SAINTS NAME 2007 CAPTAINS; CONCLUDE STRONG SPRING SEASON

 

May 3: With the conclusion of what head football coach Chris Phelps called "the best spring since I've been here," the St. Lawrence football team announced its 2007 captains on Wednesday. Seniors Brett Young, Josh Hodges and Judin Pierre Louis were voted by their teammates and coaches to lead the Saints next season.

 

Brett Young led the Saints in receptions with 42 catches for 535 yards and five touchdowns in 2006.	Josh Hodges, (top left), collected 35 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks in 2006.	Judin Pierre Louis was third on the team in tackles in 2006, registering 57 tackles and two sacks.

 

Young, a four-year starter at tight end, led the team in receptions last season with 42 catches for 535 yards and five touchdowns. The Sanbornville, N.H. native was named Liberty League First Team Offense and East Region Second Team Offense. Young has been a standout player for the Saints throughout his career. He was named Liberty League Rookie of the Year, Liberty League First Team Offense and East Region Second Team Offense after his freshman season. He received Liberty League Honorable Mention and East Region Honorable Mention honors after a strong sophomore campaign where he was the Saints second-leading receiver.

 

Outside of the statistics line that has defined an already remarkable career at St. Lawrence, Young exhibits leadership, determination and strong character, just a few of the qualities that led to his selection.

 

"Brett Young, outside of his playing ability which initially caught peoples' eye, was selected as a captain because of the way he approaches practice and workouts and the things he needs to do to get better," Phelps said. "When you get the combination of those qualities, you have a great captain."

 

Senior defensive end Josh Hodges has led the Saints both on and off the field. One of the Saints best defensive players up front in 2006, Hodges collected 35 tackles, eight tackles for loss and two sacks. Showing the determination and toughness that earned him the 2006 Ironman Award-voted on solely by athletic trainer Jason Pennella to recognize the athlete who most exemplifies toughness and the work ethic required to overcome a serious injury- Hodges rebounded from off-season knee surgery in 2005 to have an outstanding 2006 season. Hodges started eight games in 2005, but suffered the season-ending knee injury during the second-to-last game of the season.

 

Phelps said Hodges earned the respect of his teammates not only by displaying remarkable courage and diligence in rehabilitation but also continuing to lead while he was injured.

 

"When he was hurt, he continued to lead by being there with his teammates at practice and on game day," Phelps said.

 

Linebacker Judin Pierre Louis will be the Saints third captain in 2007. Pierre Louis was third on the team in tackles in 2006 with 57 total stops, three tackles for loss and two sacks. He came on strong for the Saints early in his sophomore season, registering 40 tackles in just four games before suffering a season-ending injury. He returned strong in 2006 to contribute to one of the best linebacking corps in the Liberty League.

 

In addition to his strength on the field, Phelps said Pierre Louis is a timely vocal leader.

 

"Judin is an unassuming vocal person," Phelps said. "From the outside looking in, he is very laid back, but when you get in the middle of things, he is very vocal. He has a great sense for when things need to be said and when things need to happen and he can motivate people around that."

 

The selection of the 2007 captains came on the final day of the official spring season. The Saints maximized all of their 15 workouts, which concluded Monday with the final day of testing on Wednesday, head coach Chris Phelps said.

 

"It was the best spring we have had since I have been here," he said. "The assistant coaches did a great job of motivating and challenging the players while creating a fun environment at practice."

 

With finals just around the corner, the Saints will focus on their academics until the conclusion of the academic school year. They will continue their workouts, individually, throughout the summer, following a detailed workout plan designed by the coaching staff.

 

"The spring set the foundation for them to move onto their summer workouts," Phelps said. "I think there is an understanding that the work they have done up to this point is just a stepping stone and the next phase is the summer program which will lead into preseason camp."

 

 

 

SPRING SEASON IN FULL SWING

April 6: Although preparations for 2007 unofficially began back in February with an intense workout program, the Saints spring season is now officially in full swing.

 

Practices began March 28 with the last of 15 sessions scheduled for May 2. The Saints weekly regimen combines four days in the weight room with Monday, Wednesday and Thursday practices. On the field, the Saints are not in pads, but rather focusing on conditioning, fundamentals and assignments, head coach Chris Phelps said.

 

"Not being in pads eliminates the contact of the game, but we are working on timing and technique and refreshing our assignments from the fall," Phelps said.

 

St. Lawrence, which is coming off a 5-4 season highlighted by thrilling come-from-behind wins over Johns Hopkins University and Rensselaer, a Hoffman Cup victory over Merchant Marine and a convincing 31-7 win over WPI, returns 13 starters from last year's team. Seven of those returners are offensive starters, including juniors Brett Young and Mike O'Donnell, both first team all league players who led the team in receptions and receiving yards respectively. Freshman running back Connor Hackett, who led the team in rushing, is another key returning offensive player. Defensively, the Saints return six players, including juniors Judin Pierre Louis, who was third on the team in tackles, and Josh Hodges, one of the most threatening players for the Saints on the defensive line.

 

With five practices under their belts, and more than a month to go, Phelps said he was pleased with the way his team has responded to spring workouts and hopes they can continue to progress rapidly.

 

"So far, I am happy with our enthusiasm and mental approach to spring practice," Phelps said. "We need to continue to put ourselves in position to develop physically and embrace the opportunity to develop fundamentally."

 

 

 

END OF SEASON BANQUET HONORS OUTSTANDING SAINTS

April 1: The 2006 St. Lawrence football family gathered together on Saturday to celebrate the outstanding 2006 season. In addition to acknowledging the team triumphs on the field from the past season, the Saints coaching staff acknowledged various individuals for their excellence in 2006.

 

Head coach Chris Phelps and his coaching staff presented seven players with end-of-the-season awards that were voted on by the coaches.

 

Senior defensive tackle Joe DeLaura was named Most Valuable Player.

 

Senior linebacker Hank Anderson was named Defensive Player of the Year while senior quarterback Matt Bezio was named Offensive Player of the Year.

 

Junior defensive end Josh Hodges received The Ironman Award, voted on soley by athletic trainer Jason Pennella. The award recognizes the athlete who most exemplifies toughness and the work ethic to overcome a serious injury. Hodges rebounded from off-season knee surgery in 2005 to have an outstanding 2006 season.

 

The coaches presented a co-Rookie of the Year Award as they found both Connor Hackett and Gerard Bryant deserving of the accolade. Hackett was the Saints leading rusher with 135 carries for 446 yards and Bryant was sixth on the team with 39 total tackles.

 

The John Burger Memorial Lineman of the Year Award was given to sophomore Josh Tyler.

 

Senior linebacker Jordan Burger and senior free safety Jerrod Jones received the Coaches Award, given to the player/players who constantly embody the qualities of leadership, work ethic, positive attitude and perseverance.

 

Phelps presented awards to each player who received a post season honor. That included eight Saints named to the All Liberty League Team and four Saints who were named All East Region. Junior Brett Young and Mike O'Donnell were named First Team All Liberty League Offense while seniors Joe DeLaura and Hank Anderson were named Second Team All Liberty League Defense. Senior Chris Fee was named Second Team All-Liberty League Offense.

 

Senior Matt Bezio was named Liberty League Honorable Mention Offense and sophomore Andy Welkley was named Liberty League Honorable Mention Defense. O'Donnel received All Liberty League Honorable Mention Special Teams Honors as well.

 

In addtion to their all league honors, Young, DeLaura, Fee and O'Donnell received All East Region recognition. Young was named Second Team All East Region Offense, while DeLaura was name Third Team All East Region Defense. Fee and O'Donnell were named All East Region Honorable Mention.

 

Phelps also acknowledged those Saints who were recognized by the league for weekly awards.

 

In addition to the award distribution, the coaching staff thanked the seniors and their parents for their dedication to the program.

 

Putting the success of 2006 into the record books however, the Saints are on to 2007. The team began spring practice last Wednesday and will continue through the next three weeks. For more on the Saints spring practice, see the football website on Friday, April 6.

 

SAINTS ANNOUNCE TWO COACHING CHANGES

March 29: The St. Lawrence University football program announced two changes to its coaching staff Thursday afternoon.

 

Steve Fountain, who served as the Saints offensive line coach from 2001-2006, was named offensive coordinator. In addition to his duties with the offensive line, Fountain will be responsible for the Saints game day play calling. Head coach Chris Phelps has served as the Saints primary play-caller since his hiring in December of 2000.

 

“It is tough for me to give up calling plays because it is something that I love to do, but I am confident Coach Fountain will do a great job and our offense will continue to get better and better.”

 

In his six years at St. Lawrence, Fountain has been significantly involved in the Saints game-planning, paving the way for a smooth transition to the offensive coordinator position, Phelps said.

 

“With the exception of play calling on game day, he has been an integral part of game preparation,” Phelps said. “The promotion is well-deserved and long overdue.”

 

St. Lawrence also announced the addition of Austin Weakfall to the program. Weakfall returns to his alma mater, where he was a member of the Saints football team from 2001-2005, to coach the Saints secondary.

 

Weakfall brings experience from coaching in the Spencerport Central School District in Rochester, NY and the Canton Central School District. He served as the head junior varsity football coach, assistant defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach in the Spencerport Central School District. He was also the head junior varsity lacrosse coach. At Canton High School, Weakfall coached football, lacrosse and basketball.

 

Weakfall will also serve as the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Development in the fall of 2007.

 

 

EAST REGION TEAM INCLUDES FOUR SAINTS

Jan 24: The Football Gazette released its East Region Team Wednesday morning, naming four Saints among its four All-Region Teams. Junior tight end Brett Young, a First-Team Liberty League Offensive player, was named to the East Region Second-Team Offense. The Sanbornville, NH native led the Saints in receptions with 42 catches for 535 yards and five touchdowns. Young is a three-time member of the East Region Team. In 2004 he was named to the second-team offense and last season, he received honorable mention honors.

 

Leading the way for the Saints defense was senior defensive tackle Joe DeLaura. The Tuckahoe, NY native was named to the East Region Third-Team Defense. DeLaura anchored the Saints defensive line in 2006, finishing wth 54 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks. DeLaura was also named to the Liberty League Second Team Defense, his third consecutive season as a member of the all-league team.

 

Junior wide receiver and senior offensive tackle Chris Fee were named East Region Honorable Mention. O'Donnell, a First-Team Liberty League Offensive Player, led the Saints in receiving yards with 29 catches for 652 yards and eight touchdowns. O'Donnell led the league in yards per reception and was second in receiving touchdowns.

 

Fee, a four-year All-League player for the Saints, was named to the East Region team for the second straight season. In 2005, Fee received third-team honors. Fee a co-captain, led a young group of offensive linemen to a productive season. St. Lawrence finished the season with the second best passing offense in the league. As a left tackle, Fee's blocking helped catapult quarterback Matt Bezio to league leading numbers in passing touchdowns and total offense.

 

Young and O'Donnell, who will return for their senior season in 2007, look to lead a Saints offense that was one of the most high-powered passing units in the Liberty League.

 

SEVEN SAINTS NAMED TO ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE TEAM

 

Brett Young '08	Mike O'Donnell '08

Nov. 14: The Liberty League announced its All-League team Tuesday morning, honoring seven Saints among its three All-League Teams. Leading the Saints were junior tight end Brett Young and junior wide receiver Mike O'Donnell, who were named First-Team Liberty League Offense. The duo led the way for the Saints offense that finished second in the league in passing offense.

 

Young led the Saints in receptions, catching 42 passes for 535 yards and five touchdowns, while O'Donnell led the Saints in receiving yards with 29 catches for 652 yards and eight touchdowns. O'Donnell led the league in yards per reception and was second in receiving touchdowns. O'Donnell was also named Honorable Mention Special Teams as a kick/punt returner, collecting 17 punt returns for 211 yards and 16 kick returns for 352 yards.

 

Senior offensive lineman Chris Fee rounded out his career with his fourth All-League Selection being named Second-Team Liberty League Offense. Fee led a young offensive line to a productive season, helping the Saints finish the season with the second best passing offense in the league. As a left tackle, Fee's blocking helped catapult quarterback Matt Bezio to league leading numbers in passing touchdowns and total offense.

 

Seniors Hank Anderson and Joe DeLaura were named Second-Team Liberty League Defense. Anderson, the Saints leading tackler with 76 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions, finished fourth in the league in total tackles. Anderson was the leader of a linebacking corps that led the Saints defense, generating its four leading tacklers.

 

DeLaura, who was named to the All-League team for the third straight year, finished the season with 54 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks. More importantly however, DeLaura's quickness and agility at the defensive tackle position consistently created havoc for oppossing offenses every week.

 

Quarterback Matt Bezio was named Honorable Mention Liberty League Offense for his outstanding senior campaign, edging out some of the most productive passers in the league. Bezio finished the season 129-246 for 1845 yards and a league leading 19 passing touchdowns. He also had nine carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He rounded out his senior year generating all 11 of the Saints touchdowns in their final two games. Bezio finished second in the Liberty League in total offense, second in yards per attempt and third in passing effeciency.

 

Cornerback Andy Welkley was named Honorable Mention Liberty League defense. As the Saints best cover cornerback, Welkley was given the weekly challenge of covering the opponents best receiver. Welkley helped lead the Saints to the secon best pass defense in the league, allowing just 179 yards a game through the air.

.

SAINTS FINISH 2006 WITH WINNING RECORD; PREPARE FOR OFF-SEASON

Nov. 12: The Saints might not have been on their home field to celebrate their first winning season since 1991, but that didn't stop them from carrying out the tradition of singing the alma mater after a win.

 

Just ask the folks in downtown Worcester, Mass. who watched the Saints bus, carrying 55 singing Saints, roll out of town. The echo of the St. Lawrence alma mater was not far behind them. The 31-7 victory over WPI was celebrated all the way back to Canton.

 

"I think the players took the winning season to heart," head coach Chris Phelps said. "After our two disappointing losses to Hobart and Union the guys could have gone one way or the other and they really set their goals on a winning season. We worked hard and the seniors showed excellent leadership and we got it done."

 

Sure, the winning season sets a new benchmark for the St. Lawrence program, but the way the Saints catapulted themselves about the .500 mark was thrilling.

 

After opening the season with a 17-13 victory over Norwich, the Saints dropped a heartbreaker to Alfred, losing in the games final minutes. St. Lawrence responded however, with a 21-20 come-from-behind victory over Johns Hopkins. The Saints seized the victory with an 15 play, 88 yard drive, scoring the winning touchdown with just 28 second left in the game.

 

After dropping their first league game, another disappointing loss to Rochester, the Saints showed tremendous heart, rebounding from the loss with their best game of the season, a 42-38 come-from-behind rally over Rensselaer. The win over the 2005 ECAC Northeast Bowl Champion Engineers gave the Saints a 3-2 record going into their bye-week.

 

A two-loss skid to the top two teams in the Liberty League set the Saints back to 3-4, but St. Lawrence didn't get frustrated. Instead, the Saints set their sights on winning back-to-back games to finish with a winning season.The Saints persevered, sending the 2006 season out in style.

 

Led by senior quarterback Matt Bezio, who collected 11 touchdowns, nine through the air and two rushing, in the Saints final two games, St. Lawrence rolled over league opponents Merchant Marine and WPI. Their 49-7 victory over Merchant Marine also gave the Saints their first Hoffman Cup victory.

 

It was the Saints 31-7 season-ending victory over WPI however, that put the Saints in the win column.

 

Phelps said the win not only sent the seniors off on the right note, but it changed the direction of St. Lawrence football.

 

"It was important for the young guys to send the seniors off with a win but its also important for us to continue the momentum of where we want to go," Phelps said. "We want to ultimately be in the playoffs and that is a strong goal that we are taking into the off-season."

 

The freshman, sophomore and juniors met Sunday afternoon to celebrate the season and refocus their attention to off-season duties. The team will take a couple of weeks off before Thanksgiving, but when they return on campus after the holiday, they will begin off-season workouts.

 

"No rest for the wicked," Phelps said with a laugh. "Right now the guys should, like always, focus on their academics with finals coming up, but when we get back from Thanksgiving we will start off-season strength and conditioning and recruiting."

 

The St. Lawrence coaching staff will not get much rest either as they hit the recruiting trail for the rest of November and into December. The Saints hope they can add another strong class for the 2007 season.

 

"We believe that our coaching staff did a great job of getting us three strong classes that are already here," Phelps. "We are looking to bring in another strong class to challenge our current guys and help us next season."

 

SAINTS FINISH 2006 WITH WINNING RECORD; PREPARE FOR OFF-SEASON

Nov. 12: The Saints might not have been on their home field to celebrate their first winning season since 1991, but that didn't stop them from carrying out the tradition of singing the alma mater after a win.

 

Just ask the folks in downtown Worcester, Mass. who watched the Saints bus, carrying 55 singing Saints, roll out of town. The echo of the St. Lawrence alma mater was not far behind them. The 31-7 victory over WPI was celebrated all the way back to Canton.

 

"I think the players took the winning season to heart," head coach Chris Phelps said. "After our two disappointing losses to Hobart and Union the guys could have gone one way or the other and they really set their goals on a winning season. We worked hard and the seniors showed excellent leadership and we got it done."

 

Sure, the winning season sets a new benchmark for the St. Lawrence program, but the way the Saints catapulted themselves about the .500 mark was thrilling.

 

After opening the season with a 17-13 victory over Norwich, the Saints dropped a heartbreaker to Alfred, losing in the games final minutes. St. Lawrence responded however, with a 21-20 come-from-behind victory over Johns Hopkins. The Saints seized the victory with an 15 play, 88 yard drive, scoring the winning touchdown with just 28 second left in the game.

 

After dropping their first league game, another disappointing loss to Rochester, the Saints showed tremendous heart, rebounding from the loss with their best game of the season, a 42-38 come-from-behind rally over Rensselaer. The win over the 2005 ECAC Northeast Bowl Champion Engineers gave the Saints a 3-2 record going into their bye-week.

 

A two-loss skid to the top two teams in the Liberty League set the Saints back to 3-4, but St. Lawrence didn't get frustrated. Instead, the Saints set their sights on winning back-to-back games to finish with a winning season.The Saints persevered, sending the 2006 season out in style.

 

Led by senior quarterback Matt Bezio, who collected 11 touchdowns, nine through the air and two rushing, in the Saints final two games, St. Lawrence rolled over league opponents Merchant Marine and WPI. Their 49-7 victory over Merchant Marine also gave the Saints their first Hoffman Cup victory.

 

It was the Saints 31-7 season-ending victory over WPI however, that put the Saints in the win column.

 

Phelps said the win not only sent the seniors off on the right note, but it changed the direction of St. Lawrence football.

 

"It was important for the young guys to send the seniors off with a win but its also important for us to continue the momentum of where we want to go," Phelps said. "We want to ultimately be in the playoffs and that is a strong goal that we are taking into the off-season."

 

The freshman, sophomore and juniors met Sunday afternoon to celebrate the season and refocus their attention to off-season duties. The team will take a couple of weeks off before Thanksgiving, but when they return on campus after the holiday, they will begin off-season workouts.

 

"No rest for the wicked," Phelps said with a laugh. "Right now the guys should, like always, focus on their academics with finals coming up, but when we get back from Thanksgiving we will start off-season strength and conditioning and recruiting."

 

The St. Lawrence coaching staff will not get much rest either as they hit the recruiting trail for the rest of November and into December. The Saints hope they can add another strong class for the 2007 season.

 

"We believe that our coaching staff did a great job of getting us three strong classes that are already here," Phelps. "We are looking to bring in another strong class to challenge our current guys and help us next season."

 

SAINTS STEAMROLL WPI, 31-7

 

BEZIO NAMED ECAC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nov. 8: Saints quarterback Matt Bezio was named Division III Northwest Offensive Player of the Week. The Senior quarterback had a career day, going 19-26 for 320 yards and six touchdowns in the Saints 49-7 victory over Merchant Marine. Bezio was also the Saints second leading rusher with 67 yards and a 18 yard touchdown run. His six touchdowns through the air set a school record for touchdowns in a game, breaking defensive backs coach Mike Mahoney's previous record of five.

 

Bezio was also named Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week and took home the Hoffman Cup Most Valuable Player plaque.

 

THREE SAINTS RECEIVE WEEKLY LEAGUE HONORS

Nov. 6: The Saints dominant 49-7 victory over Merchant Marine Nov. 4 did not go unnoticed. Three St. Lawrence players received league honors for their outstanding performances in Saturday's game. Quarterback Matt Bezio was named Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week for his career day. The senior quarterback accounted for all seven of the Saints touchdowns, throwing for a school record six touchdowns and running for an 18 yard score of his own. He collected more than 400 yards of total offense, passing for 336 yards on a 18 for 26 performance without being intercepted. He also was the Saints second leading rusher with nine carries for 67 yards.

 

Wide receiver Mike O'Donnell was named Special Teams Performer of the Week. O'Donnell collected 108 yards on four returns Saturday, including a 79 yard punt return following Merchant Marine's first offensive possession of the day. O'Donnell was brought down just three yards short of a touchdown return. He added three touchdown catches as a receiver to help the Saints to a 49-7 victory over the Mariners.

 

Freshman defensive tackle Gerard Bryant was named Co-Rookie of the Week collecting six tackles, including a sack and another tackle for a loss in the Saints 49-7 victory over Merchant Marine. The Saints held the Mariners to just 247 yards of offense on the day. Bryant shared honors with Graig Baxter from Rochester.

 

SAINTS DOMINATE MERCHANT MARINE ON SENIOR DAY

Nov. 4: They must have rang the vicotry bell a dozen times. Chris Fee started it, then Hank Anderson gave it a nudge, then Jordan Burger and Ryan McConville. The Saints seniors rang the victory bell like it was their last time-and it was. Walk outside of Leckonby Stadium, and there might still be a couple of them there.

 

The Saints played inspired football Saturday as they marched all over Merchant Marine, posting a 49-7 victory and making it a senior day the Saints 12 seniors will never forget. With the win, the Saints evened their record at 4-4 and put themselves in position to post the team's first winning record since 1991. The game also marked the fourth annual Hoffman Cup, a trophy passed on annually to the winner of the battle between St. Lawrence and Merchant Marine. It was St. Lawrence's first Hoffman Cup victory.

 

Perhaps the difference between Saturday's dominate performance and the past two games for the St. Lawrence was the Saints first quarter spark. The Saints scored on their first three drives of the game, marching down the field with diligence.Led by quarterback Matt Bezio, who had a phenomenal game passing for 336 yards and six touchdowns and was named the Saints Most Valuable Player, St. Lawrence drove the ball 85 yards on eight plays on their first drive. Bezio scored his first of six touchdowns when he broke loose from the Merchant Marine defense after almost getting taken down in the backfield. Bezio tucked the ball and ran for an 18 yard touchdown. A missed PAT gave the Saints an early 6-0 lead.

 

Bezio said he found a rhythm early, which which made it easier to maintain momentum.

 

"We knew that we wanted to get off to a strong start because that is something that we have struggled with in the past couple of weeks," Bezio said referring to the Saints back-to-back losses to Hobart and Union. "We did a good job, especially on the offensive line, and we just went out and made plays early."

 

The Saints added to that lead on their next possession. After wide receiver Mike O'Donnell returned a Merchant Marine punt 79 yards to the five yard line, the Saints took just two plays to punch it into the end zone. Bezio tossed a five yard touchdown pass to freshman tight end John Quartuccio to put the Saints up 13-0 with eight minutes left in the first quarter.

 

St. Lawrence's third consecutive score came just minutes later after senior linebacker Hank Anderson intercepted Merchant Marine quarterback Chuck Kleinschnitz at the 41 yard line and returned it to the 27 yard line. That set up the Saints for a one-strike, 27 yard touchdown pass from Bezio to tight end Brett Young.

 

Merchant Marine responded with their only score of the game when Kleinschnitz completed a three yard touchdown pass to Jon Spiropoulos to tighten the Saints margin to 20-7.

 

The Saints continued with their offensive fire power in the second quarter. Bezio tossed an 80 yard touchdown pass to O'Donnell with 10 minutes left in the first half, putting the Saints up 26-7. St. Lawrence added two more scores before the intermission. Bezio and O'Donnell connected again with just under three minutes remaining in the half, for a 44 yard touchdown pass. Merchant Marine fumbled on the ensuing kickoff, and St. Lawrence recovered at the 43 yard line. The Saints marched 5 plays in just 52 seconds as Bezio capped off the drive with a 17 yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jeremy Cronin.

 

The scoreboard at halftime read 39-7.

 

Bezio collected his sixth touchdown, and his third to O'Donnell at the end of the third quarter. After connecting with wide receiver Troy Lassial for a 29 yard pass play, Bezio hit O'Donnell for a 16 yard touchdown pass just two plays later, extending the Saints lead to 46-7.O'Donnell finished the game with four catches for 147 yards and three touchdowns, a season high in receiveing yards. Matt Popov nailed a 32 yard field goal with just over ten minutes left in the fourth quarter to reach the final score.

 

The Saints will travel to Worcester, Mass. next weekend to wrap up their season at WPI. Bezio said he wants nothing more than to send the Saints off with its first winning season in over a decade.

 

"We need that here," Bezio said. "Obviously we are working on turning this program around and to go 5-4 with wins against some tough teams would be huge for us."

SAINTS FALL TO HOBART 27-7

Oct. 21: St. Lawrence fell to 3-3 on the season and 1-2 in the Liberty League after a 27-7 loss to the 18th ranked Hobart Statesmen on Saturday. Hobart dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for almost 40 minutes, and held St. Lawrence to just 122 yards of total offense.

 

Despite the lopsided time of possession, the Statesmen scored just 20 points in the first 58 minutes of the game. Hobart put the ball in the end zone with just under a minute and a half left in the game, to make the score 27-7. The Saints defense stayed tough despite being on the field for long periods of time. Led by senior linebacker Jordan Burger, who had a game high 16 tackles and junior defensive end Robert Bracho, who had back-to-back sacks in the second quarter, the Saints defense contained Hobart's offense.

 

The Saints offense however, struggled to gain any momentum as the Statemen brought an aggressive defensive attack, putting pressure on quarterback Matt Bezio all afternoon. The Saints had just two first downs and possessed the ball less than 10 minutes in the first half. But the score at halftime was a modest 13-0.

 

"They were really coming hard and they did a good job of mixing it up so, as a unit, we never got in sync all afternoon, " Bezio said.

 

After a scoreless first quarter, Hobart strung together an eight play, 50 yard drive that was capped off by a two yard run by running back Doug Blakowski, who finished with 128 yards and two touchdowns. A missed PAT put the Statesmen up 6-0 with 13 minutes left in the game.

 

Hobart struck again on its next drive when running back Don Gilardi broke loose for a 55 yard touchdown run to put the Statemen up 13-0 with just over 10 minutes left in the half. The Statesmen took that lead into halftime.

 

Hobart extended its lead early in the second half when quarterback Shawn Mizro completed an 18 yard touchdown pass to wide reciever James Wright, putting the Statesmen up 20-0.

 

The Saints responded at the end of the quarter after Bezio connected with wide receiver Jeremy Cronin twice on the six play, 74 yard drive. Running back Connor Hackett capped off the drive with a two yard touchdown run that tightened Hobart's margin to 20-7.

 

The Saints struggled with field position in the second half and did not start a drive past their own 20 yard line in the fourth quarter. With just over six minutes left to play the Saints got a little momentum after Bezio completed a 26 yard pass to wide receiver Mike O'Donnell. However, Bezio was intercepted on the next play after the intended receiver tipped the ball unfavorably for the Saints and it ended up in the hands of a Statesmen defender.

 

Hobart capitalized on the interception, scoring on a nine play, 50 yard drive to seal the game.

 

Head coach Chris Phelps said this is a loss the team will have to put behind them and look towards the next game.

 

"I told the guys after the game that this is a good football team but we still have a lot of football left to win," Phelps said. "I think we have guys with good character that will respond in a positive way for us."

 

The Saints will travel to Schenectady next weekend to face Union College.

 

 

 

DUTCHMEN ROUT SAINTS BEHIND BIG

DAY FROM ARCIDIACONO

Tom Arcidiacono is a name the St. Lawrence football team will not soon forget. Union’s senior running back rushed for 172 yards and five touchdowns as the Dutchmen defeated the Saints 42-7 on Saturday. The Saints struggled all afternoon to contain the six foot, 210 pound running back who led the charge for the Dutchmen. The loss moves the Saints to 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in the Liberty League, while Union moves to 6-1 and a perfect 4-0 in the league.

 

St. Lawrence got down early after a pair of penalties on the Saints set the Dutchmen up at the Saints 34 yard line. Just three plays later, Arcidiacono rushed for his first touchdown of the game, putting Union up 7-0. The Dutchmen added to their lead on their next possession as Arcidiacono punched the ball into the end zone on a five yard touchdown run, making the score 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.

 

The Saints drove the ball 12 plays, threatening at the Union seven yard line, but they could not muster any momentum and turned the ball over on downs.

 

Union drove 72 yards in eight plays on their next possession as Arcidiacono capped off the drive with an 11 yard touchdown run, putting the Dutchmen up 21-0 with eight and a half minutes left in the half.

 

The Saints had an opportunity to respond on their next drive, but three straight penalties wiped out two plays that would have given the Saints a first down in Union territory. The scoreboard at halftime read 21-0.

 

Arcidiacono continued to run all over the Saints defense in the second half. On Union’s second possession of the second half, he broke loose for a 47 yard touchdown run, giving the Dutchmen a 28-0 lead.

 

The Saints got some offensive momentum on their next possession as quarterback Matt Bezio connected with wide receiver Mike O’Donnell twice, once for a 41 yard pass play. That set the Saints up in the red zone, but they were unable to convert and turned the ball over on downs at the seven yard line.

 

Arcidiacano earned his fifth touchdown of the game on Union’s ensuing drive as he capped off a 17 play drive with a one yard touchdown run.

 

The Saints got on the board with 6:57 left in the game as back-up quarterback Brad Heil engineered a five play, 52 yard drive, and connected with wide receiver Troy Lassial from 16 yard touchdown pass. Lassial made an athletic grab in the back of the end zone to make the score 35-7.

 

Union extended its margin to 42-7 with five minutes left in the game as John Johnson rushed for a 24 yard touchdown.

 

The Saints will play their final home game at Leckonby Stadium at 1 p.m. Nov. 4 against Merchant Marine.

 

 

McConville Named Co-Defensive Player of the Week

Oct. 9: Senior linebacker Ryan McConville was named Liberty League Co-Defensive Player of the week for his performance in the Saints 42-38 come-from-behind victory over Rensselaer Oct. 7. The All-League linebacker from Cold Spring, N.Y. tallied five tackles and a game-changing interception for the Saints.

 

Trailing 38-28 with nine and a half minutes left in the game, McConville intercepted Rensselaer quarterback Jimmy Robertson at the RPI 24 yard line and retuned the interception for a touchdown.

 

"I read the quarterback's eyes and I was able to tell where he was going to throw it, " McConville said. "The receiver fell down and all I could see was the end zone."

 

McConville's score tightened the Engineers lead to 38-35 and shifted the momentum in the Saints direction. According to head coach Chris Phelps, it was the turning point of the game.

 

"That was the real momentum shift for us because after that everyone just elevated their play a couple of notches," Phelps said.

 

 

SAINTS COME FROM BEHIND TO DEFEAT RENSSELAER 42-38

Oct. 7: Jimmy Robertson's fourth down pass hung in the air for an eternity. Hovering above Rensselaer wide receiver Chris Graef, who was heavily guarded in the end zone by cornerback Devaun McFarland, the pass could have gone to either player. Just when Graef reached up to grab the 15 yard toss that would have given RPI the game winning score, McFarland tipped it away.

 

Ballgame!

 

Trailing 42-38 with 3:31 left in the game, the Engineers orchestrated a nine play, 57 yard drive that gave them a first and goal from the Saints nine yard line and a chance to win the game. Robertson rushed for four yards on first down to give RPI a second down and goal from the Saints five yard line. The Engineers were whistled for a false start on second down, moving them back to the ten yard line. On the following play, Saints defenders Jordan Burger and Gerard Bryant brought RPI running back Jay Bernardo down in the backfield for a four yard loss. An incomplete third down pass set up the game-deciding fourth down play.

 

"I saw the the ball coming down and I turned around to see where it was," McFarland said. "They challenged me and I figured I would try and step up at the end of the game."

 

With the win, the Saints moved to 3-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Liberty League. Perhaps more importantly however, they seized some momentum going into their bye weekend Oct. 14.

 

"It was just one of those games where we toughed it out," Saints head coach Chris Phelps said. "Last week, Rochester came down and scored on us to win the game and these guys could have backed up and let that happen again, but they stayed tough."

 

The Saints scored 21 unanswered points to rally from a 28-7 halftime deficit. On their second drive of the third quarter, the Saints struck quickly, scoring on a four play 42 yard drive that took only one minute 59 seconds. The score tightened the Engineers lead to 28-14. RPI however, responded on their ensuing possession with a 36 yard field goal by Drew Taranto, putting them up 31-14 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

 

On the next drive, Saints quarterback Matt Bezio connected with wide receiver Jeremy Cronin for a 35 yard pass play that put the Saints in scoring position. Bezio hit tight end Brett Young, who led the Saints with 7 catches for 111 yards, for an eight yard touchdown pass. With 14:19 left in the game, the Saints trailed 31-21.

 

The Engineers continued the scoring trend when Robertson completed a four yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brendan McGowan, putting RPI up 38-21 with 12:09 left in the game.

 

That is when the Saints rattled off 21 straight to come from behind. On their next drive, the Saints marched 63 yards in 11 plays. St. Lawrence passed on nine plays of the drive, including a 24 yard pass play from Bezio to Connor Hackett on third down and 12 to keep the drive alive. Bezio capped the drive off with an 11 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Lassial, tightening the score to 38-28 with nine and a half minutes left in the game.

 

The Saints defense came up with perhaps the biggest play of the game just two plays later. Linebacker Ryan McConville intercepted Robertson at the RPI 24 yard line and returned it for a touchdown, putting the Saints within one score.

 

"We were in man coverage, and I could tell where he was going to throw it, "McConville said. "The receiver fell down and all I could see was the end zone."

 

If you ask Phelps, he will tell you that was the turning point of the game.

 

"I didn't even see it because we were talking to our guys on the sideline," Phelps said with a laugh. "But all of the sudden everyone was going crazy and I heard it over the headset. That was the real momentum shift for us because after that everyone elevated their play a few notches."

 

Trailing just 38-35 with about nine minutes left in the game, the Saints defense held the Engineers to a three and out on the next drive, setting up the offense for a game-winning opportunity.

 

A 20 yard pass from Bezio to Young prefaced the offensive highlight of the game for the Saints. On the next play, Bezio lofted a perfect pass to the Saints speedy wide receiver, Mike O'Donnell, who made an athletic over-the-shoulder grab in the corner of the end zone.

 

Saints 42, Rensselaer 38.

 

With the score, the offense's job was done. With three and a half minutes left in the game, the Saints defense took the field with the game on the line. After surrendering a few big yardage plays, the Saints held the Engineers in the red zone for four plays, including McFarland's game-deciding break-up.

 

"I told the kids at halftime that we weren't out of this one," Phelps said. "Sometimes when your down by that much, something like that is hard to believe, but these kids believed and because of that we won the game."

 

 

SAINTS FALL TO ROCHESTER 19-18

Sept. 30: The Saints fell to 2-2 and 0-1 in the Liberty League after getting outlasted by Rochester 19-18. The Yellowjackets jumped out to a 7-0 lead after a 12 play, 78 yard drive capped off by a six yard touchdwon run by running back Matt Beliecki.

 

The Saints tightened the Yellowjackets margin in the closing minutes of the first half. St. Lawrence marched 84 yards in 16 plays, finishing the drive with a 10 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Bezio to tight end Brett Young. After a failed PAT, the Saints pulled within a 7-6 margin going into halftime.

 

The Saints had the ball to start the second half, but were unable to get a first down and were forced to punt. A strong special teams play however, put the ball back into the Saints hands. The Yellowjackets fumbled the punt return and the Saints recovered at the Rochester 40 yard line. One play later, Bezio tossed the ball to wide receiver Mike O'Donnell behind the line of scrimmage. O'Donnell threw a perfect 40 yard pass to a Connor Hackett, who was wide open downfield. Despite a failed two-point conversion, the Saints took a 12-7 lead with 12 minutes left in third quarter.

 

Rochester responded quickly, scoring on a seven play, 57 yard drive engineered by running back Matt Beliecki, who scored on a one yard touchdown run. That gave the Yellowjackets a 13-12 lead with eight and a half minutes left in the game.

 

Their lead did not last long. Led by freshman running back Josh Izzo, who carried the ball 11 times, caught two passes and rushed for a 12 yard touchdown run on the 14 play drive, the Saints took an 18-13 lead into the fourth quarter.

 

Both teams traded possessions in the last 15 minutes of the game, unable to muster any offense. Rochester finally got some momentum in the last five minutes of the game, putting together a game-winning scoring drive. Led by back-up quarterback Aaron Molisani, who passed for 42 yards and rushed for 15 yards and a touchdown on the drive, the Yellowjackets scored with just 41 seconds left on the clock. A failed two-point conversion gave Rochester a 19-18 lead and the Saints little time to rally.

 

Forty-one seconds was not enough for the Saints to drive down the field and St. Lawrence fell to Rochester 19-18, moving to 2-2 on the season.

 

 

 

SAINTS SEIZE A THRILLING 21-20 WIN AGAINST JOHNS HOPKINS

Sept. 23: On the sideline, Mike O’Donnell turned and faced the crowd, throwing his hands in the air, urging the crowd to cheer louder. From the field, Ryan McConville cupped his hand around his ear challenging the fans to get loud. Andy Welkley joined in, and then Jerrod Jones.

 

The Saints could feel it. They had accomplished a remarkable feat. Their 21-20 come-from-behind win against Johns Hopkins University on Saturday was one that none of those players will soon forget.

 

Leading 14-0 with less than a minute left in the third quarter, the Saints looked to be in control of the game. Turnovers however, and Blue Jays running back Phil Roberts were the Saints nemesis in the fourth quarter. Johns Hopkins scored on three straight drives to take a 20-14 lead. Deflated and without momentum, St. Lawrence got the ball back with 3:28 left in the game. The Saints responded with an exhilarating15 play, 88 yard scoring drive that put them up 21-20 after Matt Popov’s successful PAT.

 

“We played our hearts out today,” Saints quarterback Matt Bezio said. “We just had guys stick in there and make plays.”

 

Bezio was one of those guys. The senior quarterback engineered the final scoring drive, throwing two critical passes and scrambling for a first down to keep the drive alive. On third down and five, Bezio rushed for 18 yards to gain a first down. Four downs later, on a play that would have sealed a loss for the Saints, Bezio connected with wide receiver Troy Lassial for a 10 yard completion.

 

“Matt just hung in there on that play and made something out of nothing,” Saints head coach Chris Phelps said. “If he doesn’t make that play we lose the game.”

 

On the next play, Bezio tossed a 30 yard pass to freshman running back Connor Hackett who tip-toed in bounds to make the catch. That play set up the six yard touchdown pass from Bezio to tight end Brett Young to seize the Saints victory.

 

After a scoreless first quarter, the Saints scored on their final drive of the first half. Bezio tossed a 35 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mike O’Donnell to put them up 7-0 with one minute left in the second quarter. The Saints struck again with just over seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter when Bezio hit O’Donnell again for a 79 touchdown pass, the longest reception of his career.

 

O’Donnell, who had all of the Blue Jays defenders beat, said he felt like the ball was in the air forever.

 

“Matt threw a great pass and I just had to wait for it to come down,” O’Donnell said. “It was a perfectly thrown ball.”

 

That play was the end of the Saints momentum until the final drive of the game. The Blue Jays got on the board in the final seconds of the third quarter when running back Phil Roberts, who rushed for 163 yards on the day, broke loose for a 19-yard touchdown run. Ben Scott however missed the PAT making the score 14-6.

 

Johns Hopkins struck again on its next series,when quarterback Shane Kibbe rushed for a two yard touchdown. A failed extra point attempt made the score 14-12.

 

Things went from bad to worse for the Saints when Bezio was intercepted at midfield on the ensuing drive. The Blue Jays converted that turnover into seven points after marching eight plays and 54 yards for a touchdown putting Johns Hopkins on top 20-14.

 

That is when the Saints offense took the field for the remarkable, winning drive.

 

“At that point, we were really down because we had just given up three touchdowns we couldn’t get anything to go our way,” Phelps said. “But to come out and march down the field the way we did and make the plays we did shows how much heart our kids have.”

 

Johns Hopkins got the ball back with 20 seconds left in the game, but the Saints defense held, sending O’Donnell’s hands in the air and the entire Saints team into celebration.

 

SAINTS FALL TO ALFRED 17-14

Sept. 16: The look on Chris Phelps face revealed it all. After the Saints 17-14 loss to the Alfred Saxons on Saturday, the St. Lawrence head coach looked as if his team had let one slip away.

 

The Saints held the Saxons to just three points in the final three quarters but a 14 point first half by the Saxons combined with numerous missed scoring opportunities by the Saints were the keys to their loss.

 

Phelps said the slow start hurt the Saints because they were unable to muster any momentum in the first half.

 

“We came out slow on both sides of the ball and we let them get a good lead early,” Phelps said. “We came back in the second half and held them to just three points, which is a pretty good accomplishment, but we just missed so many opportunities.”

 

Two missed field goals kept the Saints scoreless in the first two quarters and they fell to a 14-0 halftime deficit. The Saints however, emerged from the halftime locker room energetic and the second half momentum shifted in their favor.

 

It started early when senior linebacker Hank Anderson intercepted quarterback Paul Keeley’s first pass of the second half and returned it 18 yards to the Alfred 20 yard line setting up an 8 play drive that ended just one yard shy of the end zone. On fourth down and 19 Saints quarterback Matt Bezio hit wide receiver Mike O’Donnell for an 18 yard pass, but O’Donnell was tackled on the Alfred one yard line.

 

The Saints did not get discouraged. The defense forced Alfred to a three and out on the ensuing drive, and got the ball back in the hands of the offense. The Saints tightened Alfred’s margin to 14-7 with five and a half minutes left in the third quarter when freshman running back Connor Hackett ran for a 16 yard touchdown.

 

Anderson, a senior captain and also the team leader in tackles on Saturday, gave the team a motivational speech on the sideline before the unit went back on the field.

 

“I know how good we are and I knew that we weren’t playing our best, so I told them to play like we are capable of,” Anderson. “We held them to three points in the final three quarters.”

 

The Saints defense contained the Saxons on four straight drives after the touchdown before surrendering a 22 yard field goal with three minutes left in the game.

 

The Saints responded on their next drive when a 39 yard pass play to O’Donnell set up Bezio’s five yard touchdown pass to Carl Festa making the score 17-14 with two minutes and 25 seconds left in the game. The Saints’ six play, 57 yard scoring drive took just 54 seconds and breathed the life back into the St. Lawrence sideline.

 

The Saints tried an onsides kick on the ensuing kick-off but were unable to recover, putting the ball back in Alfred’s hands. The Saints never got the ball back as the Saxons ran out the clock and sealed their 17-14 win.

 

Phelps said he was proud of the way his team rallied in the second half, but disappointed in the missed opportunities.

 

“It was a tough one to lose because we had so many chances,” Phelps said. “But we have some tough, resilient kids and this means something to them. That is why we will respond.”

 

 

HACKETT NAMED CO-ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Sept. 11: Freshman running back Connor Hackett was named Liberty League Co-Rookie of the Week on Monday. The All-State back from Bronxville, N.Y. rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries in his first college start as St. Lawrence defeated Norwich 17-13. On the Saints second scoring drive, he rushed for 33 of the drive's 57 yards, including a 17 yard pick-up and a three yard touchdown run.

 

Hackett was one of six freshman running backs competing for the starting spot during the pre-season. With no returning tailbacks from last season, the Saints were counting on one of their rookies to step-up. Hackett rose to the challege, carrying the ball on 19 of the Saints 32 rushes.

 

Although he had a few pre-game nerves, Hackett said once he got his first carry, the momentum took over.

 

"After the first play things started to click," Hackett said. "Then you just play and you don't think about the guys being bigger and stronger than they were in high school."

 

Saints head coach Chris Phelps said he was impressed with the way Hackett performed, especially considering it was is first college game.

 

"Connor did a nice job for us," Phelps said. "He is a tough young kid at a highly visible position, and at positions like that, it is not always easy. He is a big strong kid who works hard. He is going to be a real talent."

 

SAINTS DEFEAT NORWICH 17-13 IN SEASON OPENER

 

Sept. 9: There was a point in Saturday’s match-up against Norwich when Chris Phelps thought the game would never end. It came with about a minute and a half left in the Saints 17-13 win over Norwich.

 

St. Lawrence, who led 17-7 early in the fourth quarter, had just surrendered a 77 yard touchdown drive which tightened their lead to 17-13. To make matters worse, Norwich recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kick-off, giving them one minute and 43 seconds to march down the field for the winning touchdown.

 

The Saints defense made crucial plays late in the game to keep the Cadets out of the end zone, but those two drives, which spanned about seven minutes, felt like an eternity for Phelps.

 

“Those were the longest seven minutes of my life,” Phelps said.

 

Sure, it might have been a hectic on the Saints sideline during the game’s final minutes, but when the pressure was on in the final drive, the Saints defense stayed calm and made plays.

 

After Norwich earned one first down on the drive, senior co-captain and outside linebacker Jordan Burger sacked quarterback Marcus Adames for a nine yard loss. On second down, the Saints defense exploded through the line and tackled running back Darnell Jackson for a loss. Defensive end Josh Hodges batted down Adames third down pass and safety Jerrod Jones intercepted his fourth down pass to seal the game.

 

Senior defensive tackle Joe DeLaura said the Saints never panicked on the field because they were confident someone would make a play.

“We just kept plugging and plugging,” DeLaura said. “People wanted to go out there and make plays. They gained a little bit and we just kept pressuring it and came out on top.”

 

It wasn’t just the Saints defense that made plays on Saturday. The Saints offense put up 348 yards. Junior tight end Brett Young caught eight passes for 108 yards and freshman running back Connor Hackett broke loose for 75 yards and one touchdown.

 

The Saints scored early when senior quarterback Matt Bezio connected with junior wide receiver Mike O’Donnell on a 17 yard touchdown pass to put the Saints on top 7-0 with five and a half minutes left in the first quarter.

 

The Cadets responded quickly. Just 15 seconds later, the game was tied at 7-7 after Jackson returned the ensuing kick-off 86 yards for a touchdown.

 

Hackett got his first touchdown in a Saints uniform with nine minutes and 42 seconds left in the half. An eight yard quarterback scramble by Bezio, which was ignited by a pair of blocks by Young and Hackett, and an eight yard carry by fullback Andrew Ross, set up Hackett’s three yard touchdown run to give the Saints a 14-7 advantage at halftime.

 

Hackett said he was slightly nervous before the game, but once he got a couple carries under his belt he felt good.

 

“The guys are a lot faster and stronger in college,” Hackett, an All-State running back from Bronxville said. “But once I got my first carry the momentum took over and I kind of forgot about that stuff and just started playing.

 

The Cadets could not gather any offensive momentum in the third quarter. Their woes started on the first possession of the second half and continued throughout the third quarter. Jackson fumbled the second half kick-off and the Saints recovered at their own 25 yard line. The Saints defense held the Cadets to one first down in the third quarter.

 

Phelps said he was impressed with the aggressive play of his defense, especially in the second half.

 

“I thought they played great,” Phelps said. “They were on the field a lot in the second half and as an offense we don’t want to do that, but I thought we played with emotion and made big stops when we had to.”

 

The Saints took a 17-7 lead into the fourth quarter after sophomore kick Matt Popov nailed a 31 yard field goal in the final seconds of the third quarter but the offensive momentum switched in favor the Cadets in the final 15 minutes of play. The Saints mustered only one drive and went scoreless in the fourth quarter while the Cadets scored on their 13 play 77 yard drive and tightened the Saints lead to 17-13. The Cadets however, missed the extra point, making it a two-possession game with one minute and 43 seconds left.

 

That is when the Cadets recovered the onside kick and with it a chance to win. It was also when the Saints defense rallied to make four straight plays and stamp a win on the game.

 

 

After the game, Phelps was just glad it was over.

“We have some things that we need to work on,” he said. “But a win is a win; we’ll take it.”

 

 

SAINTS PREPARE FOR SEASON OPENER

 

Sept. 4: Whether they are touring them around campus or watching their high school games, the St. Lawrence University coaching staff hear the same questions from almost all of their recruits.

 

“Coach,” they ask. “Do you think I could play early at this school?”

 

Although the coaches are never too quick to make promises, plenty of young Saints will get the opportunity to make an impact in 2006.

 

The loss of eight starters on offense, no returning tailbacks, and a handful of banged-up guys on defense will force the Saints coaching staff to call on some fresh faces during Saturday’s opener against Norwich at Leckonby Stadium.

 

Saints head coach Chris Phelps said there could be as many as 10 freshmen in the two-deep when the Saints take the field on Saturday-including a handful that will start.

 

“Offensively, coming in, we knew we were going to have to be sharp in two places; the offensive line and the tailback position,” Phelps said. “We think that we did a nice job recruiting in those positions and have equipped ourselves with good players to do the job.

 

That is especially the case at the running back position, where six freshmen have been battling for one starting position. On Saturday, Connor Hackett will line up in the backfield for the Saints. At six-foot-one, 190 pounds, Hackett is an All-State high school running back from Bronxville, N.Y. Hackett may get the starting nod on Saturday, but Phelps said Hackett’s classmates, Junito Bermudez and Josh Izzo should get some carries as well.

 

The head coach said he is confident in his freshman backs despite their inexperience.

 

“All three are tough kids who can run and catch the ball, and those are the things that we ask our kids to do,” Phelps said. “They are competitive and have not shied away from the challenges. They go out and they compete everyday. I am optimistic about the young guys on offense because they have the right attitude.”

 

Although Hackett is the only freshman who has secured a starting position on Saturday, at least six others will be competing for positions. Ray Nelson, Carlos Cruz, McLean Beyor, Justin Wacenske, Alex Vendola and Jon Thomas are all listed in the Saints two-deep on offensive line, while freshman Anthony Patterson slid into the number two slot at wide receiver.

 

As much of an impact as the freshman will have on offense, it will be the responsibility of a group of returning starters to make big plays for the Saints. Junior wide receiver Mike O’Donnell was the Saints leading receiver last season, catching 37 passes for 688 yards. With an average of 18.6 yards per catch, O’Donnell should be the Saints biggest threat down field this season. Junior tight end Brett Young will be also be a crucial threat for the Saints on offense. Coming off what Phelps called “one of the best off-seasons on the team,” Young is expected to have his most productive season yet.

 

Phelps said the combination of the two players could be difficult for opposing teams to game-plan around.

 

“Those two create some match-up issue with how people will play us,” Phelps said. “Last year, teams tried to take away Young, which opened O’Donnell up for some big plays.

 

The man responsible for getting those two guys the ball: senior quarterback Matt Bezio. After waiting in the wings for several years, Bezio will get his shot under center this season, something Phelps said he is excited about.

 

“Matt Bezio, at quarterback, has the potential to be a big play person with his arm and his legs,” Phelps said. “He has great quickness and he is getting more comfortable in the pocket.”

 

The Saints won’t need as much help from their freshman on the defensive end where they have more experience, especially in the front eight. Robert Bracho, Matt Manchester, Joe DeLaura and Josh Hodges make up a defensive line that Phelps said was one of the best in the league.

 

“That may be as good as any line we will see all year,” Phelps said of his front four.

 

Then there’s the linebacking corps led by captains Hank Anderson and Jordan Burger. With more experience than any other position on the field, the group, also including senior Ryan McConville and junior Judin Pierre-Louis, should be a strong position for the Saints.

 

The Saints hope their front eight can get to the opposing offense early, but if not, the secondary will have to make plays. Although they will not rely on many young defensive backs, the most important issue for the Saints secondary will be to remain healthy.

 

“We are not deep with experience,” Phelps said. “But the group who has experience has stepped up for us. It will be important for us to stay healthy and for the guys in the depth chart to continue to grow.”

 

The Saints will take on the Norwich Cadets at 1:00 Saturday at Leckonby Stadium. Already one game into their schedule, Norwich defeated Mount Ida College 49-25 last Saturday. St. Lawrence defeated Norwich 36-0 in their 2005 season opener in Northfield, VT.

 

“They are a strong, principled, fast team, kind of like what you might imagine a military academy to be,” Phelps said. “Their win last week should give them some confidence under their belt, plus we beat them last year 33-0. It is a game that we are going to have to be well prepared for.”