DANBURY - Western Connecticut will square off against Montclair State in the NCAA Division III second round on Saturday, November 27, at 12 noon, at the Midtown Campus Field.
DANBURY â Western Connecticut will square off against Montclair State in the NCAA Division III second round on Saturday, November 27, at 12 noon, at the Midtown Campus Field.
Following its perfect 10-0 season, the Colonials earned a No. 1 East Regional seed and a firt-round bye into the tournament. Montclair had to defeat Buffalo State, 37-34, to advance to the second round. The Red Hawks are 9-1, their only loss coming back on October 23 when they lost to the Colonials, 27-13.
The Colonials are winners of 12 straight dating back to the eighth week of the 1998 season and are ranked ninth nationally in the latest American Football Coaches Association Division III poll. The Colonials did move up to third, however, on the latest Lambert/Meadowlands Poll.
Western has been led all season by a balanced offense and a very stingy defense.
The offense is directed by junior signal-caller Matt LeFever (Ocean City, NJ), who boasts an impressive 203.10 quarterback rating and who has earned the Freedom Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award. He has completed 95-of-158 passes (60.1%) for 1,874 yards and 25 touchdowns. His number one target is Brent Bardellini (New Milford), who has caught 50 balls for 981 yards and 14 touchdowns â all new school records.
On the ground, fullback Ben LaBelle (Danielson) has gained 508 yards on 95 carries, with eight touchdowns. Miguel Pickering (Port Chester, NY) follows with 490 yards on 97 carries, with six touchdowns. And Chris McPhail (Brooklyn, NY) has amassed 457 yards on 97 carries, with three touchdowns.
Defensively, the Colonials have allowed just 16 points a game.
Junior free safety Pete Sangenette (East Rockaway, NJ) has intercepted seven passes for a school-record 168 return yards. Mike Toscano (Danbury) leads the team with 84 solo tackles and Greg Boucher (Watertown) leads the team with a school-record 12 sacks.
Second Round Games
Montclair State (9-1) at Western Connecticut (10-0)
Ursinius (10-1) at Rowan (9-1)
East Regional
Winner of Game 1 vs Winner of Game 2
NOTE: WCSUâs only other appearance in the NCAA Division III tournament was back in 1985. After going 10-1 in the regular season that year, the Colonials lost to Montclair State, 28-0, in the first round.