as a head coach against the Warriors, while Merrimack head coach Dan Curran is 2-6 in his career against the Skyhawks.

Last Time They Met
Merrimack scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to overcome a halftime deficit and remain unbeaten in Conference play and claim a 17-10 triumph over Stonehill in Northeast Conference action at W.B. Mason Stadium last season. Merrimack claimed the win despite the Stonehill defense limiting the Warriors to 213 yards, including 72 in the first half, and a 1-for-14 day on third down conversions. Merrimack capped the comeback from a 10-0 first half deficit as Tre Jordan III recovered a blocked punt by Kendal Sims in the endzone for a touchdown with 2:31 to play in the third quarter. Stonehill put all three of their fourth quarter possessions into Merrimack territory, but was unable to take advantage, turning the ball over on downs, before turning the ball over twice with a fumble and interception down the stretch. Vahn Friday (Suffern, N.Y.) posted a career-high seven tackles (three solo), 1.0 tackles for loss of three yards, pass breakup to lead the Stonehill defensive effort, while Nate Hautala (Shrewsbury, Mass.) added four tackles (one solo), including sack for loss of three. Will Diamantis (Milford, Conn.) posted three receptions for career-high 69 yards, touchdown on the offensive side of the ball for the Skyhawks, while Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) added 23 carries for 93 yards. Donte Williams led the Merrimack defense with nine tackles (six solo), 2.5 tackles for loss of eight yards, 1.5 sacks for loss of seven, interception and pass breakup.

Polling Information
Stonehill dipped two spots to No. 11 in this week's New England Football Journal weekly rankings after being ranked No. 9 last week after moving as high as No. 7  after the Skyhawks win at Georgetown, following a No. 13 preseason rank. The Skyhawks are ranked second among the Northeast Conference's four New England programs behind No. 9 Merrimack, with Sacred Heart No. 12 and Central Connecticut 14th. Stonehill's week one opponent, New Hampshire is ranked No. 6 in the poll with Harvard University taking over the top spot in this week's poll after its win over previous No. 1 Holy Cross, which is ranked No. 2 this week. The Skyhawks are 1-1 this year against teams in the New England rankings, with a win over Central Connecticut State after the week one setback to New Hampshire.

Prime Performer
Senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) earned Prime Performer status from the Northeast Conference for the second time this season on Monday. Murphy led Stonehill's solid defensive effort against Saint Francis on Saturday with a season-high ten tackles, two pass breakups and a quarterback hurry. Five Stonehill players have earned a total of seven NEC Prime Performer recognitions this season. Senior running back Jermaine Corbett (Long Branch, N.J.) joins Murphy in earning the recognition twice this season.

Stonehill's NEC Prime Performers:
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)

50/50
Stonehill senior placekicker Perry Shelbred (Ridgefield, Conn.) delivered his second field goal of 50-plus yards this season with his 51-yard kick that gave the Skyhawks a 10-9 lead with 3:38 to play against Saint Francis on Saturday. That followed his program-record matching 52-yard field goal as time expired to lift Stonehill to a 33-30 win at Central Connecticut State in week two. Shelbred's two 50-yard kicks are the two longest field goals in the NEC this season and only Abilene Christian University has more 50-plus yard field goals this season (3) and Shelbred's 52-yard field goal is the fourth-longest field goal in NCAA FCS football this fall.  

In the Zone
Stonehill has scored on 11 of 12 trips in the red zone through the first five weeks of the season, scoring eight touchdowns to go with three field goals, to rank second in the NEC lead for red zone offense at 91.7-percent.

Career High Carrier
Stonehill senior running back Tom Comella (Johnston, R.I.) carried the ball a career-high 24 times against Saint Francis on Saturday, finishing with a game-high 121 all-purpose yards, including a season-high 93 yards.

Plus-Minus
Stonehill is tied for second in the NEC for turnover margin at +2 entering week six, having forced seven turnovers, while committing five themselves in five games. The Skyhawks saw their streak of three-straight games without a turnover halted with a first quarter interception against Saint Francis last weekend, finishing the game with a season-high three overall. The Skyhawks played mistake free for 14-straight quarters dating back to the middle of the second against New Hampshire in week one. Stonehill's setback at Fordham was just Stonehill's second in 14 games under head coach Eli Gardner in which the Skyhawks didn't turn the ball over.

Double-Digit Stops
Stonehill senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) posted a season-high ten tackles (three solo) against Saint Francis on Saturday. It marks the second double-digit tackle total of Murphy's career, including his career-high 14 stops (three solo) in a 34-7 win over Franklin Pierce in 2021.

Seventh Heaven
Stonehill senior wide receiver Cameron Alves (Cranston, R.I.) returned to the Stonehill lineup for the first time since week one for the Skyhawks against Saint Francis on Saturday and found the end zone with a 15-yard touchdown catch from junior Ashur Carraha (Cambridge, Mass.). It was the Skyhawks lone touchdown on the afternoon and the seventh touchdown catch of his career (21 games.)

Breaking Up is Hard To Do
Stonehill and Saint Francis combined to breakup 11 passes, with an additional four combined interceptions, on Saturday at W.B. Mason Stadium. The Skyhawks had seven of those breakups, including two each from senior linebacker Sam Murphy (Lockport, N.Y.) and sophomore cornerback Moses Seide (Malden, Mass.), who also had one of Stonehill's two interceptions on the afternoon - the Skyhawks first two pickoffs of the season. Seide leads three Skyhawks that rank among the top ten in the NEC for pass breakups, with four to rank second in the Conference. He is also second in the NEC in passes defended with five (INT, 4 BrUps). Senior defensive back Kareem Grisham (Jewett City, Conn.) is ranked seventh in the NEC with three pass breakups, including a pair in the win at Georgetown in which the Skyhawks totaled three as a team, along with Murphy.

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 heads into a bye week after today's matchup with Merrimack and returns to action in two weeks, when it hosts Sacred Heart University as part of Homecoming Weekend at the College on Saturday, October 21, at W.B. Mason Stadium at 1 p.m.