Fitchburg State (5-4, 4-2 NEFC Boyd in 2000)
Fitchburg State enters the 2001 campaign gunning for its third consecutive winning season. The program has reached a new level of success under fourth year head coach Dave Flynn. His 14 wins during his first three seasons equals the total number of wins that the program enjoyed in its first 14 seasons under four different head coaches. For his efforts during the Falcons' 5-4 season in 2000, Flynn became the first FSC coach to be honored as Coach of the Year when he was voted NEFC Co-Coach of the Year by his fellow coaches.

The Falcons will look to continue success on the defensive side of the ball where in 2000 they were atop the NEFC in total defense and rushing defense. Senior captain Scott Cormier and junior Anthony Sterner headline a linebacking core that is solid despite the loss of 2000 NEFC Defensive Player of the Year Jason Smith to graduation. The secondary is filled with grizzled veterans such as Sean McGuire, Kevin Murray and Nate Sund while the defensive line will be anchored by seniors Craig Levesque and Jason Soderblum and underclassman Erik Meyer and Adam Keyes.

On offensive, FSC will look to a strong running attack to offset the graduation of quarterback Nino DeCarolis and leading receiver Tanner Grove. Sopohmore Carld Auguste recovered from an early season injury in 2000 to average more than 160 yards per game during the final three games. Senior Steve Maze, who himself boasted two 100-yard performances a season ago, adds depth at running back. Sophomore receiver Peter Gunderson is poised to have a breakout season after leading the Falcons with four touchdowns last year. All-NEFC center Kevin Delaney will be the centerpiece to an offensive line that will feature fellow senior Chris Witkowski and junior tight end Rob Seguin.

Massachusetts Maritime (5-4, 3-3 NEFC Bogan in 2000)
Don Ruggeri has retired from coaching after 28 years as head coach at Mass.
Maritime and will be replaced by long-time assistant (28 years) Joe Domingos. Ruggeri, the only head coach at the Academy since MMA joined the NCAA in 1973, leaves with a record of 144-105-1.

The Buccaneers were 5-4 in 2000 and have lost 14 starters and 17 letter-winners from last year's club. MMA must find a replacement for quarterback Joe O'Malley (four-year starter) as well as nearly the entire offensive line.

Tailback David Burrill was sidelined for three games as a junior but still managed to carry 151 times for 740 yards and returns for his final season. Junior Walter latta will battle freshmen Dan Ellard and Jarret Blass for the quarterback slot.

Receivers Matt Holt and Tim Cullinan, lightly utilized last season, must step up this fall. John Muldoon returns to the tight end spot and Matt Desmond and Fran Tragresser will vie for time at fullback.

Senior linebacker Chris Bridges will lead a defense that returns starters Tim Pauline (outside linebacker), William Linke (defensive end) and secondary veterans Mark Darling, Barry Paskievitch, and Ryan Cardoza. Preseason should be an interesting time in Buzzards Bay as a number of key slots are up for grabs and there are newcomers who will challenge veterans for starting positions. With the loss of Mass-Boston from the schedule, Mass. Maritime will travel to Rochester, N.Y., for a first-ever meeting with St. John Fisher on Oct. 13.

For the first time in the football history of the Academy, Ruggeri will not be there to lead the Bucs onto the field, but the transition should be a relatively smooth one as Domingos has retained nearly the entire remaining staff members. His goal will be to maintain the consistency and the winning tradition that has become synonymous with Buccaneer Football.

Western New England (4-5, 2-4 NEFC Boyd)
With 17 returning starters and a promising group of newcomers, Western New England College hopes to challenge for the New England Football Conference Boyd Division title this fall. WNEC posted a disappointing 4-5 record last year after dropping its final two games of the season. The Golden Bears finished sixth in the division with a 2-4 mark.

"Our goal this season is to play in the NEFC championship game," said 11th-year Western New England College coach Gerry Martin. "We have several outstanding returning players and the best recruiting class we've had in quite some time. Everyone on the team feels we now have the talent to compete against anyone in our conference."

Heading the list of returnees is senior running back Marvin Langley (Lewiston, Mass.) who was named the 2000 NEFC Co-Offensive Player-of-the-Year after leading the conference in rushing (1,253 yards, 139.2 yards per game average), all-purpose yards (193.9 yards per game average), and scoring (114 points). All of those statistics were school records. Langley tied for fifth nationally among Division III players in scoring average (12.7 points per game) and was seventh in all-purpose yards. He is the school's third all-time leading rusher with 2,307 yards.

Langley scored 19 of the team's 28 touchdowns (17 rushing, 1 passing, 1 kickoff return) last year and also completed a pass for another score.

Among the other returning starters on offense are sophomore quarterback Matt Sotherden (Pleasantville, N.Y.), senior split ends Justin Clark (Ipswich, Mass..) and Jody Lemoi (Scituate, R.I.), and senior guard Dave Kapusta (Naugatuck, Conn.). Stotherden enjoyed a solid rookie season completing 74-of-139 passes (53.2%) for 960 yards and five touchdowns with nine interceptions. He ranked fourth in the conference in pass efficiency with a 110.17 rating.

NEFC All-Star tackle Dave Roach (Middlebury, Conn.) and guard Adam Hill (Gardiner, Maine) graduated leaving two important spots open on the offensive line. Junior tackles James Carvill (Winchendon, Mass.) and Wayne Demers (Easthampton, Mass.), along with senior right guard Dave Kapusta (Naugatuck, Conn.), are experienced players. Sophomore Steve Daughty (East Hartford, Conn.) will challenge for the starting center job.

Western New England should have an improved defensive unit with seniors Joe Demers (Springfield, Mass.) at tackle, Lester Johnson (Springfield, Mass.) at cornerback, Brian Luce (Anson, Maine) at free safety, and junior tackle Scott Hurlbut (Mecklenburg, NY) at tackle among the leading returnees. Senior Jon Dawes (Georgetown, Mass.) moves from offensive tackle to nose guard.

Luce, a member of the Verizon Academic All-America College Division District 1 team, was 13th nationally in kickoff returns (27.4 average) and second on the team in tackles (62). Johnson was second in the conference in punt returns (13.2 average) and tied for second in interceptions (6).

NEFC All-Star linebacker Ryan Watson (team high 64 tackles) graduated, but the Golden Bears have two solid players in seniors Corey Goldstein (New Hyde Park, N.Y.) and Mike Tedesco (Nashua, N.H.). Junior Charles Adams (Enfield, Conn.), a transfer from UConn, and freshman Scott Cronin (Hudson Falls, NY), could make an immediate impact at linebacker.

"If we remain healthy and focus on our goals, there is no telling how far we
can go this season," said Martin.

Westfield State (3-6, 2-4 NEFC Bogan in 2000)
The Westfield State Owls are extremely optimistic heading into the 2001 season. Twelfth-year head coach Steve Marino projects his strong recruiting class to nicely complement his solid cast of letterwinners, which includes nine returning starters on both sides of the ball.

Defensively, fifth-year year senior end Tim Corr leads the veteran unit. Corr earned first team all-conference honors last season as he led the Owls with seven sacks, 14 tackles for losses, and three fumble recoveries. The past two seasons the relentless 6-4, 205 end has racked up 143 tackles, 17 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four fumbles caused and three blocked kicks.

The Owls are also strong at the linebacking post. Juniors Jaret Foley and Dan Fitzgerald were the team’s second and third leading tacklers last season. Westfield also welcomes the return of talented junior Mike Hurteau, who sat out the entire 2000 season with an illness. The Troy, N.Y., native posted a solid freshman season in 1999 with 57 tackles.

Also returning after being sidelined last season with an injury is senior defensive back Ryan Clifford, who was a starter two years ago when he posted 31 tackles and three interceptions. Also back in the backfield are scrappy senior Alan Gates (the team’s fifth leading tackler last year), junior Jason Olivari (four interceptions in 2000), and senior Patrick Swett, who sat out last year with an injury.

On the defensive front, senior John Cloutier (4½ sacks last year) and talented sophomore Stevie Faniel are players to watch.

Offensively, the Owls have their top running and receiving threats returning. Senior Shawn Lyman (West Springfield, Mass.) rushed for 683 yards and six touchdowns in 2000, while sophomore Matt Yvon had 22 catches for 405 yards and four touchdowns.

Other leading returnees offensively are sophomore center Rob Byrne, junior linemen Dave Duquette and Doug Kaczmarcyzk, fullback P.J. Lorentzen, speedy senior wide receiver David Eaton, and tight ends Brian Matuszko and Kevin Vaughn.

The big question mark for the Owls is at the all-important quarterback position. John Frasco, last year’s starting signal-caller and an All-NEFC and All-ECAC punter, has a year of eligibility remaining and is considering playing as a graduate student. Marino is also high on several talented transfers to direct the offense.

Worcester State (7-2, 5-1 NEFC Bogan in 2000)
The Lancers are optimistic they will be in the hunt for the Bogan Division title and a short at the New England Football Conference Championship with 18 starters and 48 lettermen returning from a team that finished 7-2 in 2000 and tied for first place in the division with Bridgewater State.

The Lancers open the action in Division III in New England on Aug. 31 when they host Nichols. A key early-season encounter will take place on Sept. 15 when the Lancers travel to Bridgewater State.

Worcester State will be led by senior defensive end Russ Watson (6-2, 255) who set a school record with 24 quarterback sacks for minus-172 yards a year ago. He has been selected a preseason All-American in 2001.

Ten starters return on defense led by Watson and linebackers Jason Grenier, Jarrod Steele, Frank Nash, along with defensive backs Mike Gennetti, Ted Perlak, Jeff Whipple, Justin Hamilton, Joe D'Ambra and Jay Watson. Returning defensive linemen are Efran Candelaria, Matt Colby, Andy LeBlanc, Joel Murray, Sonny Milani, Tom Segrin and Frank Howard.

On offense, eight starters return led by sophomore quarterback Cean Oksanish, the ECAC and NEFC Rookie of the Year, after throwing for 1,371 yds and 11 td's. The receiving corps is solid with the return of Kevin Gniadek (46 catches for 517 yds and 3 TDs), Pat Arnold (18 catches for 307 yds and two game-winning receptions), Greg Lunn (14 catches for 198 yds and a TD) and the return of Jeremy Frisch (36 catches for 687 yds and 7 TDs in 1999). Sophomore Joe Brancalone provides a solid backup.

The offensive line will be anchored by Mike Gonsalves, Casey Cullen, Derek Ward, Chris Sullivan, Matt Bourgault, Greg Kleczkowski, Pat Woods, Bob Hersey and Dave Kaizer, all veterans. Returning running backs are Joel Lauder, Jon McGettrick amd Keith Anderson.

Coach Brien Cullen, the only coach in Lancers' varsity history, returns for his 17th season and will take an 88-64 record into the campaign.

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