Atlantic 10 football entered this week with a milestone. In a sign of the improving quality of A-10 competition, the conference put a fourth team, Massachusetts, in the Sports Network I-AA top 10, the first time four A-10 teams have been in the top 10 since it became a NCAA poll of record in 1993.
The Maroon and White joins No. 4 Northeastern (4-0, 2-0 A-10), No. 5 Villanova (3-0, 1-0 A-10), and No. 6 Delaware (3-0, 1-0 A-10) in the top 10. Northeastern (one) and Villanova (two) also received first-place votes. It is the fifth time this season that the Atlantic 10 has put more teams on the top 10 than any other I-AA conference.
Isabel’s wrath felt in Williamsburg
There was some disappointment this week regarding the decision by William ‘ Mary (1-2, 0-1 A-10) to cancel its game against Maine, scheduled for this Saturday in Williamsburg, Virg. The school, which will be closed until Sunday in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, decided to cancel all home sporting events for the week. While some events may be made up, the football game will not, much to the ire of some coaches around the A-10.
“I think it’s horrible,” UMass coach Mark Whipple said at the weekly UMass sports luncheon. “They’ve suspended school for the week. They are continuing with their other athletics, but they made a decision for William ‘ Mary saying, ‘we will not play Maine in football.’ Maine is really at a tremendous disadvantage because they are in the running for a league title and a playoff berth, and if they lose this game, they will not have the chance to go to the playoffs because they will be down a game, and they will not have a chance at the championship.”
Whipple said that, according to Maine, a deal was worked out that would bring the game to Orono on the Black Bears’ dime, but the Tribe refused. W’M also refused to play the game at Richmond’s UR Stadium, according to Whipple.
The A-10 athletic directors are planning to have a teleconference today to discuss further action by the league.
The Dukes rally back
In a performance that landed two of its players on the Atlantic 10 honor roll this week, James Madison (2-1, 1-0 A-10) came back from being down 17-0 in the second quarter, and a 32-yard strike from Matt LeZotte to D.D. Boxley with a minute left capped off the rally, giving the Dukes the 23-20 win over Hofstra.
Freshman Alvin Banks rushed for 153 yards on 28 carries with a TD for the Dukes, good enough for the Rookie of the Week nod. Junior Cortez Thompson earned the Special Teams Player of the Week award. His 33-yard return off of a JMU safety set up the winning drive, and he also returned a punt for 24 yards, leading to a scoring drive for the Dukes.
Huskies put up another monster number
Northeastern’s offense continued its juggernaut ways last weekend, with a 48-14 win over William and Mary. The Huskies have scored at least 40 points in all four games this season, including a 78-6 stomping of Stonehill, and a 51-point shutout of Albany.
Northeastern will be hard-pressed to continue the streak this week, however, when it travels to Villanova Saturday. The Wildcats have the second best defense in the Atlantic 10, allowing just 13.3 points per game. Junior defensive end Terence Taylor (three) and senior linebacker Ryan Breeden (two) are third and ninth on the A-10 sack list, respectively.
Another stipulation of the battle between the Huskies and Wildcats this weekend is that it’s the first time since 1998 that two Atlantic 10 teams ranked in the top 10 will face each other. In ’98, No. 8 Villanova downed No. 4 Delaware 34-31 in overtime, and No. 9 Connecticut eked out a 28-27 win over eventual I-AA National Champion UMass, ranked No. 7 at the time.
Record book bound
When Rhode Island visits Richmond on Saturday, it will have another chance to showcase its ground attack. The Rams, spearheaded by senior Luther Green, are currently on pace to break the A-10 record of 326.3 yards per game, set by New Hampshire in 1998. URI is currently rushing at a 387.3 yards per game clip, and Green is averaging a monstrous 9.9 yards per carry.
