Golden Bears unseated from top spot despite victory
Date: 10/17/2014
MIDDLETOWN – Despite beating a quality conference opponent and moving to 5-0, Western New England University (WNE) has been supplanted by Wesleyan University for the No. 1 ranking in the latest New England NCAA Division III sports information directors’ football poll.
WNE had been ranked in the top spot in the regional poll for the first four weeks, setting school records for consecutive weeks at No. 1, first-place votes (10, Week 3) and total points (205, Week 3) along the way.
The Cardinals (4-0), who are receiving votes in the national rankings by D3football.com, edged the New England No. 2-ranked Golden Bears by the narrowest of margins, 160 to 158.
WNE, however, received seven first-place votes to only three for Wesleyan.
The two points represent the closest gap between Nos.1-2 since Wesleyan held a 193-192 lead over Framingham State in the Week 7 poll (Oct. 28) of last season.
WNE came from behind to ground the Seahawks of Salve Regina University – predicted to finish second in the New England Football Conference – after senior quarterback Tyler Ward's 16-yard touchdown scramble with 1 minute and 34 seconds left, 34-31.
The Golden Bears, who have won six-straight dating to the 2013 season finale, put their 5-0 record on the line Saturday (4 p.m.) in a non-conference game at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y.
The program is 5-0 for the first time in its NCAA history that began in 1981, sitting also in a first-place tie with Endicott in the NEFC standings with identical 3-0 records.
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Junior Tevin Jones of Springfield caught three touchdown passes as the Framingham State University football team defeated Westfield State University 28-7 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Oct. 11.
He was named MASCAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week.
Entering the game both the Rams and the Owls were undefeated in conference play and with the victory the Rams remain unbeaten at 4-0 in the MASCAC and improve 5-1 overall. The loss drops the Owls to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
The Owls defense allowed just 28 yards of total offense the week prior in a victory over Plymouth State, but the Rams amassed 378 yards of total offense including 215 yards through the air against the conference’s leader in pass defense.
The Rams defense allowed 197 yards of total offense in the game including just 77 yards on the ground.
In the first half, the Rams held the Owls to just 55 yards of offense forcing five punts and turning the ball over one downs once with just four first downs.
Jones led the Rams with five catches for a season-high 137 yards with three touchdowns ad has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark in back-to-back weeks for the Rams.
Michael Mercadante of Wilbraham was held to just 68 yards rushing on 32 carries for the Owls.
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Springfield College football suffered its first Liberty League loss of the season on Saturday as it dropped a 37-7 decision to nationally-ranked Hobart. With the loss, the Pride fall to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in league play.
Junior quarterback Jonathan Marrero finished the day as Springfield’s leading rusher, registering 61 yards on 19 attempts. Junior fullback Keith Rodman took the Statesman defense for 56 yards on 14 attempts.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Danny Macalena posted a team-high 13 tackles including one for a loss.
Senior captain Max Nacewicz picked up his first interception of the season, while also posting six tackles on the day.
The Pride will look to get back to its winning ways on Oct. 18 when it hosts Merchant Marine at 2 p.m. as part of Homecoming weekend.
