Following Stony Brook Football’s 21-18 victory over William and Mary on Saturday, the team’s fourth consecutive win, the Seawolves have catapulted themselves into both Football Championship Subdivision Top 25 standing polls. Stony Brook is ranked 23rd in the STATS FCS Poll and 24th in the FCS Coaches Poll after starting the season with a 4-1 overall record, which includes going 3-0 against all Colonial Athletic Association conference teams.
Stony Brook is one of seven CAA teams that are currently ranked in the STATS FCS Poll, with James Madison being the highest ranking team from the conference. Stony Brook was last ranked No. 25 in the STATS FCS poll after a week nine win over Delaware last season. Stony Brook’s overall record at the time was 5-3.
This season marks the first time the Seawolves have started the season 4-1 since 2012. In 2012, the team finished second in the Big South with a 10-3 overall record and a 4-1 conference record.
The Seawolves have been successfully executing their game plan this season. The team has led its opponents at halftime in each game and outscored them by more than triple the amount, 89-24. Stony Brook’s success can be credited to its overpowering run game coupled with junior quarterback Joe Carbone’s 180 degree turnaround into a credible passing weapon. Meanwhile, the team’s dominant defense has held opponents to 18 points or less since South Florida scored 38 in week one.
On Monday, a major contributor to the Seawolves defense, junior defensive end John Haggart, was awarded CAA Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his three sack performance in Stony Brook’s win over William and Mary.
Stony Brook Football looks to continue their hot streak, as they take on Delaware in a conference matchup at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m..
Joseph Konig contributed reporting to this story.
Correction: Oct. 2, 2017
In a previous version of this story, The Statesman stated that Stony Brook played in the Colonial Athletic Association in 2012. Stony Brook played in the Big South Conference in 2012.
