Unbeaten WNE football receives votes in national poll

Date: 10/24/2014

WACO, Texas – Unbeaten Western New England University (WNE) has appeared in this week's American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III coaches’ poll, released Oct. 20.

The Golden Bears are in the “others receiving votes” category, earning four that puts them 35th in the national rankings if the poll were extrapolated. Western New England is the only New England Football Conference representative and one of three New England-based schools – Trinity (Conn.) and Framingham State with 12 and four votes, respectively.

This marks Western New England’s first appearance in the AFCA rankings since the final 2011 poll when WNE received 15 votes for 32nd.

Western New England is off to the best start in program history at 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the NEFC standings, defeating opponents by an average score of 38-19 and leading the conference with 25 takeaways and a plus-15 turnover margin, leading NCAA Division III in the former category and ranked fourth in the latter.

Defending NCAA champion Wisconsin-Whitewater is ranked No. 1 with 38 first-place votes among 1046 points.

In addition, WNE reclaimed the top spot in the New England NCAA Division III sports information directors’ football poll, which was also published on Monday. The Golden Bears, who had been No. 1 in the region for the first four weeks, outpointed Trinity 190 to 180 and eight first-place votes to five for the Bantams. Wesleyan, which was last week's No. 1 team, slipped to sixth place while WNE rose from second on the ladder.

On Oct. 18, senior quarterback Tyler Ward passed for 275 yards on 25 completions and accounted for four touchdowns to lead the Western New England University football team to a convincing 36-14 non-conference win at Union College. The visiting Golden Bears extend their school-record NCAA start to 6-0 and have won seven in a row dating to the 2013 season finale.

Junior linebacker Dean Soucie led a Western New England defense that held Union to 125 yards passing among 276 in total offense, making three solo tackles and seven total including a sack for 12 yards. Senior Ryan Nolte also had seven total tackles (3 solo) and a pass break-up, followed by senior linebacker Kyle Jones (1 solo, 8 total), freshman defensive back Sam Olsson (1 solo, 9 total) and one pass break-up, and senior Zachary Fleming (1 solo, 8 total) who also picked off two interceptions.

Senior Tucker Schumitz had eight catches for 84 yards and senior Kevin Cook ran for 52 yards and a touchdown for WNE, which recorded 489 yards on 88 plays for the day. The ‘Bears also posted 36 first downs in the victory and held a 33:38 to 26:22 advantage in time of possession.

he Golden Bears will travel to Cambridge on Oct. 25 for a key NEFC game against MIT (5-0, 3-0) that kicks off at 5 p.m.


Posting 571 yards of total offense over the course of the game, the Springfield College football team cruised to a 48-21 victory over Merchant Marine on Oct. 18 at Stagg Field. With the win, the Pride improve to 6-2 overall, 3-1 in league play while the Mariners suffered it’s sixth loss of the season, falling to 2-6, 0-4.

Springfield set the tone in the opening half, registering an incredible 405 yards of total offense despite having the ball for just 6:16. Junior quarterback Jonathan Marrero totaled 205 rushing yards in the first half on nine carries, and finished with 209 for the game. The Sport Management major also passed for 131 yards on five completions over the course of the contest.

Junior fullback Keith Rodman accumulated 83 yards on the ground over 10 carries, while Andres Martin registered 100 receiving yards on three catches, two for scores.
   

The American International  College (AIC) football team fell on a late touchdown drive by New Haven in the Homecoming Game of a Northeast-10 (NE-10) game at Ronald J. Abdow Field, 31-24.

With the loss AIC falls to 5-2 and 5-1 in NE-10 play, while with the win New Haven wins its fourth straight and moves to 4-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play.

The Chargers came from behind, down seven with just under two minutes in regulation to tie it up at 24 all. New Haven quarterback Joey Bradley scrambled for 13 yards on a fourth and 10 situation to extend a drive deep in AIC territory. His next play, a pass to wide out Ty Headen was caught for five yards and gave the Chargers new life.

The Yellow Jackets set up to march down the field at their own 29 yard line. Senior quarterback Kevin Arduino completed a pass to senior wide receiver Stephan Davis  for 16 yards, but Davis, trying to get more yardage, lost his handle and gave New Haven back the ball on AIC's side of the field.

Three plays later, Bradley connected with wide receiver Henry Adegunle who broke free from the coverage and took it home 40 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, 31-24.

Springfield native Evan Graham earned NE-10 honor roll recognition for the second week in a row. The senior wide out hauled in nine catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns of 21 and 37 yards.

Springfield’s Jared Hulsey is now 6-for-6 in field goals in the last four games and has converted nine straight PATs. His 26-yard kick in the fourth capped a 17-play, 60-yard drive and gave AIC a 24-17 edge before New Haven charged back to win the game.