NEC Football Power Rankings: Week 3

As the third week of the NEC season approaches, we’ve already seen plenty of shakeups in the standings. Major upsets, commanding wins, and tough losses have moved the needle for many teams. Here’s how the conference is shaping up after Week 2 action:

1. Saint Francis (1-1)

Saint Francis leaps from seventh to the top spot after a historic 23-17 upset over Kent State. Redshirt freshman Jeff Hoenstine threw for 195 yards and two total touchdowns in his first start, leading the Red Flash to their first-ever win over an FBS opponent.

Key Player: Jeff Hoenstine (195 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD)

2. Central Connecticut State (1-1)

Central Connecticut bounced back with a 33-3 win over Fordham. Their defense was dominant, recording nine sacks and five forced turnovers. Quarterback Brady Olson threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns.

Key Player: Vincent Thomas (Fumble recovery TD)

3. Mercyhurst (1-1)

Mercyhurst nearly upset Howard but lost 32-31 after a blocked PAT was returned for two points, followed by a last-second field goal. Despite the loss, their strong performance moves them to third.

Key Player: Cameron Barmore (2 TDs)

4. Wagner (1-1)

Wagner drops after a 49-13 loss to Lehigh, but their Week 1 dominance keeps them in the top half of the rankings. Quarterback Damien Mazil connected on two late touchdown passes, but they'll need a stronger showing moving forward.

Key Player: Damien Mazil (2 TDs)

5. LIU (0-2)

LIU fell 45-0 to TCU but were up against a strong Big 12 team. Despite the loss, this doesn't hurt them too much given the competition level. They'll look to rebound in Week 3.

Key Player: Ludovick Choquette (Key contributor in Week 1)

6. Duquesne (0-2)

Duquesne was blown out 56-0 by Boston College, but the Eagles are coming off a huge win over Florida State. There's still room for Duquesne to bounce back during conference play.

Key Player: Darius Perrantes (QB)

7. Stonehill (0-1)

Stonehill lost 37-10 to Stony Brook but showed fight in the second half. They’ll aim to put together a more complete game in Week 3.

Key Player: Cole Clarke (3-yard receiving TD)

8. Robert Morris (0-2)

Robert Morris is at the bottom after a 23-21 loss to Division II Edinboro. A fourth-quarter safety was the difference, and they’ll need to turn things around quickly.

Key Player: Anthony Chiccitt (QB)

Final Thoughts

Saint Francis' historic win propels them to the top, while Central Connecticut rebounded in a big way. Mercyhurst showed potential with a near upset, while Wagner and LIU look to stabilize. Stonehill and Robert Morris will need to regroup heading into Week 3. Stay tuned for more as the season heats up and teams continue to battle for NEC supremacy!