ACFC Week 9 Notes
October 27 schedule
The lone conference game on October 27 will settle the battle for first place as Salisbury University visits Wesley College in the "Battle for Route 13". Non-conference games include: Apprentice School at Southern Virginia; SUNY Brockport at Morrisville State; and Frostburg State at Westminster.
ACFC in Non-Conference Action
In 2006, the ACFC did more than hold its own against non-conference competition as the teams went a combined 22-12 in those games. Wesley College was 9-1 and Apprentice School went 5-1. The 22 wins equals the second most non-conference wins in a single season in the history of the Atlantic Central Football Conference. In 2005, ACFC teams went 23-12 in non-conference action.
1998: 22-12
1999: 12-14
2000: 18-10
2001: 12-14
2002: 18-11
2003: 12-13
2004: 18-13
2005: 23-12
2006: 22-12
2007: 16-8
West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference 0-1
USA South Athletic Conference 2-0
Old Dominion Athletic Conference 1-1
Middle Atlantic Conference 4-0
New Jersey Athletic Conference: 2-1
Presidents Athletic Conference: 1-0
Empire 8: 0-3
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (1-AA): 0-1
Independent: 5-0
NAIA: 1-1
ACFC In National Rankings
D3football.com: #9 Salisbury; #10 Wesley
Don Hansen Football Gazette: #8 Salisbury; #9 Wesley
AFCA Coaches Poll: #8 Salisbury; #11 Wesley
Next Week in the ACFC
The lone game on November 3 pits SUNY Brockport at Apprentice School.
SALISBURY (8-0, 2-0) AT WESLEY (7-1, 3-0)
1 pm, Wolverine Stadium - Dover, Delaware
Webcast: http://www.wdel.com/ and http://www.wicoam.com/
WESLEY NOTES
Salisbury is the Wolverines most-played foe, as the two teams have met 17 times since Wesley joined NCAA Division III in 1986. The Wolverines hold a 10-7 advantage in the series, including wins in each of the last two years...Three current Wesley players rank among the top 10 on the school's all-time touchdown reception list. Senior Michael Clarke tied the school record against SUNY Brockport with his 25th touchdown catch. Junior Larry Beavers is sixth with 21 career touchdown catches and Jon Lanouette, a senior, is tied for eighth with 15...sophomore tailback Mike Pennewell has emerged as one of Division III's top backs. He has rushed for 1,106 yards on just 125 attempts in 2007, good for 7.5 yards per carry. He leads the ACFC in yards/game by over 51 yards per game (138.3) and rates eighth in Division III. More impressive, his yardage total on the ground is fifth in D3. When he topped 1,000 yards against SUNY Brockport, Pennewell turned in just the 12th 1,000-yard season in Wesley history. Pennewell also had rushed for at least 100 yards in six straight games...Wesley's kick and punt return units have been among the nation's best in 2007. Junior Larry Beavers has returned the second half's kickoff for a touchdown twice, setting the school record for TD returns in a season and tying the career mark. Beavers currently ranks 14th in Division III at 28.3 yards per kick return. As a team, the Wolverines rate 15th at 23.71 per return. The punt return unit ranks one spot lower, at 16th in the nation with an average of 14.16 per return. Blair Newman, however, rates seventh in all of Division III with his 16.5 average, and returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown at Apprentice...After rushing for just five touchdowns in the first five games, the Wolverines have exploded for 12 rushing TDs in the past three contests...Senior wide receiver Michael Clarke reached three milestones in Wesley's 45-21 win at SUNY Brockport. Clarke recorded his 100th career catch, topped the 2,000 yard mark and tied the Wesley school record with 25 career TD catches. While he is the fourth player to reach all three plateaus, he was the first to do it in the same game...Wesley's offensive line has been among the nation's best. The Wolverines rank 25th in the nation in rushing offense and more impressively, fifth in sacks allowed. The front five of Matt Ferguson, Evan Pritchett, Pat Bell, Pete Lorchak and Dave Erdman has allowed just six sacks on the year and none since the September 29th win over Huntingdon (Ala.). Ken McDonald and Chris Sfamurri have also played large roles on the o-line during this stretch.
SALISBURY NOTES
The Game: The Sea Gulls travel to Dover, Del., for the Route 13 rivalry game against Wesley. Salisbury and Wesley are both ranked in the top 15 in the American Football Coaches Association poll and rank in the top 10 in the D3football.com poll. Both teams are unbeaten in the Atlantic Central Football Conference as the Wolverines will win the conference for a third consecutive year with a win and SUwill be the front-runner to win its third conference crown in the past four years with a win.
Scoring Threat: The Sea Gulls rank fourth in the country in points per game with a 46.3 average. The maroon and gold have recorded 370 points on the year and are 45 points from tying the school record of 415 points in the regular season. The Sea Gulls are also 52 points from tying the school record of 422 points scored in a season. Both scoring records were set in 2005.
Sea Gulls Ranked No. 1 in Maryland: The Salisbury University football team is the only unbeaten team left in the state of Maryland. The Sea Gulls are a perfect 6-0, rank No. 8 in the AFCA Top 25 poll and are in first place in the Atlantic Central Football Conference. The maroon and gold have won 11 straight games dating back to last season and are off to the program's best start since 2004 when the Sea Gulls went 10-0 in the regular season.
The Series: Salisbury and Wesley have met 17 times prior to today's game with the Wolverine's holding a 10-7 series advantage. The first game between the two schools was in 1986 as the Sea Gulls rolled to a 63-13 win. The maroon and gold won the first three meetings in the series by a combined score of 201-20 as SUscored 60+ points in each of those contests.
The rivalry took a four-year hiatus from 1989 to 1992 before the two schools resumed play in 1993. Wesley won two consecutive games and Salisbury added its fourth win in the series in 1995 before the Wolverines won a series-high six games in a row from 1996 to 2001.
Salisbury snapped its skid against its neighbor to the north in 2002 as SU won the next three meetings. Wesley has won the past two games against Salisbury which includes SU's last trip to Dover in 2005.
What's Next?: After SU takes a week off on November 3, the Sea Gulls will close out the regular season with their annual showdown with Frostburg State University in the 9th Annual Regents Cup at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., on November 10 at 2 p.m.
All tickets to the Regents Cup are general admission and lower level tickets. Price of admission is $10 for adults (this includes staff, alumni, parents, senior citizens, etc.). Students with a valid ID from Salisbury or Frostburg can purchase tickets for $5. Children under the age of 5 are FREE. There will be no seating available in the upper deck or end zones. Tickets are currently available at the Guerrieri University Center on campus. For more information about the Regents Cup please log onto www.salisbury.edu/athletic/football/regentscup/index.asp.
FROSTBURG STATE (2-5) at WESTMINSTER (3-4)
1 pm, Harold Burry Stadium - New Wilmington, Pa.
Webcast: http://www.frostburgsports.com/
Frostburg State University (2-5) hits the road to face Westminster College (3-4) for their sixth road trip of the season ... FSU comes into the game after their best performance of the year in a 28-7 victory over Union (Ky.) ... Westminster comes in on a three game skid after a devastating 41-21 loss to Bethany (W.Va.) ... Westminster leads the all-time series 8-3-1, but Frostburg State leads the series 3-2 since 2002 ... FSU will look to exploit the Titans Presidents Athletic Conference worst turnover margin (-11), they also have a league high 16 turnovers (6 fumbles, 10 interceptions). Last week Westminster lost three fourth quarter turnovers in a loss at Bethany ...Senior wide receiver Fred Howze continues on his streak of consecutive games with a reception which currently stands at 28 ... Last week's win bring the Bobcats all-time record to 221-221-8 ... Head coach Rubin Stevenson has 30 wins during his career with the Bobcats and he needs just four more victories to become the schools' all-time winningest coach ... Every FSU game this season can be heard on http://www.frostburgsports.com/ through the stretch internet application on the football section of the website ... The games will also be broadcast locally on 91.9 WFWM ...
APPRENTICE SCHOOL (3-4) VS. SOUTHERN VIRGINIA (5-4)
1 pm, Amherst Co. HS, Amherst, Va.
The Apprentice School faces in-state rival Southern Virginia University in the fifth meeting between the United States Collegiate Athletic Association member schools. ... The Builders lead the series 4-0 after winning 32-0 in Newport News last season. In that game the Knights turned the ball over six times (4 fumbles, 2 interceptions) while Builders quarterback Kyle Franklin was 10-of-15 for 135 yards threw two touchdown passes to Travis Reid, who finished the game with six receptions for 127 yards.... SVU did win in the previous matchup in 2005, but later forfeited the win. Apprentice School comes in after defeating Maritime College, NY 60-0 in the Mariners Classic, while SVU defeated Faulkner 39-18. Builder senior WR Travis Reid broke the school, modern-era career yardage record with his eight catches for 160 yards and three touchdowns against Maritime. He raised his totals to 148 receptions, 2,559 yards and 27 touchdowns. ... Sophomore RB Sam Arnold ran for 202 yards against Maritime College to become the first Builder running back since 1985 to run for over 200 yards in a game. ... This is the last road game of the year for the Builders who return home to finish the season with SUNY Brockport and Chowan University in the Oyster Bowl. ... Apprentice School has been very stingy with the ball thus far having only turned the ball over twice (one interception and one fumble). ... The one interception thrown matches Dickinson College, Hobart University and ACFC rival Salisbury University for the lowest in Division III, while the one fumble matches St. Lawrence University for the lowest in Division III.
SUNY BROCKPORT (3-4) AT MORRISVILLE STATE (1-6)
1 pm, Drake Field - Morrisville, NY
Webcast: http://www.891thepoint.com/
N.Y. TV: Time Warner Sports Channel, Time Warner Cable, channel 26
SUNY Brockport will play its first televised game of the season when they travel to Morrisville State... The Golden Eagles are coming in after dropping a 45-21 decision to #10 nationally ranked Wesley College last Saturday dropping the Golden Eagles to 3-3 overall on the season, and 1-2 in the Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC)... In the loss, RB Matt McCormick was held to just 51 rushing yards on 20 carries, and teammate RB Garet Lynch even less with 27 rushing yards... Wesley compiled 508 total yards compared to 249 for Brockport... KR/DB Cevon Carver returned a kick-off 91 yards for a touchdown, the first since Brian Wise did it in 2003 with a 97-yard return... Brockport held the lead in the second quarter and only trailed 17-14 at halftime until a 21-point third quarter clinched the win for the Wolverines... Morrisville State is coming off a bye week and is 1-6 on the season... Two weeks ago, the Mustangs dropped a 56-20 decision to undefeated Salisbury... RB William Carter leads the team with 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Mustangs... Combined, the RB combo of Garet Lynch and Matt McCormick has 980 yards on the ground this season... This will be only the second all-time meeting between the two schools as Morrisville is making the jump to Division III status... The teams first played last season for the first time when Brockport beat the Mustangs 16-0 in Brockport on a muddy, cold day...In last seasons game, RB Garet Lynch ran for 110 yards and a touchdown and RB Matt McCormick finished with 78 rushing yards and a score to lead the Golden Eagles... On a sloppy field, the two teams combined for only 451 yards (Brockport - 298, Morrisville - 153)... Brockport leads the all-time series 1-0 and the only game was played in Brockport and was played in the head coach Rocco Salomone era... The Golden Eagles are in their 4th and final season in the ACFC before making the move to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) in 2008... RB Garet Lynch moved into 7th in Brockport school history in rushing yards last week with 1,371 career yards ... RB Matt McCormick needs 109 receiving yards to 1,000 career yards and 107 rushing yards for 1,000 career rushing yards which would mark the first Brockport player to ever reach both milestones in a career... McCormick also needs just 12 receptions to move into 10th in career catches in Brockport school history and with 14 points, would move into 10th in school history in career points scored... The Golden Eagles are currently leading the ACFC with the fewest penalties this season... Brockport has committed 39 penalties for 278 yards... The Golden Eagles have outscored their opponents 84-78 in the first half this season, but have been outscored 127-59 in the second half including 70-13 in the third quarter... Brockport is 16-12 in October games since 2000, but are currently 4-11 in those games since the 2003 season... In four loses this year, the Golden Eagles have lost the turnover battle 10-2 and Brockport is currently last in the ACFC with a -8 turnover margin... In the red zone this season, Brockport is only 60% (12-20, with 11 TD's and 1 FG)... The Golden Eagles are the only team in the ACFC who has not missed a PAT this season (18-18)
ACFC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Week 8 - Oct. 20, 2007
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kyle Franklin, Sr., QB, Apprentice School
The senior from Hampton, Va. was 13-of-16 with no interceptions for 225 yards and three touchdowns in Apprentice School's 60-0 Mariners Classic victory over SUNY Maritime. He also had a 10-yard rushing touchdown in the game. For the year he has thrown 147 passes without an interception.
CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Michael Clarke, Sr., WR, Wesley
The senior from Landover Hills, Md. caught four passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in Wesley's 45-21 victory at SUNY Brockport. In that game he caught his 100th career pass, went over the 2,000 career yards mark and tied the school career record with his 25th touchdown reception.
HONOR ROLL: Ronnie Shockley, Salisbury; Andre Dixon, Frostburg State
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jim Robertson, Sr., LB, Frostburg State
The senior from Sussex, NJ had 12 tackles (3 solo, 9 assisted) and two tackles for a los of five yards in Frostburg State's 28-7 victory over NAIA Division I Union College (KY).
HONOR ROLL: Justin Acker, Salisbury; Sean Matthews, Wesley; Josh Day, SUNY Brockport; Jeremy Smith, Apprentice
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brendan Kincaid, Sr., K, Salisbury
The senior from Cambridge, Md. set a pair of ACFC records and broke school records in Salisbury's 79-20 victory over Becker College. His 11-for-11 PAT performance broke school and conference marks set two years ago. He also averaged almost 60 yards per kickoff in 12 attempts.
HONOR ROLL: Cevon Carver, SUNY Brockport; Collin Blugis, Wesley; Thad Lloyd, Apprentice
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
DaMario Sampson, Fr., DE, Apprentice School
The freshman from Wagener, SC had eight tackles (4 solo, 4 assisted), one sack for three yards and a tackle for loss in Apprentice School's 60-0 victory over SUNY Maritime. He helped spearhead a defense that held the 19th-ranked rushing team in NCAA Division III to 62 yards, 190 yards under their average coming into the game.
HONOR ROLL: Ricky Rogers, Wesley
NCAA Statistics
Team (Top 50 ranking listed)
T1. Passes Had Intercepted: Salisbury (1)
2. Rushing Offense: Salisbury (356.8)
4. Scoring Offense: Salisbury (46.3)
5. Tackles For Loss: Salisbury (10.4)
5. Punt Return Defense: Salisbury (1.88)
5. Pass Sacks Allowed: Wesley (0.75)
8. Passing Efficiency: Salisbury (167.32)
9. Total Defense: Wesley (231.1)
11. Total Offense: Wesley (466.9)
14. Pass Sacks Allowed: Frostburg State (1.0)
14. Rushing Defense: Salisbury (71.9)
15. Punt Returns: Salisbury (14.23)
15. Kickoff Returns: Wesley (23.71)
16. Punt Returns: Wesley (14.16)
17. Pass Sacks: Salisbury (3.63)
18. Tackles For Loss: Wesley (9.5)
20. Rushing Defense: Wesley (79.5)
20. Pass Efficiency Defense: Wesley (92.7)
21. Total Offense: Salisbury (450.5)
24. Pass Sacks Allowed: SUNY Brockport (1.14)
30. Scoring Offense: Wesley (35.4)
34. Scoring Defense: Wesley (15.5)
34. Scoring Defense: Salisbury (15.5)
34. Kickoff Returns: Salisbury (21.6)
35. Kickoff Return Defense: Salisbury (16.16)
37. Passes Intercepted: Salisbury (12)
40. Net Punting: Wesley (33.66)
42. Punt Return Defense: Wesley (5.36)
45. Total Defense: Salisbury (280.5)
45. Pass Sacks: Wesley (2.88)
46. Passing Efficiency: Wesley (138.93)
Individual (Top 50 Rankings)
5. Rushing Yards: Mike Pennewell, Wesley (1106)
7. Punt Returns: Blair Newman, Wesley (16.5)
7. Tackles For Loss: Bryan Robinson, Wesley (2.4)
8. Kickoff Returns: Cevon Carter, SUNY Brockport (32.0)
8. Rushing Yds Per Game: Mike Pennewell, Wesley (138.3)
14. Kickoff Returns: Larry Beavers, Wesley (28.2)
14. Pass Sacks: Bryan Robinson, Wesley (1.1)
15. Punting: Nicholas Payne, Frostburg State (40.9)
17. Tackles For Loss: Jarrell Chandler, Salisbury (2.0)
23. Passes Defended: Reggie Gooch, Salisbury (1.7)
28. Passing Yards: Jason Schatz, Wesley (1723)
31. Punt Returns: Garrett Burgess, Salisbury (12.8)
32. Forced Fumbles: C Ako-Agugua, Frostburg State (0.33)
33. Passes Defended: Derek Saunders, Frostburg State (1.6)
35. Kickoff Returns: Valdase Morris, Salisbury (25.1)
39. Pass Sacks: Jarrell Chandler, Salisbury (0.9)
43. Passing Efficiency: Jason Schatz, Wesley (140.1)
47. All-Purpose: Mike Pennewell, Wesley (138.9)
Game Highs
1. Points Scored: 79 by Salisbury vs. Becker, 10/20/07
2. Rushing Yds: 596 by Salisbury vs. Becker, 10/20/07
11. Total Offense: 671 by Salisbury vs. Becker, 10/20/07
D3football.com
The Salisbury offensive line was honored for the second time this year after they helped the Sea Gulls set conference and school records for points scored (79), rushing yards (596) and school record in total offense (676) in its 79-20 win over Becker.
