After a bye week, the Stony Brook Football team needs to come back refreshed for a big conference matchup with New Hampshire. After a big win at homecoming followed by a solid victory at Colgate, a third straight win will propel the Seawolves over the .500 hump for the first time since the first game of the season.
In the biggest defeat of the season, Stony Brook took a pounding from the Villanova Wildcats, a rough game after the depleting five-overtime loss the week before against Buffalo. The biggest thing that jumps out from New Hampshire’s results for the season is that not only did they stay with Villanova, but they beat them 29-28. If New Hampshire beat Villanova, one would think that Stony Brook would have their work cut out for them, but that person would be wrong.
In every one of the 3-3 New Hampshire losses, there is one statistic that pops up that the Seawolves can exploit: great starts, not so great finishes. In every loss, New Hampshire jumped on their opponent early, taking a big lead before slowly letting it slip away. It will be important for Coach Priore and his own quick starting team to not only try to establish possession of the ball early on with the run to keep the New Hampshire offense off the field, but to keep in touch early if they do fall behind.
Stony Brook is playing what can be described, a dangerous aerial attack this week, with a powerful offense through the air and on the ground. Although more touchdowns come on the ground, New Hampshire converts almost the same number of first downs through the air as with their running backs.
When an offense averages almost 500 yards of total offense, they can move the ball up and down the field almost every time they get the football. When put in a 3rd down situation, New Hampshire converts nearly half the time, meaning that they do not get off the field too often once they get on it. This brings the Stony Brook running game into the equation as even without NFL player Miguel Maysonet and star Marcus Coker, they have been able to control games this season. Jameel Poteat has stepped in with his 4.6 yards per rush, and he needs to help Stony Brook control time of possession to play keep away in order to hold this from turning into a high-paced, high-scoring game.
Having given up a mere 16 points in the last two games of football, the defense needs to remain stout. A solid defense with a possessing offensive attack will help the Seawolves take down New Hampshire.
