NEC Blitz Week 6 Power Rankings
1. Central Connecticut State (2-2, 1-0 NEC)
Central Connecticut remains at the top after their well-deserved week off. The Blue Devils are riding high following their 27-20 win over Saint Francis, probably the best defensive team in the NEC. The game was a wild one that probably could have gone either way, but in conference championships all that matters is who wins and who loses, and the boys from Hard Hittin’ New Britain came out on top. The offense has been clicking with quarterback Brady Olsen and running back Elijah Howard leading the charge. CCSU heads to Yale next, but their sights are set on staying unbeaten in conference play.
2. Duquesne (2-2)
Duquesne holds steady at No. 2, also coming off a bye week. We don’t speculate on injuries, but based on Coach Schmitt’s comments in the postgame after their victory over West Viginia Wesleyan, it’s reasonable to expect quarterback Darius Perrantes to be back this week when LIU comes to Pittsburgh. With an offensive boost from Perrantes waiting in the wings along with running back Jamario Clements, the Dukes look to be in a solid position to defend their NEC crown.
3. Saint Francis (1-3, 0-1 NEC)
Saint Francis keeps their spot at No. 3. Despite the early losses, the Red Flash are still a dangerous team, especially with their stout defense. After beating Kent State, they fell in a toss-up to Central Connecticut and then had a tough game against Eastern Michigan. We’re sure that the Red Flash are looking forward to their next opportunity to prove themselves in NEC play. They won’t get there yet, though. This week’s matchup against Delaware State is a great chance to build momentum and the expectation is that the Red Flash will get it done behind another strong defensive effort.
4. RMU (2-3, 1-0 NEC)
What do you do with RMU? After a tough loss to Eastern Kentucky where the Colonials were competitive before the game snowballed on them late, there’s still more questions than answers with this squad. They’ve got the best running back in the league in Tyvon Edmonds Jr, they’ve got one of the most impressive offensive weapons at wideout in Noah Robinson, and yet the Colonials have beaten Wagner, led Utah State at the half, and lost a heartbreaker to Edinboro. The good news is that RMU gets a bye week to sort out who this team really is. There’s absolutely no doubt that they’re talented to end up at number one when the dust settles. It’ll be interesting to see if they can get there.
5. Stonehill (1-2)
Stonehill moves up a hair to No. 5. The Skyhawks took down Sacred Heart and had a week off to rest and prepare for NEC competition. Quarterback Ashur Carraha is everything we hoped he would be entering the season after a full, healthy offseason of practice, cementing himself as the best player in Stonehill’s running and passing attacks. This week, the Skyhawks host the Wagner Seahawks in what’s sure to be classic Northeastern football. Catch it on NEC Front Row- you’ll want a chance to see Carraha for yourself.
6. Wagner (2-3, 0-1 NEC)
Wagner drops a spot after a tough road loss to FAU, but there’s no shame in losing to an FBS opponent. At one point, it seemed the only thing that could stop Wagner’s momentum was half time, and after the FAU Owls had a chance to regroup in the locker room, the nature of the game changed and Wagner was unable to keep it close after the half. According to the broadcast, though, the goal for Wagner was to get it to the second half- they certainly did take a tight ballgame into the 3rd quarter. The Seahawks have been competitive all season, and Jaylen Bonelli is one of the most dangerous players in the NEC. Wagner will look to regroup and make their mark in conference play, where they’ve already shown they can compete with anyone by hanging tough with RMU at home.
7. LIU (0-5)
Another close loss for LIU, this time to nationally-ranked Villanova (#6). The Sharks have now lost three games by one score or less, one game by two scores, and one game to a Power Four school that was in the national championship game two years ago. The point is, they’re much better than their winless record indicates. With NEC play starting soon, LIU has gained valuable experience in tough, close games, and they’ll be ready to make some noise in conference action. The tilt at Duquesne in Pittsburgh is our Game of the Week, and this one feels like it’s got a buzz to it. I look for this to be a different game than someone glancing at the records might expect. The Sharks are hungry for a win.
8. Mercyhurst (1-4)
Mercyhurst remains at the bottom after a heartbreaking one-point loss to Frostburg State. Despite the result, Cameron Barmore and Adam Urena continue to impress as the best QB-WR duo in the NEC. The Lakers now have two one-point losses on the season. While the Lakers are ineligible for an NEC championship as they do not play a full conference schedule, this week they’ll have a big chance to bounce back against Buffalo State (Division III). Just as a total aside here, it’s worth pointing out that SUNY Buffalo (FBS- Bulls) is not the same thing as SUNY Buffalo State (D3- Bengals). For some reason, the idea of SUNY Buffalo and SUNY Buffalo State both existing just sort of tickles me too much to leave out.
