Week 1 has finally arrived! After all the waiting, all the discussion, all the practices, the meetings, the rehab etc. it’s time for the games to begin! Before the opening weeks picks are made here’s one last look ahead to the 2018 season.
Final Order of Finish
- Fordham, Automatic Playoff Bid
- Colgate
- Holy Cross
- Lehigh
- Lafayette
- Bucknell
- Georgetown
The Wedgie’s 1st Team All-Patriot League Team
Offense
QB – (Sr.) Brad Mayes, Lehigh
RB – (Sr.) Dominic Bragalone, Lehigh
RB – (Sr.) James Holland, Colgate
WR – (Sr.) Austin Longi, Fordham
WR – Jorge Portorreal, Lehigh
OT – (Sr.) Jovaun Woolford, Colgate
OG – (Sr.) Liborio Riccottilli, Lehigh
C – (Sr.) Max Hartzman, Colgate
OG – (So.) P.J. Barr, Bucknell
OT – (So.) Nick Zakelj, Fordham
TE – (Sr.) Isaiah Searight, Fordham
Defense
DL – (Sr.) Nick Wheeler, Colgate
DL – (Sr.) Teddy Capsis, Holy Cross
DL –(Jr.) Khristian Tate, Georgetown
DL – (Sr.) Tony Giudice, Lafayette
LB – (Sr.) Ryan Brady, Holy Cross
LB – (So.) Glenn Cunningham, Fordham
LB – (Sr.) Jerry Powe, Lafayette
DB – (Jr.) Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate
DB – (Sr.) Bryan Marine, Bucknell
S – (Sr.) Alec Wisniewski, Colgate
S – (Sr.) Antonio Jackson, Fordham
Week 1 Picks
We’ve waited nearly 9 months for this day so let’s not over think the first week. Sit back, relax and enjoy the games!
Saint Francis Red Flashes at Lehigh Mountain Hawks
12:30 P.M. Goodman Stadium Bethlehem, PA
Streaming: Patriot League Network
Saint Francis was slated for 4th in the preseason NEC Poll after finishing 5-6 in 2017. The Red Flashes are led by STATS 2nd Team All-America WR Kamron Lewis. There’s no question Lehigh’s secondary will have their work cut out trying to stop the 6’4 WR. Like Lehigh, Saint Francis struggled on defense for much of last year. The Mountain Hawks plethora of weapons on offense should win out over 60 minutes. Lehigh must avoid turnovers and the defense must get off the field more often than not on 3rd downs
Prediction: Lehigh 38 Saint Francis 27
Georgetown Hoyas at Marist Red Foxes
1 P.M. Tenney Stadium Poughkeepsie, NY
Streaming: Red Fox Network
Georgetown will be looking for their first win since the 2017 season opener (Campbell) when they travel to the Hudson Valley to take on Marist. The Red Foxes are coming off a 4-7 season that included a 14-12 win over the Hoyas in D.C. Marist was picked 7th in the non-scholarship Pioneer League. They’re led by LB Willie Barrett on defense and the dynamic WR Juston Christian on offense. Hoya QB Gunther Johnson needs to find a way to get the offense moving.
Prediction: Marist 24 Georgetown 16
Holy Cross Crusaders at Colgate Raiders
1 P.M. Andy Kerr Stadium Hamilton, NY
Streaming: Patriot League Network
The opening weekend is highlighted by a very enticing league matchup between Holy Cross and preseason favorite, Colgate. The Bob Chesney Era starts with a very tough road trip against a veteran Colgate team. The Crusaders defense will need to play a complete 60 minutes in order to pull off the first game shocker. Chesney will have Holy Cross flying around but the Raiders will prove to be too stout at home.
Prediction: Colgate 30 Holy Cross 17
Lafayette Leopards at Sacred Heart Pioneers
6 P.M. Campus Field Fairfield, CT
Streaming:NECfrontRow.com
Lafayette will try to avenge last year’s 38-20 loss to the Pioneers in Easton. Sacred Heart, 4-7 in ’17, was picked 6th in the 7 team NEC. Sacred Heart failed to place a single player on the Preseason All-NEC team. That’s not to suggest the Pioneers lack talent but there are no standouts heading into the season. The experienced Leopard “D” has to rise up and shutdown the Pioneers offense. This is an early season must win for Lafayette given the upcoming schedule.
Prediction: Lafayette 24 Sacred Heart
William & Mary Tribe at Bucknell Bison
6 P.M. Christy Matthewson Stadium Lewisburg, PA
Streaming: Patriot League Network
Bucknell was dealt a devastating blow at the end of camp when RB Chad Freshnock was lost for the season due to an injury. The bruising running back is easily the most important player on the Bison offense. Without Freshnock, William & Mary should have no trouble repeating last year’s 30-9 win over the Bison. The Tribe were picked to 11th in Jimmy Laycock’s final season as head coach. The Bison defense will need to pitch a shutout, or close it, in order to steal a win.
Prediction: William & Mary 27 Bucknell 6
Fordham Rams at Charlotte 49ers (FBS)
6 P.M. Jerry Richardson Stadium Charlotte, NC
Streaming: ESPN+
Charlotte enters the 2018 season as arguably one of the 3 or 4 worst teams in FBS. The 49ers are coming off a 1-11 record in 2017 that included a 35-31 loss to FCS North Carolina A&T. They were picked 7th (last) in Conference USA’s East Division. Fordham has the weapons on offense to make this interesting. The question is can their defensive front withstand a steady does 49er RB Benny LeMay . The pressure is clearly on Charlotte to win this given the state of their program.
Prediction: Charlotte 38 Fordham 34