Tag Archives: Tom Kelley

Nov 15 2012

Mass. College Football: Framingham State Prepares For SUNY Cortland

The Rams will look to earn their 11th straight win on Saturday when they travel to Cortland, New York to face SUNY Cortland! (Photo Credit: Matt Noonan for NoontimeSports.com)

By Matt Noonan 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – It took 40 years, but Framingham State’s football team finally accomplished their ultimate goal of winning a New England Football Conference Championship.

“It was tremendous,” exclaimed head coach Tom Kelley, who was a four-year defensive starter for the Rams during the 1970’s. “It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I keep telling people it will.”

The Rams overcame a week one defeat to the Endicott College Gulls by rattling off 10 consecutive wins, which included last weekend’s championship victory against Salve Regina.

“We knew we had the talent, and we knew we had the players, and sometimes chemistry is a big part of that and we knew that and the coaches jumped in and picked everything up by the bootstraps,” Kelley said. “We challenged [our players] every week and they met the challenge.”

Framingham State will be faced with an enormous challenge this weekend when they venture into the NCAA Div. III Football tournament for the first time in school history and travel to Cortland, New York to face SUNY Cortland.

The Red Dragons, unlike the Rams, have been to the tournament eight times. Saturday’s tilt marks their third appearance in five seasons.

“They’ve been there, they’re the big dog and they certainly are the big dog and they’ve got the experience, they’ve got the players and I think they don’t respect us a whole lot and that’s OK,” stated Kelley.

“We’re a small state school [heading into the tournament] for the first time, and if I was probably sitting in their seat I’d feel the same way.”

Kelley knows that in order for his team to be successful, especially against a Red Dragons offense that averaged 37.4 points per game, they’re going to have to rely on their defense.

“Our defense has just been outstanding. I just love our defense and we’re going to go as far as our defense takes us at this point,” stated the head coach.

SUNY Cortland senior quarterback Chris Rose finished his team’s nine-game slate with 19 touchdowns, while the halfbacks combined for 1,753 net yards and 18 touchdowns. The Red Dragons offense ranked number one in the conference in scoring offense, too.

Framingham State junior defensive end Alex Torti, who was this week’s Div. II/III Golden Helmet Award recipient, believes the Rams defense can stop this offensive juggernaut if they play flawless football.

“They’ve got a fantastic offense. Their offensive line is big, strong, fast. Their running back [Dorian Myles] is fantastic, the quarterback is great and all around they’re a very solid team, they’re good at whatever they want to do,” explained Torti, who finished the NEFC championship game with two fumble recoveries and a touchdown.

“We’re going to have to be really on our game and have everything straight, and eliminate mistakes. I’m hoping that we can pullout another ‘W’ this week and keep it going.”

NEFC teams haven’t enjoyed a great deal of success in the postseason and have bowed out in the first round the last four years. Curry College advanced to the second round in 2007, but saw their season conclude with a 38-7 loss to St. John Fisher College.

No matter the outcome of Saturday’s game, Kelley is just thankful for the support he received over the past few months from former coaches and players that have returned to the Framingham campus to assist the squad in their quest for NCAA glory.

“Probably the best thing about this whole ride is the amount of former coaches [and players] that have embraced the program again and have come back and really supported us along the way, and that’s been probably the most emotional [aspect],” explained Kelley.

“Once things settle down, I will really enjoy what happened this past year.”

For more information on this clash, check out the SUNY Cortland pregame notes, which were provided the Red Dragons athletic department by CLICKING HERE.

Nov 10 2012

NEFC Championship: Framingham State 28, Salve Regina 16 (VIDEO)

By Matt Noonan 

On Saturday, Framingham State claimed their first New England Football Conference Championship by defeating Salve Regina, 28-16.

Below, we’ve provided video highlights and post game interviews.

The Rams celebrate their victory by hoisting the trophy: 

Rams linebacker James Muirhead hoists his MVP trophy: 

Rams head coach Tom Kelley talks about his team’s win: 

Rams linebacker James Muirhead talks about the win, as well as his defensive performance: 

Rams running back Melikke Van Alstyne talks about the win and his offensive performance: 

Nov 9 2012

Mass. College Football: Championship Saturday Predictions

By NoontimeSports.com 

Saturday will be a special day for some local Massachusetts college football teams, as some units will be competing for their conference championships, while others will attempt to earn one more victory for their seniors.

Below, we’ve provided overviews and predictions on three marquee matchups.

American International at New Haven (NE-10 Championship): You couldn’t have picked a better matchup for the inaugural Northeast-10 Conference championship game. It’s No. 1 vs. No. 2. It’s David vs. Goliath. It’s the “Greatest Show on Turf” vs. “Tom Brady’s 2001 New England Patriots.” And finally, it’s a chance for AIC to redeem themselves following last week’s 37-6 thrashing.

The Yellow Jackets won seven of their eight conference tilts this season, while the Chargers extended its streak from last year to 16-0.

AIC is 2-0 in championship games, according to the NE-10 Football Report (1999 and 2000 Eastern Football Conference Champions).

New Haven’s perfect record marks their fifth undefeated season in program history. The last time the Chargers concluded a season with no losses was in 1995.

Prediction: New Haven 33, AIC 21

Salve Regina at Framingham State (NEFC Championship): Both squads finished the regular season with nine wins. Their defenses were fantastic. However, one thing that separates the two squads is the running game.

Framingham State’s Melikke Van Alstyne led all rushers in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) in yards (1,467 yards) and touchdowns (14). Also, he eclipsed the 4,000 rushing yard mark for his career in a game against Coast Guard three weeks ago.

Expect FSU head coach Tom Kelley to utilize the running game against a defense that’s surrendered 1,828 yards and 17 touchdowns this season.

Prediction: Framingham State 20, Salve Regina 14

Williams College at Amherst College: This is not a championship game, but instead the 127th meeting between these two prestigious institutions.

Trinity College will most likely wrap up the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) on Saturday; so don’t expect either squad to be doing some scoreboard watching. Although, you can expect Amherst senior quarterback Max Lippe to throw the ball a lot against a defensive unit that’s allowed 1,637 yards through the air.

The Lord Jeffs rank second in scoring and total defense, so it’ll be interesting to see how the Ephs offense will fare.

Williams head coach Aaron Kelton, who is in his third season, is 1-1 against Amherst.

The Lord Jeffs beat the Ephs last year and will attempt to win back-to-back games for the first time since 1985 and 1986.

Prediction: Amherst 31, Williams 17 

Nov 8 2012

NEFC Championship: Getting To Know Framingham State

The Rams will host Salve Regina on Saturday to determine the winner of the New England Football Conference! (Photo Credit: Matt Noonan for NoontimeSports.com)

By NoontimeSports.com 

The New England Football Conference championship is two days away, and while we continue to count down the hours, minutes and seconds until kickoff, here are a few tidbits and notes about the Framingham State Rams.

Want to know about their opponent Salve Regina? If so, HOP HERE!

* Similar to Salve Regina, Framingham State is 9-1 overall. The Rams haven’t lost a game since losing to Endicott College on Labor Day Weekend.

* In their division (Bogan) they posted a perfect 7-0 record.

* Framingham State’s biggest win this season came against Maine Maritime, as the Rams defeated the Mariners, 56-0.

* The Rams blanked Bridgewater State, Maine Maritime and UMass Dartmouth, while Salve Regina held two of their opponents off the scoreboard (Plymouth State and Western New England College).

* Framingham State is ranked second in scoring offense (351 points), first in scoring defense (117 points allowed), second in rushing offense (2,391 yards and 26 touchdowns), first in rushing defense (three touchdowns allowed), third in total offense (4,283 yards) and first in total defense (2,027 yards allowed and 11 touchdowns).

* Junior running back Melikke Van Alstyne has been a focal point of head coach Tom Kelley’s offense. The Salem native has tallied 1,467 yards on 259 carries and 14 touchdowns in 10 games.

* Freshman quarterback Matthew Silva has completed 121-of-191 passes for 1,569 yards and 18 touchdowns.

* Senior Alex Avery is the team’s leading receiver with 38 receptions for 431 yards and six touchdowns.

* Senior Tyrone Figueroa is the second leading receiver with 22 catches for 339 yards and three touchdowns.

* Junior Brian Castellanos leads the team with six interceptions, while senior Tyrone Notice finished the regular season with five.

* Senior James Muirhead leads the defense with 69 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, two pass breakups, and four forced fumbles.

SERIES HISTORY: The Rams are 1-1 against the Seahawks. They defeated Salve Regina in 2010 on their home turf, but lost on the road in 2011.

Last Championship Visit: Last season, the Rams overcame numerous injuries to earn a spot in the title match against Western New England. The Golden Bears defeated the Rams, 20-13 in overtime.

Nov 7 2012

Mass. College Football: FSU’s Kelly Previews NEFC Championship Game Against Salve Regina (VIDEO)

By Matt Noonan 

On Wednesday, Framingham State head coach Tom Kelley talked with coaches and members of the media at the weekly New England Football Writers’ Gridiron Club of Greater Boston luncheon about his team’s upcoming championship tilt against Salve Regina.

Last season, the Rams overcame numerous injuries to secure a spot in the New England Football Conference championship, but wound up losing the contest to Western New England College in overtime.

Both squads enter Saturday’s contest with 9-1 conference records. Framingham State hasn’t lost a game since week one, while Salve Regina has won two of their last three.

Oct 3 2012

New England Football News And Notes

By NoontimeSports.com 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – The New England Football Writers’ Gridiron Club of Greater Boston held their fifth luncheon of the season and below are some highlights, as well as news and notes on the local teams.

* Harvard’s Colton Chapple earned this week’s Div. I Golden Helmet Award following a five-touchdown performance against Holy Cross last weekend in the rain. Chapple tossed four touchdowns, while rushing for one, and told reporters that he was very thankful for his teammates assistance in the Crimsons third win of the season.

“This award signifies 11 other guys on the offense. I might get the credit just because I’m the quarterback, but without everybody doing their job at the same time and at the same level that we’ve been coached to do throughout the entire week none of this would be possible,” exclaimed Chapple.

“So, I’d just like to thank my offensive teammates, as well as the coaches for putting together an awesome game plan, and I look forward to playing this Saturday [against Cornell University].”

* The Div. II/III Golden Helmet recipient was Vaughn McGee of Southern Connecticut State University. McGee became the first Owl to earn this award since Jarom Freeman in November of 2007.

McGee, similar to Chapple, thanked his coaches and teammates for their effort in last weekend’s victory against Saint Anselm where he rushed for 297 yards on 30 carries and four touchdowns.

Also, in the fourth quarter, McGee set a NCAA record when he tallied 187 yards on the ground, which snapped the original record set by Stefan Logan (184 yards)on September 3, 2005.

“Even though we started off 0-4, we still kept our heads up and want to continue to finish the season strong. We’re going to be playing a lot tougher teams and I think if everyone stands behind each other we can prevail and finish the season well,” said McGee.

* Salve Regina was recently voted the number one Div. III football team in New England, and head coach Bob Chesney told coaches and reporters the following:

“We’re right now 5-0, [and] we’re ranked as the number one team in New England, which is great, but its midseason, so we all know it doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot right now if we can’t hold onto that and can’t continue with that,” stated Chesney.

“We also have the longest active winning streak in Div. III right now at 11 games, which is something again we’re really proud of [because it’s] just really a testament to our team that has gone onto be able to accomplish that.”

The Seahawks have been rather impressive this year, and have recorded wins against Endicott College, Montclair State and Union. They’ll look to preserve their perfect record on Saturday when they travel to UMass Dartmouth.

* Tufts University’s head coach Jay Civetti expressed that he was very happy with the Jumbos effort last weekend despite their second loss of the season against Bates College.

During that particular match, running back Marcel Pitre rushed for three scores, which marked the most by a Jumbos halfback since 2001.

* Bentley has yet to record a loss this weekend, as they preserved their perfect record with a 17-7 victory against Stonehill College.

* Tom Kelley was all smiles on Wednesday, as he told coaches and reporters that his Framingham State Rams claimed the “Kelley Cup” against Massachusetts Maritime and son Mike Kelley, who’s the Buccaneers assistant coach.

** Video’s courtesy of New England Football Writer’s YouTube Page. 

Sep 22 2012

Mass. College Football: Framingham State 16, Bridgewater State 0


By Matt Noonan 

BRIDGEWATER, MA – On Friday evening, Framingham State’s football team exhibited why they were a New England Football Conference preseason favorite by defeating Bogan Division rival Bridgewater State, 16-0.

“This was special,” exclaimed Framingham State head coach Tom Kelley. “I thought turnovers and penalties were going to be huge and it was and that was maybe the difference.

“Our defense just came up huge and we were really, really concerned about [our opponent’s] running game, but we shut the running game down and we knew if we made them pass that we had a real good shot [of earning our first Bogan Division win].”

The Rams defense held the Bears to 148 yards of total offense (30 yards on the ground), along with seven first downs.

Bridgewater State’s quarterback Mike McCarthy, who registered two scores on the ground last weekend against Endicott College, finished Friday’s affair 13-of-32 for 118 yards with two interceptions. He also ran 11 times, but accounted for 10 negative yards, too.

“We knew we had it in us. We just had to come out, play hard and just basically come out here and play,” stated Framingham State’s Jeff Touron, who concluded the contest with three solo tackles and two sacks.

Both squads began the game with similar drives, which resulted in missed field goals. Yet, the Rams managed to capitalize on the Bears first mistake of the evening, a fumble by Blaise Branch that resulted in a two-yard touchdown by quarterback Matthew Mangano five plays later.

The Bears attempted to respond, but numerous penalties halted drives and allowed Framingham State the opportunity to double their lead with a nine-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Matthew Silva to Philip Clain with nine seconds remaining in the first half, which provided the Rams with a 14-0 cushion at the break.

“[Those two scores] definitely boosted everyone’s morale and everyone really, really believed in it,” explained Framingham State running back Melikke Van Alstyne, who finished with 107 yards on 30 carries.

“We already believed [we could win this game], but that [provided] a little poke right there,” added Van Alstyne.


Bridgewater State started with the ball once the second half commenced, but Framingham State’s defense forced the Bears to punt four times.

The Rams offense struggled to move the ball in the second half, too, so the defense went to work and not only recorded a safety early in the fourth quarter, but also a game-clinching interception by Ony Ramos on the Bears final drive.

“Coming off the block [prior to recording the safety], most of their plays were just all sprint outs and in that situation, down and distance I figured it’s going to be a sprint out one way or another, [and] as soon I came off the block all I saw was [their] quarterback [and] there wasn’t a tailback in my way and I just capitalized on the opportunity,” Touron said of safety.

“Basically at the half, coaches told us [to] stay composed, do our assignment and plays will come to us, just make the play when you have the opportunity.”

Coach Kelley added, “We had to take the edge away from [Mike McCarthy]. He was rolling out and he was getting some pretty good looks from his receivers, and he’s a good athlete, he killed us last year with his feet, so we thought if we kept him in the pocket we’d have a pretty good chance of being successful.”

Framingham State has now won three consecutive games against Bridgewater State, which dates back to 2009. The Rams have also strung together three wins since their opening day loss to the Gulls, too.

Sep 21 2012

Bridgewater State, Framingham State Ready For Friday Night Lights

By Matt Noonan 

It’s Friday, which means we’re a few hours away from kicking off another weekend of college football coverage. And tonight, Noontime Sports will be providing plenty of updates from the Bridgewater State-Framingham State contest via Twitter (@NoontimeSports and @NoonSportsBlog).

The Rams have defeated the Bears the past two seasons, so expect Bridgewater State to have a chip on their shoulder, especially the seniors.

Below are some pregame thoughts from Framingham State head coach Tom Kelley and two of the five Bridgewater State senior captains, Kurt Merrick and Matt Monahan.

Framingham State’s Tom Kelley:

What have you noticed about Bridgewater State from watching their game film?

TK: “We’ve seen them in just about all their games [this year], and they’re well coached, they don’t make a lot of mistakes, they don’t turn the ball over, and they can dominate the clock offensively. They have athletes out there and they come after us, so we’re certainly going to have our hands full on both sides of the ball and special teams, too.”

How can your team walk away with a victory? What do the Rams have to do in order to secure their third consecutive win of the season?

TK: “We’re going to have to play 60 minutes of football and it’s our first divisional game, and the winner is going to have a foot-up [in the Bogan Division].”

Does your team feel any pressure heading into this game?

TK: “I hope they feel a little bit [of pressure]. I hope they’re excited about the game. We put a lot of pressure on them last week because it was our 40th anniversary game, but this is what we strive for playing in meaningful games all through the season and [Bridgewater State] is a good football team and we’re excited to go play them.”

Bridgewater State’s Kurt Merrick:

What was so successful for your offense last week, and how’d you come away with an important win against Endicott College?

KM: “Our communication was really good. We were able to push them off the ball a little bit. They were in a 3-4 defense, so it’s easier to get them off the ball [with] those linebackers [that were] a little bit smaller, but all in all it’s just communication and getting our assignments right.”

How has your offense prepared for the Framingham State’s defense?

KM: “It’s mostly just mental. It’s been a short week, so we’ve just got out there, got on the same page and made sure everyone is ready to go.”

What makes this particular contest a true rivalry?

KM: “It’s probably just the proximity of the two schools. We’re just an hour away from each other, an hour bus ride, plus the recruiting process – they take a lot of recruits that we want and they want a lot of recruits that we want, so that’s basically it. It’s the first league game of the season, so playoffs start today.”

How important is it to win your first division contest?

KM: “It’s very important. You can’t lose one game in divisional play.”

Bridgewater State’s Matt Monahan:

How has your team been able to improve week-to-week this season? What’s been the biggest factor that you’re team has gained from all three victories?

MM: “Confidence. For the first time we’re confident. We know that we can score. When we [trailed] Springfield College [during our first game of the season], I looked at the rest of my offensive teammates and there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that we [could comeback and win that game]. In the past there’s been fear when we’ve [trailed during a game], but this year when it’s happened, there hasn’t [been] a doubt in one person’s mind.”

Do you feel there’s a sense of confidence heading into tonight’s games?

MM: “Absolutely. 100 percent.”

What makes this particular contest a special rivalry?

MM: “Well, it’s Framingham [and] it’s our first league game and they beat us up in the past. They beat us last year, we came out way too flat and they took complete advantage of it and we didn’t have enough time to comeback, but we almost did. The year before that they [beat us] on our own field, and that’s enough right there to get someone fired up, so that’s a rivalry right there. They’ve been one of the better teams in our league for a while and we hope to change that this year.”

Sep 13 2012

Framingham State Football Continues To Overcome Adversity

By Matt Noonan 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Before the 2012 season commenced, Framingham State head coach Tom Kelley noted in an interview with Noontime Sports that he hoped his team would be able to remain healthy this year.

Last season, the Rams struggled to keep their opening day roster on the field, as a number of quarterbacks and kickers, along with numerous positional players were ushered to the bench due to injuries.

Yet, despite missing some key pieces on both sides of the ball, Framingham State was still able to earn a spot in the New England Football Conference championship, which they wound up losing to Western New England College.

This year, Kelley is experiencing déjà vu, as his first and second string quarterbacks, Matt Silva and Mitchell Johnson, sustained injuries to their shoulders in week one against Endicott College, while middle linebacker Pat McGrath suffered a foot injury last weekend against Nichols College.

“They’re used to it now,” Kelley exclaimed after the New England Football Writer’s Gridiron Club of Greater Boston luncheon on Wednesday. “I’ve always said since the day I [became the head coach] of the program that we’ve always had a philosophy of next guy up. If someone screws up or somebody gets hurt, we have confidence [in the next guy].”

Coach Tom Kelley doesn’t seem to worries about early season injuries. (Photo Credit: Matt Noonan for NoontimeSports.com)

Kelley’s philosophy certainly seemed to work this past week, as the Rams (1-1) evened their record with an impressive 34-6 victory against Nichols.

Running back Melikke Van Alstyne, who earned the conference’s offensive player of the week honor, rushed for 222 yards on 29 carries and scored two touchdowns, while fourth-string quarterback Matt Mangano compiled 171 yards on 16 carries. Mangano also recorded two rushing scores, too.

“We challenged our offensive line and said we’re going to run the ball, so let’s see what you’re made of,” Kelley said of his team’s game plan against Nichols.

The plan certainly succeeded, but this week against UMass Dartmouth, Kelley hopes his squad can return to being a balanced offense. However, that particular request may not be granted, especially if the Rams signal caller continues to follow his coaches’ orders from last week.

“[When we moved] Matt Mangano over we knew that he was on a short leash because it was a short week [last week] and he didn’t get as many reps as he could get in him, and we told him three-step drop and if nothing opens up take off,” said Kelley.

The Rams head coach knows that managing a football team, especially a depleted one is a challenge, but it’s something he feels his team will be able to overcome, particularly after what they experienced last season.

“Last week I had some real concerns because we got beat pretty good by a pretty good Endicott team,” Kelley said. “We certainly have a long way to go as a football team and we’re not satisfied, but we’ll take it and we’re limping along.”

This week, the Rams will celebrate their 40th anniversary and certainly a win in front of a plethora of former players, as well as Kelley’s former teammates could certainly boost the team’s moral.

“They know this is going to be a big game for the school and when we get on that bus and go down [to Bowditch Field] they’ll start seeing some of the older guys and I’ll certainly have some of them talk to the team this week,” said Kelley.

“I’m excited to see everybody coming back and it’s a big week for me and for the program and where we’re going and hopefully we put on a good show for them.”

Injuries, bumps and bruises didn’t derail the Rams last season, so one can only imagine what it might do this season for a team that was favored to win their NEFC division.

* The YouTube video is courtesy of the New England Football Writer’s Gridiron Club of Greater Boston. To access other videos — CLICK HERE. 

Sep 6 2012

New England College Football Roundup

Framingham State may have lost to Endicott in week one, but can the Rams overcome early season injuries on Friday against Nichols College? (Photo Credit: Matt Noonan for NoontimeSports.com)

By Matt Noonan 

CAMBRIDGE, MA – On Wednesday, the New England Football Writers’ Gridiron Club of Greater Boston reconvened for their 84th season, and various coaches from the region provided some thoughts on their team’s first game, as well as an outlook on this weekend’s match.

Here are some tidbits and notes from Wednesday’s luncheon.

University of New Hampshire: Wildcats wide receiver R.J. Harris earned a Golden Helmet Award, the first Division I player of the season, for his performance last week against Holy Cross. Harris caught 12 passes for 102 yards and rushed four times for 57 yards. Harris’ 12 receptions matched a career high from last season against Richmond.

The Wildcats will look to earn their second victory of the season when they travel out to Minnesota to face the Gophers, who’re coming off an impressive triple-overtime victory against UNLV.

Castleton State: The Spartans initiated their fifth season with a 35-7 victory against Plymouth State. Quarterback Shane Brozowski tossed four touchdowns and completed 22-of-35 passes for 400 yards. His performance earned him the first Golden Helmet Award for a Division II or III player.

“This award means a lot for our new program [at] Castleton,” Brozowski said upon receiving the award. “I just want to thank the lineman for blocking, the wide receivers for having a big game, and most of all the coaching staff for preparing us for the success we have on Saturday’s.

“We have a tough game coming up this Saturday, a team we’ve never played before, but I think we’re as ready as we’ll ever be.”

The Spartans will look to earn their second win of the season when they travel to Beverley, Massachusetts to face Endicott College.

Endicott College: After earning an impressive New England Football Conference victory last Saturday, the Gulls will look to earn their second win of the season against the Spartans on Saturday, which happens to be their home opener.

The Gulls defense will once again have their hands full, as they’ll attempt to keep Brozowski and the Spartans offense off the field. Endicott will also attempt to maintain the time of possession.

Framingham State: The Rams began their season with an excruciating loss to the Gulls of Endicott. However, it wasn’t exactly the loss that remains on the mind of head coach Tom Kelley, but his squad’s injuries, as quarterback Matthew Silva and Mitchell Johnson each dislocated their shoulders last week, which paved the way for third-string quarterback Al Krasco, who concluded the contest going 0-for-3.

Kelley voice a smite remark about his team’s health after he disclosed the news of his quarterbacks by saying, “maybe it’s our shoulders?” Yet, whether it’s a shoulder or an arm issue, Framingham State cannot afford to start their season with two back-to-back losses, as they’ll travel to Dudley, Massachusetts on Friday to face Nichols College.

“Nichols is a much improved team, [but] we’re just hoping to put forward our best effort on Friday night,” said Kelley.

Becker College: The Hawks soared to a 13-3 victory last Friday against Fitchburg State. However, as head coach Mike Lichten noted, his team has a lot to work on.

Against the Falcons, the Hawks recorded nine penalties for 119 yards. They also accounted for 126 yards of total offense and one fumble. Fitchburg also dictated the time of possession, too.

“Nine penalties for 119 yards almost always leads to a loss no matter how well you play on either offense or defense, so [there’s] a lot of work to be done,” stated Lichten.

Becker will look to build off their first win of the season on Saturday when they travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts to face the Engineers of MIT.

“[MIT is] a team we’ve seen the last two years. They’ve beaten us both times,” Lichten explained. “[They’re] obviously a very disciplined team, they don’t make big mistakes, they don’t lose the game for themselves, [and they certainly exhibit] discipline.”

Becker has never won more than two games in a season, so Lichten hopes this particular game will propel his squad to future success.

“It would be nice to go 2-0 for the first time in three years. At Becker, we’ve never won more than two games in a season, so starting off 2-0 would be tremendous for us,” added the Hawks head coach.

Merrimack College: The Warriors started their season with a tough loss to New Haven, a ranked squad in Division II. Yet, despite the outcome, the Warriors will have to turn the page to this week’s opponent, Rowan.

“[Rowan] is coming off a huge win last week against [the fifth-ranked] team in the country, so we’re going to have a huge challenge in front of us, [but] we’re just glad to be home [because] we’ve played really well at home, 4-1 at home last year,” said head coach John Perry. “I know going into our first home game the kids are going to be fired up and hopefully we can avoid the turnovers and punch the ball in when we get down and close.”

Other Notes:

* Massachusetts Maritime kicks off its season on Friday when they travel to New York Maritime. The Buccaneers are coming off a five-win season, which they hoe to build off of this year.

* Bentley University earned their first win of the season against a young Pace University squad last Friday in Waltham. This week, the Falcons will hit the road to face West Virginia Wesleyan, a squad that features NFL Hall of Famer Joe Montana’s son at quarterback, Nate Montana.