Seahawks making noise in the region
NEWPORT, R.I. - With its impressive 47-26 win over Western New England last Saturday, the Salve Regina football team improved to 4-1 on the season and is getting recognition from around the region on its impressive start to the season.
In the first Lambert Meadowlands Poll of the season released by the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), the Seahawks are receiving votes in the DIII poll. Salve Regina is the only New England Football Conference team to be listed in the poll.
ECAC Lambert Meadowlands Poll
2013 New England DIII Football Poll
Elsewhere in the region, the Seahawks hold firm in the fourth spot in the New England Football Coach's Poll, released each Tuesday. Salve Regina is receiving two first place votes and is two spots above fellow NEFC member, Endicott which is currently sixth.
The Seahawks are coming off an impressive offensive display last week in their 47-26 win over Western New England. Salve Regina set a new school record in total offense with 594 yards on the day. Junior quarterback and NEFC Offensive Player of the Week Steven Wilken (Ringwood, N.J) threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns, completing a career-high 21 passes on 35 attempts. Wilken also ran in a second quarter score to give the Seahawks the lead for good. Junior wide receiver Matthew Traynor (Secaucus, N.J.) had a career-high 195 receiving yards and caught two touchdowns for the Seahawks. On the other side of the ball, the defense limited a prolific WNE offense that had been averaging over 500 yards a game to 387. Sophomore Danny Ives (Madison, Conn.) had a career-high 11 tackles while junior cornerback Frank Musco (Montvale, N.J.) was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for his seven tackles and three pass break ups.
On the season, the stingy Salve Regina defense is among the best in the nation. The Seahawks are allowing just 243.4 yards of offense a game, the best in the NEFC and is ranked 13th in the nation. The pass defense is fourth in the country allowing just 125.6 yards through the air per game. Salve Regina has allowed just 117.8 yards/game on the ground through its first five games.
As good as the offense has been about moving the chains and picking up first downs (109 on the year) the defense has been outstanding. Salve Regina has allowed just 55 first downs on the season, fourth best in the nation while leading the NEFC. The Seahawks lead the nation in three different defensive categories, fourth-down conversion defense (0-for-4), blocked kicks (seven) and blocked punts (five).
Individually, sophomore Hayden Stanton (Wallingford, Conn.) leads the NEFC and is 22nd in the country averaging 1.1 sacks a game.
After a short week, the Seahawks return to the field as they travel to Milton, Mass. to take on NEFC opponent Curry on Friday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.