Robert Morris 35, Sacred Heart 31
Robert Morris used a 21-point fourth quarter to outlast Sacred Heart in the first Northeast Conference game of 2010. The Colonials trailed 24-14 heading into the final period when a pair of senior playmakers took control. RMU halfback Myles Russ, who totaled 116 yards and two scores, reached pay dirt on 16-yard run 1:09 into the quarter. Tight end Shadrae King’s 35-yard touchdown grab gave the Colonials a 28-24 lead 2:37 later. In an action-packed final minute of play, SHU quarterback Dale Fink hooked up with Sean Kessler on a 47-yard scoring strike that put the Pioneers back in front, 31-28, with 00:59 left on the clock. Four pass plays later, King was back in the end zone as his third touchdown of the game gave RMU a 35-31 victory. The Colonials’ comeback overshadowed a productive day for Fink. The NEC’s active leading passer completed 27 of 41 attempts for 324 yards and four scores.
Duquesne 35, Dayton 31
Duquesne quarterback Sean Patterson capped a career day by finding tight end Sean Bunevich for the game-winning score with 00:21 remaining. The eight-yard scoring strike capped a 326-yard passing day for the second-year signal caller and gave the Dukes a 35-31 win over Pioneer League preseason favorite Dayton, which edged Robert Morris one week ago in Ohio. After Dayton took a 31-28 advantage on a 26-yard Steve Valentino touchdown pass with 1:24 left, Patterson responded by engineering an eight-play, 66-yard drive that allowed Duquesne to start the season 2-0 for the first time as a NEC member.
#10 Stephen F. Austin 59, Albany 14
Nationally-ranked Stephen F. Austin proved too much for Albany on Saturday night in Nacogdoches, TX. Playing their second consecutive road game, the Great Danes scored on their first possession before the No. 10 Lumberjacks erupted for 31 unanswered points to take a 39-7 halftime advantage. Albany, which beat Maine 3-0 in its season opener last week, held SFA to 67 rushing yards, but All-America quarterback Jeremy Moses victimized the Danes for 313 yards and 3 TDs on 28-of-37 passing. The Great Danes managed 295 yards of total offense, 173 of which came through the air courtesy of Dan Di Lella who completed 21 of 36 passes.
Bryant 44, Saint Anselm 21
Bryant scored 44 points for the second consecutive week and improved to 2-0 with a convincing home victory over Saint Anselm. In his second career start, running back Jordan Brown produced his second 100-yard game. Brown, whose 122 yards and three rushing TDs helped sink Fordham in the season opener, ran for 118 yards and three scores. Bryant junior Samad Wagstaff intercepted two passes, returning one 53 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.
Central Connecticut State 45, Bentley 14
Central Connecticut State scored 38 unanswered points and opened its home schedule with a 45-14 win over Bentley on Saturday in New Britain, CT. CCSU quarterback Gunnar Jespersen threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns to rebound from a tough season-opening setback at New Hampshire. The defending Northeast Conference champions, who own an 18-2 home record under head coach Jeff McInerney, out-gained Bentley by a 525-207 margin.
Maine 31, Monmouth 23
Maine gained 239 yards on the ground to spoil Monmouth’s home opener. Out-rushing the host Hawks by a 152-yard margin, the Black Bears hung on for a 31-23 win over Monmouth in West Long Branch, NJ. Trying to become the second Northeast Conference team in season’s first two weeks to beat Maine, the Hawks received 304 yards of total offense from sophomore quarterback Kyle Frazier. The starting signal caller passed for 240 yards and ran for 64 more, but received little supporting help in the backfield. All other Monmouth ball carriers combined for only 23 yards on 19 carries.
Morehead State 31, Saint Francis (PA) 21
Morehead State’s Zach Lewis threw for 458 yards and four touchdowns to deal Saint Francis (PA) a 31-21 loss. The Red Flash, who shut out Morehead in 2009, took a 7-0 lead when sophomore Kyle Harbridge returned the opening kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. The Eagles took a 21-14 advantage on a 39-yard pass play 5:03 before halftime and led the rest of the way.
Assumption 24, Wagner 9
Wagner surrendered 24 straight points over a 14:18 span in the first half and could not recover in its season opener at Assumption. The host Greyhounds were held off the scoreboard for the entire second half, but hung on for a 24-9 victory. Wagner compiled 340 yards of total offense, 242 of which came courtesy of sophomore quarterback Nick Doscher (209 pass, 33 rush), but turned the ball over on three occasions in Assumption territory.
