We’re through Week 3 and the CAA has only played 2 conference games, but that will change this weekend as we head into conference play.   But before we do, let’s look back at the week that was.  Week 3 was a successful week for the conference, going 10-1 overall.

 Monmouth 14 – Albany 28

This game was all Albany from the start, with the Great Danes jumping ahead 13-0 after one quarter and taking a 22-7 lead into the half.  Monmouth brought it to within a score at 22-14 with 7:36 in the 3rd, but a Eli Ibitokun-hanks 6 yard TD run in the middle of the 4th quarter put the Great Danes ahead for the remainder of the game.  Ibitokun-Hanks rushed for 63 yards on 17 carries and the aforementioned TD.  Albany QB Will Brunson completed 17 of 25 for 196 yards and a TD and INT.   But what really impressed was Albany’s Defense, only allowing 63 yards on the ground for the day, with Redshirt Senior Nate Hatalsky recording 15 tackles on the day. The Great Danes will look to continue their winning ways in Week 4 in a tough matchup at home against Villanova.

 

Towson 16 – St Francis 14

A tough first half for the Tigers prevented them from putting anything on the board with three consecutive drives thwarted by fumbles.   Coach Rob Ambrose must have said something in the locker room at the half, though, as Towson rallied back in the second half and won on the last play of the game – a 42 yard field goal by Aidan O’Neill, his third of the day.  Tigers QB Ryan Stover completed 25 passes on 44 attempts for 247 and also ran for 75 yards on 14 carries.  Towson’s only TD came from RB Adrian Platt’s 6 yard run.    The Tigers will face Stony Brook this weekend on Long Island.

Bucknell 9 – William & Mary 30

A close one at the half, with W&M leading 10-9, the second half was all Ebirts as the Tribe pounded it out on the ground on the strength of a 20 point 3rd quarter.  Nate Evans led all W&M rushers with 89 yards on 18 carries and a TD, while Noah Giles also rushed for 31 and a TD.  QB Tommy McKee went 12 for 17 with 105 yards and one touchdown, adding 25 yards on 7 carries.  The Tribe rush defense was stout, holding Bucknell to only 34 yards rushing on the day.  William and Mary has a bye week but this provides them with an extra week to prepare for their conference opener in Williamsburg against Stony Brook.

Lafayette 0 – Villanova 59

The Wildcats demolished Patriot League foe LaFayette 59-0 on the strength of a 36 point second quarter.  Nova QB Zach Bednarczyk completed 13 passes on 15 attempts for 237 yards and two TDs while adding another TD on the ground.  Those two TDs were to WR Ryan Bell who brought 5 receptions for 119 yards.  Nova rushed for a total of 262 yards with Aaron Forbes leading the way with 78 yards and Justin Covington with 74.  The Wildcat defense was absolutely stingy, only allowing 89 yards in the air and holding the Leopards to a negative rushing total of -12.  Villanova will hope to continue their dominance in their conference opener in Week 4 at Albany.

Sacred Heart 7 – Stony Brook 45

In another contest that was all CAA, Stony Brook routed the Pioneers of Sacred Heart.  Joe Carbone was a passing yard shy of a hundred, going 9 for 14 with 3 TDs and no INTs. But it was the Seawolves’ ground game that won the contest, with 3 runners rushing for over 60 yards.  Donald Liotine had 84 yards, while Jordan Gowins had 78 and a TD and Stacey Bedell had 65 and a TD. Stony Brook hosts Towson in Week 4.

Charleston Southern 17 – Elon 19

Ahead 13-7 at the half, Elon weathered a would-be Charleston Southern comeback in the 4th quarter, holding on to win 19-17 after Charleston Southern’s Tyler Tekac missed a 51 yard FG for the win.  Freshman QB Davis Cheek completed 8 passes on 17 attempts for 145 yard and a Touchdown, while Malcolm Summers had a huge day with 30 carries for 178 yards and a TD.  Elon will face their toughest FCS contest of the season so far in Week 4 against the Richmond Spiders.

 Cornell 14 – Delaware 41

QB Joe Walker passed for 202 yards and TDs while Kareem Williams ran on 15 carries for 121 yards as the Blue Hens took care of business at home in Newark.  Kani Kane came in as the short yardage and goaline back and pushed in 3 TDs on 11 yards for the day.  Delaware’s defense held Cornell to only 26 total rushing yards in a dominating performance.  The Blue Hens will have a bye week and an extra week to prepare for the National Champion Dukes in Week 5.

Howard 21 – Richmond 68

This contest was never close, with Richmond Leading 48 – 7 at the half.  The Spiders jumped all over the Bison as Kyle Lauletta went 24 for 27 and put up 290 yards and SIX touchdowns through the air.  Jay Palmer impressed with 102 yards on 12 carries and a TD, as 3 other Richmond players rushed for TDs as well –  RBs Deontez Thompson and Gordon Collins and backup QB Joe Mancuso.  The “Spatters” D held Howard QB Caylin Newton in check, only giving up 5 completions and collecting 2 INTs on the day.  The Richmond Rushing defense was stout for the first time all season, only giving up 91 on the ground.  Richmond hosts Elon in Week 4 in an exciting CAA matchup.

https://twitter.com/SpiderFootball/status/909145569976655872

New Hampshire 26 – Holy Cross 51

New Hampshire accounted for the CAA’s lone loss in Week 3, falling at Holy Cross. UNH was able to move the ball but the Crusaders’ bend-not-break defense prevented them from scoring and caused the Wildcats to fumble once and turn the ball over on downs 3 times in the game.  The UNH offense could just not keep up with Holy Cross’ ability to score.  Holy Cross QB Peter Pujals went 21 for 39 with 367 yards and 5 TDs, while Trevor Knight went 26 for 45 for 310 and 3 TDs.  New Hampshire will hope to bounce back in Week 4, hosting Rhode Island.

Harvard 10 – Rhode Island 17

The Rams posted an impressive out of conference victory this week, beating Ivy League Harvard by a score of 17-10.  Rhode Island took went into the half up a touchdown and neither team scored in the 2nd half.  Tyler Harris passed for 12 completions on 19 attempts for 235 yards and a touchdown and also rushed for a TD as well.  Rhode Island will look to try and put together a two game win streak as they face a tough UNH squad in Week 4.

 Norfolk State 14 – James Madison 75

The defending National Champions continued to add to the nation’s longest active D1 win streak this week, as they piled on the points in Harrisonburg, defeating Norfolk State 75-14.  The Dukes were one yard shy of tying the program record for most offensive yards in a game, posting 728 yards total.  Their defense has still yet to concede a touchdown to FCS opponents, with the two Spartan scores coming on an offensive turnover and a kickoff return.  QB Bryan Schor went 12 for 16 for 149 yards and 2 TDs, while 7 total Dukes scored rushing touchdowns.  Trai Sharp led the Dukes with 130 yards and a TD, despite facing personal tragedy; he found out during the 4th quarter that his father had passed away.  True freshman Percy Agyei-Obese, whose redshirt was pulled after JMU’s leading rusher Cardon Johnson went out for the season with an Achilles injury, also ran for 103 yards and a TD.  The Dukes look to push their win streak to 16 with a win in Harrisonburg in Week 4 against Maine.

 

Week 3 CAA Power Rankings (previous week)

Not too much movement this week as most teams held it down and brought home a victory.  UNH drops to 5 and Villanova, Maine and Richmond move up a spot, and Elon’s second impressive OOC win moves them ahead of Albany.

1. James Madison (1)
2. Villanova (3)
3. Maine (4)
4. Richmond (5)
5. New Hampshire (2)
6. Stony Brook (6)
7. Elon (8)
8. Albany (7)
9. Rhode Island (9)
10. W&M (10)
11. Delaware (11)
12. Towson (12)

Published by Zac Price

I'm a native Georgian who who grew up watching Georgia Southern and FCS football. As a JMU alum, I've watched countless CAA and FCS football contests in person and televised since 2002. I currently live in Richmond VA with my beautiful wife and 5 pound chihuahua, my Mexican stepson. Follow me on twitter @ZPriceIsRight