Back to school means back to college football season, and this fall is no exception. After finishing second overall in the Big South Conference standings last year, the Seawolves are eager to get back on the field.
Preseason camp, and a series of practices and scrimmages, have led up to Saturday’s date with Hofstra being the season opener. The Seawolves won’t play on their home field until Sept. 19 against Brown, and conference play kicks off in early October.
In only its second season in the Big South, Stony Brook is quickly becoming a conference heavyweight. The league’s head coaches selected the Seawolves to duplicate their second place finish in last month’s preseason poll. Also, four Seawolves were preseason all-conference selections: sophomore Edwin Gowins (Bellport, N.Y.), and seniors Chris Richards (Quartz Hills, Calif.), Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.), and Conte Cuttino (Uniondale, N.Y.).
Linebacker Santucci and cornerback Richards both started every game for the Seawolves last season, and were second team All-Conference selections. As pillars of the Seawolves defense, they created havoc for opposing teams, with Santucci racking up on tackles, and Richards intercepting passes.
As they handle the defensive end, the Gowins-Cuttino combination literally carries the Seawolves’ offense. The running back duo was the only one in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) that saw each run for over 1,000 yards. After last season’s stellar play, Cuttino stands alone at the top, being Stony Brook’s all-time leader in yards with 2,807. Gowins had an outstanding rookie season, racking up Freshman Of The Year honors, both from the Big South and the College Sporting News.
‘Losing parts of the offensive line will hurt us a bit,’ said Seawolves Head Coach Chuck Piore, ‘But those two kids are quality players that should be recognized nationally, and they will be who we build our offense around.’
Solid numbers will be essential in the Seawolves’ quest to take the Conference’s top seed. Ranked ahead of the Seawolves are the Liberty Flames, and below them are the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers, completing the top three. With last year’s core still intact, the Seawolves hope to live up to the high expectations.
