As it enters its first Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) game under head coach Billy Cosh, the Stony Brook football team will look to extend its winning streak to three games.
This Saturday, the Seawolves (2-1) will be in Buies Creek, N.C. to take on the Campbell Fighting Camels (1-2, 0-1 CAA) for the latter’s home opener. Campbell will come into the matchup having lost its last contest, as it dropped its conference opener against Rhode Island in 21-9 fashion. However, the Camels’ lone win of the year came against No. 24 Western Carolina on Sept. 7, when they defeated their ranked opponent 24-16. Opening kickoff for Saturday’s affair is set for 5 p.m.
As kickoff approaches, here are five questions that will need answering when Stony Brook squares off against Campbell:
Can the Seawolves’ pass rush continue to bring the heat?
Through its first three games of the season, Stony Brook’s pass rush has been heavy and effective, as it leads the CAA with 10 sacks. Leading the Seawolves’ in that facet of the game are defensive tackles Rushawn Lawrence and Taylor Bolesta. The duo has notched two sacks apiece this year, putting them in a tie for the sixth most in the conference. In addition to Bolesta and Lawrence, linebacker Tyson McCloud has accumulated 1.5 sacks.
The trio are the only Stony Brook players with multiple sacks this season, as the Seawolves’ front seven features a healthy amount of depth. Five other defenders — including defensive end Rodney Faulk and linebackers Anthony Ferrelli and Chayce Chalmers — have rounded out the team’s sack total.
Despite its success thus far, Stony Brook will be matched up against the Camels’ formidable offensive line, which has allowed just four sacks, the joint-sixth fewest in the league. This battle will be key for both teams, as Campbell’s biggest strength on offense is its passing game.
Led by quarterback Chad Mascoe Jr., the Camels own the CAA’s sixth-best aerial offense, averaging 233.3 yards per game. Mascoe Jr. has received most of the work under center, as he has completed 64.9% (50-for-77) of his passes for three touchdowns and the fifth-most passing yards (630) in the conference. He has thrown two interceptions.
Mascoe Jr.’s backup is quarterback Mike Chandler II. He relieved Mascoe Jr. against Rhode Island and completed six of his eight passes for 56 yards and a touchdown while also picking up 41 yards on the ground.
If the Seawolves’ pass rush struggles, they will give Campbell an opportunity to break through against its secondary. Though Stony Brook has racked up four interceptions to start the season, it has allowed 217 passing yards per game and the joint-third most passing touchdowns (six) in the league.
Will cornerback Rudy Silvera be able to contain Campbell wide receiver Sincere Brown?
Despite the Seawolves’ secondary sitting in the middle of the pack in the CAA, the addition of Silvera has paid dividends for the team through the first three weeks of this campaign. Silvera has been the league’s premier corner, as he leads the conference in passes defended (eight), pass breakups (six) and interceptions (two).
“[Silvera’s] been huge,” Cosh said in a press conference on Monday. “He’s tough, that’s the biggest thing I want in a corner. He’s physical. He’s really enhanced our secondary. He’s got some competitive fire to him and he’s confident.”
On Saturday, Silvera will likely have the tough task of shadowing Brown, who has been a game changer. Through his first three contests, Brown has racked up 16 receptions and is averaging the second-most receiving yards per game (98.3) in the league. Additionally, he has tallied two touchdown receptions, which are tied for the fourth most in the CAA.
The potential Silvera-Brown matchup will be one to watch, but the Camels’ wideout options are not limited to just Brown. Wide receiver V.J. Wilkins has picked up 90 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions, while wide receiver Chaney Fitzgerald has secured seven catches for 84 yards. Wide receiver R.J. Jackson has been an effective pass catcher as well, notching five catches for 61 yards.
Campbell head coach Braxton Harris is counting on his wide receiver room to breakout.
“We have to create explosive plays,” Harris said. “Offensively, we’re not a ground-and-pound team. We have to create space with our speed on the perimeter.”
Can Stony Brook solve the Camels’ airtight secondary?
Though their offense has performed well to start the season, the Seawolves’ passing attack currently ranks ninth in the conference with 215.7 yards per game and just two touchdowns. Quarterback Malachi Marshall is set to be at the helm for Stony Brook again and, despite his winning record, the true freshman has expectedly experienced growing pains to start his collegiate career. Marshall’s 51.4% completion rate (37-for-72) ranks dead last in the league among qualified quarterbacks and he has thrown for the sixth-fewest yards per game (175) in the CAA. Moreover, he has thrown two picks and just a single touchdown pass.
Quarterback Tyler Knoop may get some looks as well, as he has thrown for 122 yards, a touchdown pass and an interception while completing 65% of his passes (13-for-20). Nonetheless, Marshall figures to get the bulk of playing time.
Opposing Marshall will be a stingy Campbell secondary. The Camels possess the third-best pass defense in the conference, as they have allowed just 184.7 passing yards per game and four touchdowns while picking off four passes. Unlike the Seawolves, Campbell’s standout in regards to its pass defense has been linebacker Jalen Brooks, who is tied for seventh in the league with three passes defended, including an interception.
Luckily for Marshall, he has a plethora of weapons to utilize. Wide receiver R.J. Lamarre leads the squad in both receptions (11) and receiving yards (151) while tight end Cole Bunicci has accumulated 132 yards and a touchdown on just six catches. Wide receiver Jasiah Williams has also made his presence felt, catching 10 passes for 107 yards. Wide receiver Dez Williams is coming off a three-catch, 73-yard performance against Fordham and wide receiver Jayden Cook has the team’s only other receiving score.
On top of that, Stony Brook’s offensive line will be matched up against a struggling Camels’ pass rush. Though the Seawolves have surrendered the joint-most sacks (eight) in the league, Campbell has collected just three sacks, which are tied for the second fewest in the CAA.
How will Stony Brook match up against the Camels’ run defense?
The Seawolves’ offense has largely run through running back Roland Dempster this season, but its ground attack still has yet to fully take off despite scoring five rushing touchdowns. Stony Brook sits in the middle of the pack in the conference with 152.7 rushing yards per game.
On the other end of the field, the Seawolves will look to feast on a Campbell run defense that is tied for eighth in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (175), meaning the middle-of-the-pack units will look to move up the CAA ladder against one another.
Stony Brook seemingly has the upper hand, as Dempster is averaging 5.2 yards per attempt, ranks sixth in the conference with 82.7 rushing yards per game and holds a league-leading four rushing scores. Along with Dempster, running back Brandon Boria has been effective when spelling him. Boria is averaging 40 yards per game, 3.9 yards per carry and he scored his first collegiate touchdown in his last outing.
Bearing down on the Seawolves’ backs will be a couple of tackling machines in Brooks and linebacker C.J. Tillman. The Camels’ duo is tied for fifth in the CAA with 25 total tackles each.
On the flip side, can Campbell’s ground game get going against Stony Brook?
Much like the Seawolves, the Camels’ run game has been inconsistent, as it currently sits just behind Stony Brook with 131.3 rushing yards per game and three touchdowns. Both teams also sport an identical 3.2 yards per carry.
Conversely, the Seawolves’ run stoppers have surrendered 179 rushing yards per game, the seventh most in the conference. However, Stony Brook has given up just two rushing scores this year, which are the third fewest in the league.
Running back Mark Biggins represents Campbell’s lead back, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and 57 yards per game with a touchdown. Running back Sammy Malignaggi has rushed for 27.7 yards per game and 3.3 yards per attempt in limited touches, while Mascoe Jr. and running back Allen Mitchell have scored the team’s only other rushing touchdowns.
The Seawolves own the tools to halt the run. Along with Bolesta and Lawrence up the middle, Chalmers, Ferrelli and linebacker A.J. Roberts all rank in the CAA’s top 10 for tackles. Ferrelli is tied for fifth in the conference with 25, while Roberts and Chalmers have tallied 23 total tackles apiece, tying them for ninth.
Even with the strong start to the campaign, Saturday will mark Stony Brook’s first true test of the season with it being its conference opener.
“I don’t know the last time we won a CAA game,” Cosh said. “The next game is the most important one. We’re going to have to play our best. [Campbell] is really good and they can score in a heartbeat. It’s going to be a heck of a game, I’m really excited about it, I have a lot of respect for them and we have to go to work.”
