Hobart claims top spot in Liberty League football preseason poll
Hobart College was selected as the 2016 Liberty League football preseason favorite in a poll conducted by the league’s eight head coaches. Last season, the Statesmen finished the year with a 7-3 overall record and a 5-2 mark in league play.
Hobart received five first-place votes for 47 points (coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team) while St. Lawrence University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) were selected second (43 points) and third (33 points), respectively. The Saints, who were the Liberty League’s NCAA tournament representative in 2015, received two first-place votes while the Engineers were recognized with one. Springfield College and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) tied for fourth with 30 points apiece. The University of Rochester (20) was picked fifth and the Yellowjackets were followed by the United States Merchant Marine Academy (12) and Union College (9).
With eight offensive and nine defensive starters returning to Geneva, the Statesmen are poised to make another run at the top of the Liberty League standings this season. Offensively, Shane Sweeney is back at the helm as the team’s quarterback after playing in seven games with the Statesmen last year. He led the Liberty League in passing yards per game (221.0) and recorded 17 touchdowns. Seniors Pat O’Connell (G) and Nick Testani (C) are both back for their senior campaigns and will anchor the offensive line. Last season, Hobart had one of the league’s top offenses, averaging 27.6 points per game.
The defense is headlined by All-Liberty League first team selections Marcus Jemison and Tommy D’Antonio. The duo combined for 94 tackles last year, ranking second and third among team leaders. Jemison also boasted a team-high 4.5 sacks and was ranked second in tackles for loss (8.0). James Hedger also returns after a 2015 where he had 22 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. As a team, the Statesmen allowed a league-low 245.8 yards per game and also had the league’s top rushing defense (116.3 yards per game) in 2015.
St. Lawrence finished last season with an overall record of 8-3 (6-1 Liberty League), winning the Liberty League regular season title and making its first NCAA tournament appearance since 2010. The Saints have a new head coach this season, Dan Puckhaber, who has been with the team since 2010 and most recently as the offensive coordinator (2012-2015). St. Lawrence opens the season with a core group of players back with eight offensive starters and nine defensive starters from last season. There will be some holes to fill with the graduation of two-time Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Mike Lefflbine. However, Mitch Gallagher (TE) and Kevin Dean (OL) will bolster the offense after the team led the league in points per game a year ago (29.4). The Saints will remain strong at the defensive end with a trio of All-Liberty League first team selections back for their senior seasons—Chyron Brown-Wallace (69 tackles), James Holley-Grisham (60 tackles) and Alec Dietsch (59 tackles). All three were ranked among league leaders in tackles per game. Brown-Wallace also led the team in tackles for loss (22.0) as well as sacks (11.5).
RPI was one of the Liberty League’s top teams last season with a 6-1 mark in league play (9-2 overall), tying with St. Lawrence for the regular season title. The Engineers led the league in total offense, averaging 375.9 yard per game and the defense allowed a league-low 15.4 points per game. Defensive linemen Malik Joseph and Diego Cuitino return to lead the Engineers’ defense as the two combined for 90 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 8 sacks in 2015. Linebacker Alex Greenidge is also back after posting a team-high 75 tackles (35 solo, 40 assists) last season. It could be a rebuilding year for the offense with only two returning starters as well as the graduation of All-Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year quarterback Jeff Avery and first team selection wide receiver Logan Gaddar. Running back Mike Tivinis, also an All-Liberty League first teamer returns as one of RPI’s top offensive players after ranking second on the team in rushing yards last season (50.6 yards per game). Offensive center Steve Mills and wide receiver Joey Giacone will also be key components to this year’s attack.
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Springfield finished the season with a 4-6 overall record and a 2-5 league record. The Pride will open 2016 with a new head coach for the first time in 32 years but it won’t be an unfamiliar face as Mike Cerasuolo, the team’s offensive coordinator for the last 15 years takes the reins from longtime coach Mike DeLong. Quarterback Jake Eglintine will lead the Springfield offense after pacing the league in scoring (72 points) and rushing (121.0 yards per game) last season. He recorded 15 touchdowns on the year (12 rushing, 3 passing) and he will have help this season with the return of running back Drew Brown and wide receiver Joe Festo. Defensively, Springfield will feel the loss of 2015 Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year and All-American Max Nacewicz, who led the team and was second in the league with 104 tackles, however, three of the team’s top four defenders from a year ago return in Christian Zotti (60 tackles), Kenny Calaj (57 tackles) and Dom Traversa (48 tackles).
WPI finished 2015 fourth in the league standings after going 7-3 overall and 4-3 in league play. The Engineers return fully loaded with eight starters on the offense and seven on defense from a year ago. The defensive returnees are highlighted by Brian Murtagh (97 tackles), Jay Lamb (37 tackles), Kevin Lynch (62 tackles) and Dereck Pacheco (57 tackles), all of whom earned All-Liberty League recognition following the 2015 season. Quarterback Dan Eckler and wide receiver Brandon Eccher will guide the WPI offense, last season the duo combined for seven touchdowns and both were tops among the team in all-purpose yards, averaging 38.5 and 69.7 yards per game, respectively. Blaine Bursey (K) is also back and will anchor the Engineers’ special teams after ranking second on the team in scoring (47 points).
Rochester will open 2016 with 11 starters (6 offense, 5 defense) and will look to improve upon their 5-4 record (3-4 Liberty League) after posting the same record for three straight seasons. Dan Bronson returns as quarterback after playing seven games last season, where he recorded 12 touchdowns (9 passing, 3 rushing) and totaled 1,015 all-purpose yards. Running back Shane Saucier and wide receiver Kyle Allegrini are also key returnees to the Yellowjacket offense with a combined nine touchdowns in 2015. As a team, Rochester was ranked second in the league for total offense (366.2 yards per game). Colin Woods (DE), Peter Crossett (DE) and David Wolff (LB) headline the Rochester defense.
Merchant Marine returns to the field with a veteran presence with 15 returning starters (8 offense, 7 defense). The offense will be led by 2015 Liberty League Rookie of the Year Wiley Martin after he was ranked among league leaders in rushing yards (610) and he finished the year with five rushing touchdowns. He will be joined by offensive lineman Parker Johnson and tight end Robert Baker. Linebacker Josh Woodburn and defensive end Patrick Keyes will anchor the defense as the two were the Mariners’ top two defenders last season with a combined 125 tackles.
Union begins 2016 with a new head coach for the first time in 24 seasons as Jeff Behrman, previously the offensive coordinator at Stony Brook University, takes over the program. On the field, the Dutchmen will be led by tri-captains Tom Grimmer (OL), Sean Carey (OL) and Jermaine Carn (RB). Running back Connor Kinzelmann also returns to help strengthen the offense after averaging a team-high 111.1 all-purpose yards per game. He was tops on the team in rushing yards (490) and rushing touchdowns (4) while Carn was second with 370 yards and a touchdown. Jason Nelson (DB), Bobby Law (DL) and Justin Waller (DB) headline the defensive returnees.
2016 Liberty League Football Preseason Poll
Place. Team, Points (First Place Votes)
1. Hobart, 47 (5)
2. St. Lawrence, 43 (2)
3. RPI, 33 (1)
4. Springfield, 30
4. WPI, 30
6. Rochester, 20
7. Merchant Marine, 12
8. Union, 9