Owls Football Picked Seventh In MASCAC Preseason Poll

Westfield, Mass.— The 2019 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Football regular season champion Framingham State has been tabbed picked by the coaches from around the league as the preseason favorite to win the 2021 crown after COVID cancelled the 2020 season.

 

The Rams earned six first place votes for 59 points to sit on top of this year's poll. They finished a perfect 8-0 to take home the MASCAC regular season title two seasons ago. Returning to the team are two major award winners from 2019. MASCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year Devaun Ford returns after leading the league in total yards (1,003), yards per game (100.3), yards per rush (5.8) and was second in rushing touchdowns (9). On the other side of the ball, MASCAC Defensive Player of the Year Joshua Onujiogu is back. He closed out the 2019 regular season with 44 tackles, including 24 solo along with eight sacks for a total loss of 47 yards.

 

Grabbing the second spot with 53 points is WestConn. The Colonials were 6-2 in 2019 during conference play. Running back Anthony Via rushed for 367 yards on 91 carries with six touchdowns, including a long of 24 yards in his first season with team in 2019.

 

Sitting in third is Bridgewater State with 52 points. The Bears also were 6-2 during the 2019 campaign. All-Conference wide receiver T.J. Hairston is back for the team making 48 catches for 569 yards and five touchdowns for the Bears. Steven Silvia earned a spot on the All-Conference team as a linebacker after netting 72 tackles, including 42 solo along with two sacks, a forced fumble and 8.5 tackles for a loss.

 

UMass Dartmouth is in the fourth spot with 46 points. The Corsairs were 5-3 during MASCAC action in 2019. Back under center is Stephen Gacioch who was the 2019 MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year. He ended the season in the top five of the MASCAC in several categories, including yards per game (277.6), total yards (2221), touchdowns (20), pass efficiency (143.2) and completion percentage (59.2%).

 

Landing in fifth is Plymouth State with 35 points. The Panthers had a 4-4 mark in league play in 2019. Quarterback Brett Lavanchy threw 10 touchdown passes with 939 yards on 80 completions for the squad in 2019 and returns for the Panthers this season.

 

Massachusetts Maritime comes in sixth with 34 points. The Buccaneers had a 4-4 record in conference action in 2019. On defense Kyle Rogers is back after finishing with 49 tackles, including 26 solo plus a forced and recovered fumble, four interceptions and two pass breakups on his way to All-Conference honors in 2019.

 

Coming up in seventh is Westfield State with 18 points. The Owls had two wins during the 2019 league campaign. In his first season with the Owls, running back Leesandro Colon had four touchdowns while rushing for 378 yards on 60 carries with his longest run of 47 yards.

 

Closing out the 2021 poll in eighth and ninth are Fitchburg State and Worcester State with 17 and 10 points, respectively. During the 2019 season, tight end Frank Sims registered 11 receptions for 54 yards with a career long of 18 yards. For the Lancers, Aaron Moses-Williams returns after throwing seven touchdown passes on 1,761 yards and 166 completions in 2019.

 

Eight of the nine MASCAC football teams begin their 2021 season this weekend, September 3 and 4 with non-conference play while Massachusetts Maritime kicks off their season on September 10.

 

 

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation's oldest Division III men's and women's playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men's ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as a football affiliate member in 2013. Dean College, Eastern Nazarene College, Elms College, Mitchell College and Springfield College joined as men's golf affiliates in 2019 and New England College in 2021.

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Framingham State (6) 59 points

2. Western Connecticut State 53 points

3. Bridgewater State (1) 52 points

4. UMass Dartmouth (2) 46 points

5. Plymouth State 35 points

6. Massachusetts Maritime 34 points

8. Fitchburg State 17 points

9. Worcester State 10 points