WPI AT COAST GUARD FOOTBALL PREVIEW CAPSULE
When: Saturday, noon. Where: Cadet Memorial Field, New London. Records: WPI 5-3 overall, 3-2 New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference; Coast Guard Academy 5-3, 3-2.
Players to watch: WPI, QB Julian Nyland (127-for-240, 1,683 yards, 13 TDs, 10 INTs; 57 carries, 250 yards), RB Sean McAllen (113 carries, 499 yards, 9 TDs; 16 catches, 223 yards, 2 TDs), WR Nic Rossi (35 catches, 479 yards, 7 TDs), WR Erik Fyrer (33 catches, 500 yards), DE Mike McGoff (25 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks), LB Nick Ostrowski (63 tackles, 3 tackles, 1 sack), LB Blayne Merchant (58 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 sack), K/P Spencer Herrington (27-for-27 PATs, 9-for-11 FGs, 34.4 yards per punt). Coast Guard, QB Ryan Jones (112-for-207, 1,279 yards, 4 TDs, 10 INT; 93 carries, 407 yards, 4 TDs), RB Chris Gardner (113 carries, 512 yards, 5 TDs), WR Justin Moffatt (53 catches, 669 yards, 1 TD), LB Jake Behne (73 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss), LB R.J. Robiskie (34 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks), DB Patrick Crowley (46 tackles, 2 INTs), DB Mark Wicke (59 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss), DB Mike Goldsworthy (40 tackles, 3 INTs), P Chip Crowley (40.8 yards per kick), K Cole Austin (14-for-15 PATs, 11-for-15 FGs).
Analysis: Coast Guard is coming off its bye week, which coach Bill George said led to "a lot of self-evaluation." "We went through all our big drives of the season (on film)," George said this week. "We evaluated where our good throws are, where our bad throws are. I think we're in good shape to move forward." George said the work the team put into the bye week became apparent at practice this past Monday, leading into this week's game against WPI. "If you asked me last week, 'How was the bye week?' 'Eh, whatever.' All the things we did came through with the Monday practice. Now I'd say, 'Yes, it was a tremendous bye week.' I'm 100 percent convinced we're where we want to go. I want guys playing up to their potential. That's what they're doing right now." ... Coast Guard is coming off a 13-0 loss at MIT on Oct. 20, while WPI beat MIT last week 13-6 behind Herrington's two fourth-quarter field goals (one from 41 yards and one from 31). WPI has the top defense in the NEWMAC, allowing just 10 points per game. The Engineers are allowing 223 yards per game, 127.4 rushing and a NEWMAC-low 95.8 passing yards per game. "They're huge. They have a massively thick, solid defense," George said. WPI also has the top passing offense in the league with 216.8 yards per game . ... WPI's win over MIT created a three-way tie for first place in the NEWMAC, with MIT, Merchant Marine and Springfield all 4-1 . ... This is Coast Guard's final home game before finishing the season next week in the Secretaries' Cup game at Merchant Marine (ESPN3). That makes this the seniors' final game playing at Cadet Memorial Field, including captains Jack Brandt and Chip Crowley. Said George: "We have had tremendous senior leadership this year. That I'll miss. They've done a lot of things. They've taken care of a lot of things in a really positive way." ... Freshman Damaso Jaime will make his first career start at wide receiver for Coast Guard.