By Tiffany Williams –
Long Island University vs. Eastern Michigan
Redshirt juniors Luca Stanzani and Ethan Greenwood carried Long Island University to a historic 28-23 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday at Rynearson Stadium, giving the Sharks their first-ever win over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent. The contest was also a homecoming of sorts for LIU head coach Ron Cooper, who began his head coaching career at Eastern Michigan in the early 1990s.
LIU set the tone early, never trailing in the game. Greenwood opened the scoring with a 65-yard touchdown run on the team’s first possession, finishing with a game-high 91 rushing yards. He also completed 3-of-5 passes for 105 yards, including a 74-yard connection to Stanzani that electrified the Sharks’ offense. Greenwood later added a second rushing touchdown, extending LIU’s lead to 14-3.
Quarterback Stanzani was a dual-threat dynamo, completing 12-of-18 passes for 143 yards while adding 67 rushing yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns that sealed the victory. LIU’s offense amassed 479 total yards, demonstrating a balanced attack that combined explosive big plays with methodical drives.
Defensively, LIU’s linebacker Rafael Fasolino and defensive back Trey Watkins each recorded eight tackles to anchor the effort, with Chase Davis adding six and Elijah Casey contributing five, including two tackles for loss. Senior punter Will Lynch continued his strong season, averaging 40.5 yards per punt, with a long of 55 and two punts placed inside the 20-yard line.
The win was a milestone moment for LIU, proving they can compete with FBS programs and setting a confident tone for the rest of the season. The Sharks return home next Saturday for their home opener and annual homecoming against Sacred Heart, with kickoff scheduled for 12 p.m.
University of Maine vs. William & Mary
The University of Maine football team came agonizingly close to a CAA-opening victory, falling 28-27 at William & Mary on Saturday night. The Black Bears started strong, taking advantage of a botched William & Mary field goal attempt on the first possession when Jamaree Gibson tackled the kick holder on fourth down.
Maine struck first on the scoreboard as Sincere Baines hauled in a 1-yard touchdown pass from Carter Peevy on fourth down to make it 7-0. Peevy, showcasing his dual-threat ability, added a 45-yard touchdown run on another fourth-and-one play in the second quarter, pushing the lead to 14-0. William & Mary responded late in the quarter with a 23-yard touchdown reception, but Maine added a 27-yard field goal from Samuel Tremblay to carry a 17-7 lead into halftime. Peevy finished the half with 42 passing yards, 75 rushing yards, and a pair of touchdowns.
The Tribe stormed back in the third quarter, scoring twice to take their first lead of the game. Maine answered with Scott Woods’ 2-yard touchdown reception from Peevy, giving the Black Bears a 27-21 edge heading into the fourth. Tremblay’s 22-yard field goal extended the lead to 27-21, but William & Mary scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown with just over three minutes left to reclaim the lead. A late interception sealed the narrow win for the Tribe.
Christian Thomas led Maine defensively with eight tackles, including 1.5 tackles-for-loss, while Vincent Nwachi added three tackles and a pass breakup. Elias Sherman recorded the team’s first sack of the season in the fourth quarter, forcing a key punt. Maine out-rushed William & Mary 226-124, highlighting the strength of their ground game despite the tight loss.
The Black Bears will return home to Orono next Saturday to face Stonehill College at 6 p.m., looking to bounce back after the one-point heartbreak.
University of New Hampshire vs. Holy Cross
The University of New Hampshire football team survived a dramatic finish to beat College of the Holy Cross 19-16 on Saturday night at Wildcat Stadium, thanks to sophomore kicker Nick Reed’s 40-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. Reed had earlier tied the game at 16-16 with a 50-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, capping a Wildcats’ drive after a crucial Holy Cross missed 34-yard field goal with 1:40 left.
The game featured multiple twists and a trick play in the opening minutes. Holy Cross struck first when Eli Thompson intercepted the ball and ran it back for a touchdown, but UNH responded immediately with a 53-yard touchdown pass from senior wide receiver Caleb Burke to Josh Fillion to take a 7-6 lead. The first half remained tight, with Reed adding a 33-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter to put UNH ahead 10-9 at halftime.
The Wildcats’ defense was critical throughout the contest, forcing two third-quarter punts and limiting Holy Cross to just 16 points until the final drive. Senior captain Duncan Moreland and redshirt freshman linebacker Trevor Barry led the defensive effort with eight and nine tackles, respectively, while Tim Bonagura contributed two tackles for loss and a sack.
In the fourth quarter, Holy Cross briefly reclaimed the lead at 16-13, but Reed’s 50-yard field goal tied the game. With just three seconds remaining, Reed sealed the dramatic victory with his 40-yard kick, marking his career-best four field goals and 13 points in a single game.
UNH’s offense was balanced but methodical. Senior running back Myles Thomason carried 19 times for 46 yards and added key runs to set up Reed’s game-winner. Quarterback Vezza contributed 46 rushing yards and 129 passing yards, while Burke caught three passes for 55 yards in addition to his touchdown pass. Defensively, the Wildcats recorded eight tackles for loss, including five sacks, highlighting their ability to disrupt Holy Cross’ drives at critical moments.
The victory improves UNH’s record to 2-0, giving the Wildcats a confidence boost as they prepare for their next matchup. Reed’s clutch kicking, Burke’s trick-play touchdown, and a timely defensive stand underlined UNH’s resilience in a hard-fought, back-and-forth battle.
Assumption University vs. Kutztown University
Assumption’s season opener turned into a long, stormy night that ended with a lopsided loss. The Greyhounds hung around early but couldn’t keep pace with No. 7 Kutztown, falling 51-14 Thursday at Andre Reed Stadium in a game that stretched nearly six hours thanks to multiple lightning delays.
Kutztown (1-0) came out sharp, punching in a pair of long scoring drives to grab a 14-0 first-quarter lead. Assumption (0-1) finally struck back behind quarterback Jay Kastantin, who kept a drive alive with a 46-yard run before hitting Keith Mancini on a 24-yard touchdown strike to open the second quarter. That momentum didn’t last. The Golden Bears stacked two rushing scores and a safety before halftime to go up 30-7. Kastantin and Mancini hooked up again for a two-yard score late in the half, but Kutztown never looked back.
The second half was more about thunder than touchdowns. After a 90-plus minute weather stoppage, Kutztown broke the game open on a backbreaking 39-yard run by Jaedyn Stewart on 3rd and 35. Another extended delay followed, and when play resumed, the Golden Bears buried Assumption with 14 more points in the fourth.
Kastantin did what he could, throwing for 136 yards and two touchdowns while leading the Greyhounds on the ground with 80 rushing yards. Mancini caught both TD passes, while Connor Smith led the team with 47 receiving yards. Defensively, Owen Fitzgerald had 1.5 sacks, and he and Nick Smith shared the team lead with 11 tackles.
Kutztown outgained Assumption 482-284 and evened the all-time series at 5-5. For the Greyhounds, it was a night of bright flashes — both in the sky and on the field — that ultimately fizzled against one of the country’s top Division II programs.
Next up, Assumption heads to Springfield for its NE10 opener against American International on Sept. 13, while Kutztown visits Edinboro the same day.
American International College (AIC) vs. Central Connecticut State University
For a quarter and a half, American International looked like it might make things interesting against a Division I opponent. But the Yellow Jackets’ early spark fizzled, and Central Connecticut State rolled to a 34-7 win in Saturday’s season opener.
AIC (0-1) actually drew first blood — and in bizarre fashion. With five minutes left in the first half, Matthew Slojkowski’s punt skipped over the CCSU return man, ricocheted off his fingertips, and tumbled toward the end zone, where Tra’Vion Singleton pounced on it for a touchdown. Suddenly, the Yellow Jackets had a 7-3 lead and a reason to believe.
The Blue Devils (1-0) didn’t panic. They answered with a short rushing score after a 47-yard bomb set them up inside the five, then burned AIC again with a 54-yard strike on their very next possession. Just like that, a four-point deficit had turned into a 17-7 halftime cushion.
AIC showed flashes of fight — highlighted by long grabs from Fatir Bell and Brian LaFrance, plus a gutsy 19-yard fourth-down run by Connor Dietz. But stalled drives and missed opportunities doomed the Yellow Jackets, and they never sniffed the end zone again.
CCSU pulled away in the second half, cashing in on an AIC fumble deep in its own end and tacking on two more scores to seal the rout.
Defensively, Mikai Gamble and Jakkai Stith kept AIC afloat, each racking up nine tackles, with Stith adding three stops for loss and a sack. Derik Lopez notched his first career sack as well. But without offensive firepower, the Yellow Jackets couldn’t keep pace.
Next week offers a measuring stick closer to home: AIC opens Ronald J. Abdow Field against Assumption in a nonconference clash on Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.
Worcester State University vs. WPI
The annual crosstown showdown under the lights at Coughlin Field once again delivered a defensive slugfest, but it was WPI who came away with the bragging rights Friday night, edging Worcester State, 14-9, in the 2024 season opener.
The Lancers (0-1) struck first late in the second quarter when junior quarterback Cam Ayotte (Millbury, MA) found senior wideout Deon Osei-Sarpong (Holden, MA) for a red-zone touchdown. First-year kicker Manuel Frietas (Dartmouth, MA) added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with just 51 seconds before halftime.
But the Engineers (1-0) wasted no time responding. After a long kickoff return by Ryan Hannigan set them up near midfield, quarterback Mike Ingraffia marched WPI 46 yards in six plays, capping the drive with a scoring strike to Jay Mezzo to knot the game at 7-7 heading into the break.
WPI seized control in the third quarter behind a heavy dose of Tom McGraw in the run game and tight end Douglas Cain in the passing attack. Mezzo hauled in his second touchdown on a fade route to the right corner, and the extra point made it 14-7.
Worcester State clawed back early in the fourth when a botched WPI punt snap rolled into the end zone for a safety, trimming the deficit to 14-9. But despite several chances in the final frame, the Lancers couldn’t break through against the Engineers’ defense.
Ayotte finished 18-for-29 for 151 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Running back Nico Holmes (Mansfield, MA) paced the ground game with 76 yards on 22 carries, while Osei-Sarpong led the receivers with 39 yards and the lone score. Defensively, John McMasters III had nine tackles, while senior Damien Mitchell (Lancaster, PA) added an interception.
For WPI, Mezzo’s two touchdowns made the difference, while Cain and McGraw provided steady offensive balance.
Both teams showcased strong special teams — Worcester State scoring on a safety, and WPI flipping momentum with the big return before halftime — in what has become a hard-nosed rivalry matchup year after year.
Up Next: Worcester State opens MASCAC play at home next Saturday at noon against Plymouth State. WPI will continue nonconference play next weekend.
Endicott vs. Misericordia
Endicott stormed out fast, bent late, but never broke. The Gulls opened their 2025 season Saturday at Hempstead Stadium with a 31-21 win over Misericordia, a game that looked like a blowout early but turned into a test of composure down the stretch.
The formula was simple: hammer on the ground, protect through the air, and let the defense and special teams clean up the rest. Endicott built a 17-0 halftime lead behind short touchdown runs from Markys Bridgewater and quarterback Michael Lynch, plus a 39-yard field goal by freshman kicker Garoid Stones. It was workmanlike football, but the tone was clear — this was Endicott’s game to control.
That control nearly slipped away in the second half. The third quarter began with a jolt — Lynch uncorked a perfect deep ball to Adam Goodfellow, who turned a routine go-route into a 69-yard highlight. One juke, one block, one sprint to the house, and Endicott was up 24-0. The play felt like a knockout punch. Instead, it woke up Misericordia.
The Cougars rattled off two touchdowns and a two-point conversion, slicing the lead to 24-14 with just under seven minutes left. Suddenly, the energy flipped. The Gulls had gone from cruising to clutch. Then came the play that steadied the ship: Stan Pierre pounced on an onside kick, and Endicott could breathe again.
Bryan Metayer’s 3-yard plunge with 2:44 left all but iced it, though Misericordia added a late 73-yard score to pad the final margin.
Endicott’s defense carried plenty of weight. Danny Fleming racked up a career-high 10 tackles, while Alfino Davis nearly turned the game into a runaway in the second quarter with a 50-yard interception return that fell just short of six points. The Gulls tallied four sacks, with Brian Daly and Jake McKerley each breaking through for drive-killers.
The win wasn’t perfect, but it was telling. Endicott showed both its firepower — 394 total yards, a quarterback completing over 70 percent of his passes, Goodfellow snagging his 15th career touchdown — and its resilience when things got shaky.
Next week brings the real measuring stick. Muhlenberg, a perennial power, comes to Beverly. A sixth straight season-opening win is nice. Backing it up against a national contender would say even more.