The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
A guide to this weekend’s state college football games
FRANKLIN PIERCE at SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT
When: Saturday, noon
Where: Jess Dow Field, New Haven
Records: Franklin Pierce, 13; SCSU, 04
On air: NE10 Now
Last week: Franklin Pierce, 536 loss to Assumption; Southern Connecticut, 1913 loss to AIC
History: First meeting
Notable: Freshman Jackson Ostrowsky threw for 282 yards and two touchdowns in his SCSU debut, with 12 of his passes going to Julian Chung. The Owls had another strong defensive effort in holding AIC to 260 yards of total offense. AIC only needed to drive 15, 55 and 54 yards to score its three touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets twice scored after a turnover by SCSU . ... For the second time this season, the Owls had the ball inside the 10 on the final drive with a chance to either tie or win the game.
USF at UCONN
When: Saturday, noon
Where: Rentschler Field, East Hartford
Records: USF 13; UConn, 13
On air: Live on CBSSPORTS.com; tape delay on CBS Sports Network (7 p.m.)
Radio: 97.9 ESPN, WINE940, WAVZ1300; WATR1320, WGCH1490, WILI1400 (simulcast on 95.3 FM).
Last week: UConn, 5621 loss to UCF; USF, 4821 loss to SMU
History: USF, 115 Last meeting: USF, 3830 on Oct. 20, 2018
Notable: A meeting of two teams desperately in need of a victory. UConn is coming off a resounding loss at UCF and has dropped 12 of its past 13 games. USF was thumped by SMU, its ninth loss in 10 games. … UConn will go back to its first starting quarterback, as graduate transfer Mike Beaudry gets the start after freshman Jack Zergiotis started the past three games. Steven Krajewski replaced Zergiotis against UCF and earned the starting job, but he had surgery to repair a fractured clavicle and will miss sixtoeight weeks. … UConn trailed UCF 420 at halftime before getting three touchdowns in the second half on receptions by Matt Drayton, Cam Ross and Ardell Brown. It was the first touchdown pass reception for each. … UConn has lost 12 consecutive games to American Athletic Conference opponents and is 1138 in the AAC since the conference was formed. … The Huskies are 214 since October 2017 and 014 vs. FBS opponents. … South Florida was 102 in 2017, Charlie Strong’s first season as coach. The Bulls won their first seven in 2018 — the seventh, a victory over UConn in Tampa. They lost their final six of last season and their first two this season. … USF has won six in a row vs. UConn.
FORDHAM at YALE
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Yale Bowl, New Haven
Records: Fordham, 23; Yale, 20
On air: NESN, ESPN+ Radio: WELI960
Last week: Fordham, 2316 win over Richmond; Yale, 2716 win over Cornell
History: Yale, 63 Last meeting: Yale, 4110 on Sept. 30, 2017
Notable: It’s been an impressive defensive start for Yale, as the Bulldogs are 10th among FCS teams in total defense with 288 yards allowed in the first two games. The number is all the more impressive considering that injuries have been forcing some changes to the lineup . ... Executing better on shortyardage plays certainly would be high up on the todo list for the Yale offense. Alan Lamar tried to convince the Yale medical staff to let him play last week and if he can go, that will give the Bulldogs’ running game a boost . ... Fordham has allowed 166 rushing yards in the two wins and 258 yards in the three losses . ... There are plenty of homecoming stories for visiting Fordham. Defensive coordinator Paul Rice is a former Yale captain, head coach Joe Conlin the offensive coordinator from 201217, leading rusher Zach Davis hails from Wallingford, linebacker Glenn Cunningham and defensive lineman Jeremy Imperati played at Xavier and North Haven respectively.
WESLEYAN at BOWDOIN
When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
Where: Whittier Field, Brunswick, Maine
Records: Wesleyan, 30; Bowdoin, 03
On air: nsnsports.net
Last week: Wesleyan, 4812 win over Bates; Bowdoin, 4110 loss to Williams
History: Wesleyan, 60292
Last meeting: Wesleyan, 240 in Oct. 27, 2018
Notable: Nick Livingstone has at least one quarterback sack in each of the first three games for the Cardinals . ... Ball security has been a key for the Cardinals in a 30 start as Wesleyan is third among Division III teams in turnover margin aided by nine interceptions in three games . ... Six different Cardinals have an offensive play of at least 30 yards this season . ... Bowdoin’s struggling rushing game showed signs of life with a season high 131 yards against Williams last week. Speaking of the running game, the Polar Bears have allowed 7.4 yards per rushing attempt and only nine Division III teams give up more yards on the ground per game than the 275 surrendered by Bowdoin and they narrowly avoided giving up at least 400 rushing yards for the third time in program history in last week’s loss at Williams . ... Junior tight end Bo Millet has been a bright spot on offense for Bowdoin with 219 yards on 14 receptions while Joe Gowetski has 18 solo tackles.
CATHOLIC at COAST GUARD
When: Saturday, 1:30 p.m.
Where: Cadet Memorial Field
Records: Catholic, 04; Coast Guard, 31
Last week: Catholic, lost 3213 to MIT; Coast Guard, 177 win over Curry
History: 33
Last meeting: Coast Guard, 209 on Sept.
29, 2018
Notable: Coast Guard’s R.J. Robiskie had three sacks and forced a fumble in the win over Curry. … Catholic has scored 14.5 points per game, last in the NEWMAC.
CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE at SACRED HEART
When: Saturday, 2 p.m.
Where: Campus Field, Fairfield
Records: CCSU, 31; Sacred Heart, 31
On air: ESPN3
Last week: CCSU, bye; Sacred Heart, bye
History: CCSU, 129
Last meeting: Sacred Heart, 2825 Oct. 20, 2018
About CCSU: The Blue Devils were on the verge of their first victory over an FBS opponent, leading Eastern Michigan by a point on the road, when Mathew Sexton returned a blocked punt 30 yards for a touchdown with 10 seconds remaining. The dramatic play resulted in a 3429 loss, the only blemish in an otherwise strong start under interim coach Ryan McCarthy. Their first opportunity to rebound comes Saturday in their Northeast Conference opener. Georgia State transfer Aaron Winchester has stepped up at quarterback and is surrounded by playmakers, including running back Keonte Lewis, an East Hartford native. Lewis has helped steer the nation’s 16thranked rushing attack (239.8 yards per game).
About Sacred Heart: The Pioneers have been overpowering since a seasonopening loss to thenNo. 7 Maine, stringing together three straight doubledigit victories. They’re averaging 33.5 points per game, second in the NEC behind CCSU. Former St. Paul (Bristol) star and East Tennessee State transfer Logan Marchi has been a lightning rod at quarterback, along with his favorite target, wide receiver Tyrese Chambers. They’ve already connected 21 times for 371 yards and five touchdowns. The Pioneers opened conference play with a 3410 win over Long Island University on Sept. 21.
Did you know?: CCSU has had four kicks blocked this season, tied for secondmost in the country behind only Idaho and Prairie View (five).