Still chasing its chance to sit at the top of the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) standings, the No. 16/17 Stony Brook football team must go through its toughest opponent in over a month.

The Seawolves (8-2, 5-1 CAA) will be in Durham, N.H. this Saturday to take on the New Hampshire Wildcats (6-4, 4-2 CAA). Opening kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Stony Brook has not found success against the Wildcats in recent years, being defeated in the two sides’ last four matchups dating back to 2019.

However, this year is different. Now, the Seawolves are ranked in both the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Stats Perform Top 25 and coaches poll. Though a few teams hold tiebreakers over it, Stony Brook finds itself in a four-way tie for second place in the CAA, looking for a spot in the championship game with just two weeks left to play. It sits behind only No. 7/11 Richmond, who is undefeated in conference play thus far.

In what is sure to be a dogfight, here are five questions that should be answered this Saturday:

Can running back Roland Dempster dismantle another defense?

The most consistent part of a Seawolves offense that puts up the fifth-most total yards per game (395.2) in the conference is Dempster, who is having a career year. Dempster has the most rushing yards (1,152) and second-most rushing touchdowns (18) in the CAA, which also ranks sixth and third in the FCS, respectively.

Dempster has racked up over 100 rushing yards and multiple touchdowns in seven games this season. He has been the engine of Stony Brook’s rushing attack, which averages the fifth-most yards per game (171.9) in the CAA. It has also found the end zone on the ground 22 times, another tally carried by Dempster. Those 22 scores have helped the team rank sixth in the CAA with 27.9 points per game.

While Dempster is the most prominent member of the Seawolves backfield, he is not the only one. Running back Johnny Martin has notched 239 yards and three touchdowns, while running back Brandon Boria has found the end zone once.

New Hampshire is among the better rushing defenses in the conference, as it allows 148.9 rushing yards per game, which ranks seventh. The Wildcats have been in the middle of the pack in preventing ground scores, allowing 15 rushing touchdowns. Overall, they rank fifth in the CAA in scoring defense with just 21.2 points allowed per game.

If New Hampshire wants to stop Dempster, it will rely on defensive end Josiah Silver, who leads the conference with 17.5 tackles for a loss. Behind him, defensive end Flex Ruiz has eight, followed by linebacker Ryan Toscano’s four.

Of their front seven, Toscano leads the Wildcats with 72 total tackles. Silver has tallied 53 tackles and linebacker Brandon Perkins has 46.

Will Stony Brook’s offensive line stop New Hampshire’s forceful pass rush to open a window for its air game?

New Hampshire’s defense will present a challenge when quarterback Tyler Knoop drops back to pass. Although the Seawolves’ offensive line has protected their quarterbacks well, allowing the fifth-fewest sacks (16) in the CAA, the Wildcats have gotten through at a high rate. Their 27 sacks are tied for the second most in the conference.

Silver has led the charge, registering a joint-CAA-best 11.5 sacks on the season. Ruiz (four) and Toscano (2.5) are the only other players with multiple sacks, and eleven other players have notched at least half a sack.

“It starts at their defensive line,” head coach Billy Cosh said in a press conference on Monday. “[It has helped them] hold teams to a lot less points this year. We’ve got to have a great week of execution and match their physicality.”

Its ability to apply pressure has helped New Hampshire bolster the third-best passing defense in the CAA, allowing just 191.4 passing yards per game. Its secondary has helped out as well with six interceptions, one of which being a pick-six.

Knoop will look to his many receiver options to burn the Wildcats. Wide receiver Jasiah Williams has been his main target, as he leads the team with 39 receptions — 29 of which have come in the last four games. 

Jasiah Williams also leads the team with 376 receiving yards, followed closely by wide receiver Jayce Freeman, who has 358. Freeman has been a magnet for big plays, as he is averaging 23.9 yards per reception. He has also been Knoop’s favorite target when looking for a score, as he has scored five touchdowns in his last four games, giving him the team lead in that department.

Jasiah Williams has reached the end zone as well, as his three touchdown receptions are the second most on the team. Stony Brook’s tight-end tandem has also been key in its deep offense. Tight end Cal Redman has 19 receptions for 254 yards and tight end Cole Bunicci has 11 receptions for 213 yards. Both have reached the end zone with Redman getting there twice and Bunicci once.

In addition to his menacing presence on the ground, Dempster can also put up numbers on pass plays. He ranks second on the team with 28 receptions and has gained 313 yards in those chances.

Wide receiver Dez Williams has also contributed, as he has attained 239 receiving yards on 18 receptions.

Knoop will look to continue his high efficiency despite the potential of increased pressure. Knoop has the best completion percentage (69.9%) of all qualified passers in the conference. He is also averaging 141.9 passing yards per game and has thrown 11 touchdown passes with just three interceptions.

Can Stony Brook’s defense continue to force turnovers at an impressive rate?

The Seawolves have forced turnovers better than any other team in the conference, and they have done so in multiple ways. Not only are Stony Brook’s 11 interceptions the most in the conference, but its 14 recovered fumbles also top all other teams.

Cornerback Rudy Silvera is the biggest threat in the secondary, as he leads the team and is tied for third in the CAA with three interceptions. He is the only player on the team with multiple interceptions. Aside from him, eight other players have grabbed an opposing quarterback’s pass attempt.

When it comes to forced fumbles, defensive tackle Rushawn Lawrence and defensive end Rodney Faulk have led the charge, both having forced two fumbles. Similarly, many have contributed when it comes to forcing fumbles, as after Lawrence and Faulk, six others have poked a ball free once.

The Seawolves have excelled at getting their opponents off the field as well. Opponents convert on just 33.6% of third-down attempts, which is the fourth-best mark in the CAA. They have not been as successful in preventing opponents on fourth down attempts, allowing opponents to reach the first-down marker in 7-of-15 attempts.

That being said, can Stony Brook neutralize the main part of New Hampshire’s offense?

Though the Wildcats rank eighth in passing yards per game (215.1), they have scored through the air 21 times, which is tied for the fourth-highest mark in the conference. However, New Hampshire is scoring 22.6 points per game, which is the fifth fewest in the CAA. Nonetheless, that number would be even lower if it was not for the team’s passing game.

Quarterback Seth Morgan is at the helm of the Wildcats’ offense. Morgan’s 1,884 passing yards are the third most in the conference and he has accumulated them efficiently, connecting on 65.8% of his attempts, which is the fourth-highest rate. His presence is a threat to reach the end zone, as his 20 passing touchdowns are the second most in the CAA.

Morgan’s primary target is wide receiver Logan Tomlinson, who leads the conference with 67 receptions. In the surplus of chances, Tomlinson has 738 receiving yards and eight touchdown receptions, which are also the best marks on the team.

After Tomlinson, wide receivers Caleb Burke and Joey Corcoran have been targeted the most, as they have 37 and 36 receptions, respectively. Burke has registered 582 yards on 15.7 yards per reception and six touchdowns. Corcoran has gained 421 yards on his receptions and has reached the end zone three times.

Tight ends Colby Ramshaw and Drew Danson have been utilized on scoring opportunities at points. Ramshaw has three touchdowns while Danson has one. 

The Seawolves’ secondary presents a challenge for the Wildcats air game. They have allowed 203.6 passing yards per game and just 13 passing touchdowns, which are the seventh and fifth-best marks in the CAA. Stony Brook’s ability to limit scores via the air has propelled it to the fourth-best scoring defense in the conference, allowing just 21.1 points per game.

In addition to his interceptions, Silvera leads the team and is tied for second in the conference with 10 pass breakups. Cornerback Deshawn Jones Jr. has made his presence felt as well with four breakups of his own. Linebackers Anthony Ferrelli, A.J. Roberts and Clarens Legagneur have broken up three passes each.

Ferrelli leads the team with 72 total tackles, closely followed by Roberts, who has 71. Safety Shamoun Duncan-Niusulu is among the top contributors, notching 60 tackles of his own. 

Like the Wildcats, Stony Brook also owns a strong pass rush. Its 26 sacks sit just behind New Hampshire’s 27, as they are tied for the fourth most in the conference. Lawrence has been a total game-wrecker, as he leads the team and is tied for third in the CAA with eight sacks. 

Bolesta has notched three sacks while Faulk and linebacker Chayce Chalmers have tallied 2.5 apiece. Defensive end Kris Caine and linebacker Tyson McCloud have both gotten home twice and Ferrelli has picked up 1.5 sacks. Five other Seawolves have contributed at least half a sack.

Will that force the Wildcats to use their backfield more against a Stony Brook run defense that has struggled?

New Hampshire’s ground game is the worst in the conference, ranking last in rushing yards per game (88.6), total rushing yards (886), yards per carry (2.9) and touchdowns (four).

The Wildcats’ main back is running back Isaac Seide, who leads the team with 428 rushing yards. Most of that came in one game against Holy Cross when he had 161 rushing yards. Outside of that performance, he has not had over 75 rushing yards in a contest.

Behind him, running back Myles Thomason could be a prominent figure in the backfield, as his 67 attempts are the second most on the team. However, Thomason has played in just four games this season and has gotten the most snaps in all of them. In his chances, he has 213 yards and 3.2 yards per carry.

Next to him is running back Denzell Gibson, who is coming off the best game of his season. Last week, he put up 88 rushing yards with a touchdown in a victory over Monmouth. On the season he has 224 rushing yards and his score last week was his first trip to the end zone.

With Seide and Thomason banged up, Gibson — a redshirt freshman — may get the bulk of opportunities this weekend.

“[Gibson]’s a physically impressive young man,” New Hampshire head coach Rick Santos said. “He’s been practicing extremely well over the last month so we wanted to reward him by getting him in there more. As the game went along, we rode the hot hand and he certainly was that.”

While New Hampshire’s backfield does not come off as a threat, it could try to catch the Seawolves’ lackluster run defense off guard. Stony Brook’s defense has been a liability when it comes to preventing the run, as its 174.6 rushing yards allowed per game are the fourth most in the conference. Teams have also been efficient against the Seawolves, putting up 5.1 yards per carry, which is tied for the second-highest rate in the CAA.

Despite this, Stony Brook allowed just three backfield scores in its last three games. In total, the Seawolves have given up just 13 rushing touchdowns, which is tied for the fifth fewest in the conference.

To stay on its feet, Stony Brook will rely on Lawrence, who has been the best at tackling in the backfield, registering a team-leading 11.5 tackles for a loss. Faulk and defensive tackle Taylor Bolesta have been the next best, with six tackles for a loss each.

Ferrelli (5.5), Chalmers (5.5), Caine (four), Roberts (3.5), McCloud (3.5), defensive lineman Sebastian Regis (3.5) and Legagneur (two) have all registered multiple tackles for a loss.

The Seawolves have a clear lane to victory and should they win, they will put themselves in a good spot for a potential playoff berth.

“They play hard and they play together,” Cosh said. “We’re excited to take the ferry up there this weekend and play our best football.”