As the season rolls on and with the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship in sight, the No. 17/18 Stony Brook football team will look to continue its momentum in the Battle for the Golden Apple.
This Saturday, the Seawolves (7-2, 4-1 CAA) will host the Albany Great Danes (3-6, 1-4 CAA) at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. Opening kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
The last time these teams met was the final game of last season, where Albany handed Stony Brook its 10th and final loss of the year, putting the final nail in the coffin of a winless season that led to the firing of head coach Chuck Priore. However, things are different this time around.
Less than a year after that matchup, the Seawolves are now ranked in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Stats Perform and coaches poll. Stony Brook is also a true contender for the CAA championship, as it is tied for third place heading into this matchup and sits just behind Delaware and Richmond, who are both undefeated in conference play.
With the Seawolves hungry for another victory, here are five questions that should be answered on Saturday afternoon:
Will Stony Brook’s defensive line feast on the Great Danes’ weak pass protection?
The Seawolves’ strong defensive line is a big factor in why they allow the sixth-fewest points per game (22.8) in the conference. While they have not done exceptionally well against the run, their pass rush has stepped up. Stony Brook’s defensive front has tallied 25 sacks thus far, which is the fourth-best mark in the CAA.
Defensive tackle Rushawn Lawrence has been the main reason why the Seawolves’ pass rush is so daunting. Lawrence leads the charge with seven solo and eight total sacks, which are tied for the third most in the CAA. Behind him, defensive tackle Taylor Bolesta has notched three sacks, followed by defensive end Rodney Faulk and linebacker Chayce Chalmers, who each have 2.5 total sacks. Eight other players have also racked up at least half a sack this season.
That sets up a more-than-favorable matchup with an Albany offense that runs plenty of pass plays. Albany quarterbacks have dropped back 289 times this season, which are the fourth most in the conference.
The Great Danes’ offensive line has been one of the worst in the CAA in regards to pass protection, as it has allowed the third-most sacks (27). They allow the pocket to collapse rather quickly, which explains why quarterback Myles Burkett’s 76 rush attempts are the most on the team.
Will that help Stony Brook’s secondary rebound?
Lackluster pass protection has also given Burkett less time to throw and receivers less time to get open. Consequently, Burkett’s 54.7% completion rate is the second-worst in the conference. Albany has also thrown for 218 yards per game, which ranks seventh in the CAA.
Burkett has managed to throw for 1,845 yards and 10 touchdowns. His main target is wide receiver Seven McGee, who has 39 receptions for 549 yards, which both lead the team. Burkett’s secondary target is wide receiver Levi Wentz, who has 27 receptions for 433 yards, followed by wide receiver MarQeese Dietz, who has corralled 24 catches for 272 yards.
McGee has also been Burkett’s main target in the end zone, as his five touchdown catches make up half of the squad’s receiving scores. Wide receivers Jacari Carter and Caden Burti have caught two touchdowns apiece, while Wentz and running back Faysal Aden have each caught one.
This struggling passing attack opens the door for the Seawolves’ impressive secondary to shine. Stony Brook has allowed just 202.7 passing yards per game and has held opponents to just a 58.8% completion rate. They also are tied for the conference lead with 10 interceptions.
However, the Seawolves’ secondary did struggle last week against Bryant. The unit allowed three touchdowns and 338 yards while picking off a pass.
“They’re talented on defense,” Albany head coach Greg Gattuso said in a press conference on Monday. “We know we’re walking into a tough situation, but we’re still looking to go out there and play our best.”
Leading the pack is cornerback Rudy Silvera, who leads the team and is tied for second in the conference with three interceptions. He is the only player on the team with multiple interceptions, as Lawrence, Chalmers, linebacker A.J. Roberts, defensive lineman Franco Milano, safety Jalen Hoyle and cornerbacks Deshawn Jones Jr. and Jaxon Witherspoon all have grabbed one apiece.
If the Seawolves apply pressure early on the defensive side of the ball, they can allow both their pass rush and secondary to capitalize.
Can Stony Brook neutralize the Great Danes’ weak run game?
Perhaps the Seawolves’ biggest downfall on defense has been preventing the run. Stony Brook has allowed 177 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth-worst mark in the conference. It has also allowed 13 rushing touchdowns, 11 of which have come in its last four games.
This matchup could provide a lane for the Seawolves to find their groove, as Albany’s run game is one of the worst in the CAA. The Great Danes are averaging the third-fewest rushing yards per game (104.8) and the second-fewest yards per carry (3.3) in the conference.
Their top rusher is running back Jojo Uga, who has accumulated 299 yards on the ground on 67 attempts. Uga also leads the team with five rushing touchdowns. Aden has gained the second-most yards on the ground at 278 and also has rushed into the end zone once.
Running back Griffin Woodell has found the end zone twice and racked up 178 rushing yards, while backup quarterback Trey Lindsey has one rushing touchdown.
With little threat in the backfield, the Great Danes will try to capitalize on Stony Brook’s weak run defense. However, the Seawolves will be ready one way or another, either looking for the run or applying pressure in the passing game.
Will quarterback Tyler Knoop and his receivers continue their momentum?
Knoop has ignited the Seawolves’ passing offense since he fell into the starting role about a month ago following quarterback Malachi Marshall suffering from an injury. Since then, he has thrown for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns. Overall, he has notched 1,190 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.
Stony Brook’s top receiver is wide receiver Jasiah Williams, who has 32 receptions for 302 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Roland Dempster, while being explosive on the ground, is also a true threat to catch passes. Dempster has 23 receptions for 264 yards. Behind him, wide receiver R.J. Lamarre gets consistent looks, racking up 21 receptions for 258 yards.
Wide receiver Jayce Freeman has been explosive with his chances, as he also has 302 yards on just 13 receptions. Freeman’s production has boomed in recent weeks. In the Seawolves’ last three matchups, Freeman has 11 receptions for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
The Seawolves have a duo of tight ends that contribute to their extreme depth in the air as well. Tight end Cal Redman has grabbed 17 catches for 221 yards and two touchdowns thus far, while tight end Cole Bunicci has snagged 11 catches for 213 yards and a house call.
Wide receiver Dez Williams has been another threat to opposing secondaries, as he has caught 16 passes for 224 yards. Rounding out Stony Brook’s weapons is wide receiver Jayden Cook, who has notched seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Knoop and company will look to build on their momentum again this week, when they face an Albany defense that is prone to allowing scores through the air. While the Great Danes have allowed the fifth-fewest passing yards per game (188.4) in the CAA, they have also allowed 20 passing touchdowns — the second-worst mark in the conference.
Opponents have also been efficient against Albany, completing 67.1% of their passes — the third-highest mark in the CAA. This can be particularly favorable for Knoop, who has completed a CAA-best 72.2% of his passes.
“[Knoop] takes what the defense gives him,” head coach Billy Cosh said. “He’s a smart player and understands how to get rid of the football. He’s been consistent in getting the ball to our playmakers and he’ll continue to improve in these next few games.”
Albany does not take the ball away through the air, as defensive back Thomas Joe-Kamara has the team’s only interception this season.
The Great Danes’ pass rush is near the middle of the pack in the conference, as they have racked up the ninth-most sacks (19). The Seawolves’ offensive line has protected their quarterbacks well, as they have allowed just 16 sacks, which are tied for the sixth fewest in the CAA.
Linebacker Dontae Lunan is Albany’s most prominent pass rusher, as he has accumulated 7.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. Defensive linemen Dasean Dixon and Chiebuka Aduaka, as well as defensive back Cam Stodghill, have tallied two sacks apiece.
Stony Brook’s uptick in passing offense in recent weeks has made it a dual-threat offense, as Dempster and the rest of its backfield have proved to be dominant.
On that note, can Dempster dominate yet another defense to bring the Golden Apple Trophy back to the Seawolves?
Dempster has been a powerhouse this season. He is not just one of the best running backs in the CAA but also in the FCS as a whole. Dempster’s 16 rushing touchdowns and 1,050 rushing yards are the second- and sixth-best marks in the FCS, respectively. He also leads the conference with 117.1 rushing yards per game.
Dempster’s prowess has propelled Stony Brook to own one of the top rushing offenses in the conference, as it is averaging 180.8 rushing yards per game, which is the fourth-best mark in the CAA.
In addition to Dempster, running back Johnny Martin carries some weight for the Seawolves, as he has 239 yards on 59 attempts with three touchdowns. Running back Brandon Boria has also reached the end zone once.
With Albany having the seventh-worst rushing defense (168 rushing yards allowed per game), Dempster has the opportunity to dominate once again and improve on the best season of his career. Although the Great Danes have done well preventing scores on the ground, allowing just nine rushing touchdowns, that has not proven to stop Dempster. Against Villanova, who has allowed just 10 rushing touchdowns, Dempster carried the ball into the end zone three times.
“[Dempster] is everything you want in a [primary] back,” Gattuso said. “We’re going to have to tackle well because you have to swarm him [to bring him down].”
This matchup certainly favors Stony Brook, who are looking to improve their incredible turnaround season with another win. Doing so would bring the Golden Apple Trophy back to Long Island, as the Seawolves have lost their last two matchups against Albany.
“We have to play our best this week,” Cosh said. “We have to play with emotion but not be emotional. We can hype it up during the week, but our guys still need to play at a high level [to win the trophy].”
