Preview: Football Looks To Keep Things Rolling Against West Conn Saturday

ON THE WEB:

You can follow this Saturday's 5 PM road matchup against Western Connecticut via livestats. 

THE SERIES

Last season was the first time the storied squads faced off against each other as the Colonials used a strong rushing attach to defeat the Lancers, 55-35, in Worcester.

LAST YEAR

Western Connecticut All-American Octavias McCoy surged for an NCAA All-Division record 455 yards and five touchdowns - including a 71 yard scamper to seal up the win in the fourth quarter.

Senior Pat Viencek (Bernardston, MA) racked up 300 yards of total offense with 273 yards and two scores as his favorite target was classmate Casey Hippert (Douglas, MA) who pulled down nine receptions for 163 yards and an 81 yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Senior Zack Skerry (Milford, MA) collected 13 tackles (12 solo) in the loss with two tackles for a loss and one sack. Fourth-year teammate Bryan Narcisse (Medway, MA) hada fumble recovery with another sack.

McCoy's record was then broken by Cartel Brooks (465 yards) at Heidelberg nearly a month later against on November 16.

THE LANCERS

Last weekend Worcester State (4-2, 2-2 MASCAC) posted a 50-43 homecoming victory over UMass Dartmouth.

WSU was paced by Hippert who finished with 11 receptions for 263 yards and a trio of touchdowns en route to Co-MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors and ECAC Division III New England Offensive Player of the Week accolades. He was the only regional representive tabbed to this week's D3football.com Team of the Week.

Viencek also tied a school record with five TD passes while senior Sean Hanley (Wilmington, MA) chipped in with 14 tackles (nine solo), 2.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Junior Kemani Jones (Milton, MA), who went over the century mark for the fourth time in six games this season, is third in the MASCAC in rushing yardage (109.2 YPG) and second in scoring scoring (60 points - 9 rushing TDs). Hippert is fourth in the conference in receiving yardage (95.2 YPG), eighth in total (476) and tied for eighth with three TDs.

Skerry ties for the MASCAC lead in sacks (6.5) and along with Narcisse he is tied atop the league with 12 tackles for a loss.

Hanley tops the club with the sixth-most tackles in the conference (51 tackles - 36 solo) as he also has done a little bit of everything with 5.5 sacks, 10 TFL for 45 yards, two forced fumbles, a pair of breakups, one recovery, one interception and one blocked kick.

Freshman Sebastian Paz (Orlando, FL) is second in the league in kick scoring with 33 points to his credit which include four field goals and he is 27-for-27 on PATs. Last week Jeremy Burke (Mansfield, MA) averaged 41.4 yards on seven punts with three that were placed inside the 12 yardline. His boot that was placed inside the UMD one, set-up a key third-quarter saftey.

MARKING THE MILESTONES

Hippert is 60 yards away from tying Lancer Hall of Famer Kevin Gniadek's (1998-01) mark for third on the all-time receiving yardage list (2,365 yards). He is also eight receptions away from Gniadek's fourth place spot on the receptions list (142).

Senior Dana Barry (Hudson, MA) is 87 yards away from becoming the 11th WSU football player to pass the millennial mark. Classmate Jack Sprague (Maynard, MA) is eighth in receptions (101), ninth on the recieving yardage list (1,235 yards) with 11 career catches in the endzone.

Within the last week, Jones also moved into 8th on the all-time rushing list with 1,374 yards. His 18 career scores are tied for fifth on the rushing touchdowns list as he has averaged 4.9 yards on 278 carries in 21 games.

THE COLONIALS

Western Connecticut checks into the contest with a record of 5-2 (4-1 MASCAC) as the Colonials are ranked seventh in the Division III New England SID/Coaches Poll. Senior Tory Mack (Stratford, CT) shared Co-MASCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors with Hippert as he rushed for 100 yards and three touchdowns in a 20-14 overtime victory over Fitchburg State. His one-yard run was the game-winning score.

Mack is second in the conference in rushing (118.1 YPG) and his 96 points (15 rushing touchdowns) are first in the MASCAC. Junior Cal Falaguerra (Milford, CT) also has 34 receptions for 700 yards - sums that are second in the league statistical standings - and he shares the league lead with seven TDs.

The shifty sophomore Michael Nichol (Wolcott, CT), has 329 yards on the ground and 560 passing yards with four scores from the quarterback position.

Senior Raheem Williams (Amityivlle, NY) has equaled the MASCAC lead with 6.5 sacks while sophomore Tyler Harris (New Haven, CT) and junior Matt Datin (Newton, CT) have combined for nine for the third-highest pass rush unit in the conference.

Sophomore Delshawn Wilson (Norwalk, CT) has two interceptions for 66 yards and a league-best nine pass deflections.

NEXT WEEK

Worcester State takes on Plymouth State in their home finale at 1 PM next Saturday. The Lancers search for their first-ever win against Plymouth State who has defeated WSU in all four of their previous encounters.

The Blue and Gold will recognize 16 on "Senior Day" who will be participating in their final regular-season home contest.