Monday, November 19, 2012

AHEAD IN WEEK 14
Saturday, Dec. 1

San Diego at Marist, Noon
    Make up of Nov. 3 contest
    Location: Poughkeepsie, N.Y. (Tenney Stadium)
    Series: SAN leads, 7-0    Streak: SAN, seven wins
    Last Season: San Diego def. Marist, 13-7

All times Eastern.
FCS rankings in brackets prior to school’s name:
[Sports Network Poll/FCS Coaches Poll]

WEEK 14 PREVIEW
HIGHLIGHTS: SAN DIEGO and MARIST will close out the 2012 season with a Dec. 1 contest in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The game is the rescheduled Nov. 3 affair that was postponed due to the after-effects of Hurricane Sandy. The Toreros will make the trip seeking to become the third team to claim a share of the PFL title. San Diego has won its last five games since losing to Drake, Oct. 6, and have done it thanks to a stout defense that has held opponents to 10.8 points per game during the streak (they allowed 29.6 points per game in starting 2-3). The Red Foxes will seek to spoil the Toreros championship hopes and move to .500 in league play. Marist’s defense has stepped up its play in the last three weeks, allowing 11.7 points per game, as it has posted a 2-1 mark in the span.

NEWS & NOTES

BUTLER CLAIMS SHARE OF PFL TITLE | With its last second victory against Jacksonville, Nov. 3, Butler claimed a share of the 2012 PFL Championship. It is the Bulldogs third championship and first since the 2009 season.

DRAKE CLAIMS SHARE OF PFL TITLE | Drake clinched a share of the 2012 PFL title with its victory at Jacksonville, Nov. 17. It is the Bulldogs second consecutive PFL title and fifth all-time.

SAN DIEGO WITHIN SIGHT OF CROWN | San Diego has one game remaining (see below) in its hopes to earn a share of the PFL title. A San Diego win at Marist would give the PFL its first-ever three-way tie for the league crown.

SAN DIEGO-MARIST CONTEST RESCHEDULED | The Pioneer Football League contest between San Diego and Marist has been rescheduled with the teams now slated to play at noon (EDT), Saturday, Dec. 1 in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The game was originally scheduled to be played Nov. 3 but postponed due to Hurricane Sandy’s effects on travel into and out of the New York City area.

VALPARAISO’S HUTSON FINALIST FOR JERRY RICE AWARD | Valparaiso freshman running back Jake Hutson was named one of 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award. The second year award is presented by The Sports Network to the FCS National Freshman of the Year. Hutson finished his first season as a Crusader with 152 carries for 753 yards and eight touchdowns and amassed 1,216 all-purpose yards (110.6 ypg).

BUTLER’S VORIS FINALIST FOR EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD | Butler head coach Jeff Voris has been named one of 20 finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award. The award is presented annually by The Sports Network to the FCS National Coach of the Year. Voris led Butler to a share of its third PFL championship (first since 2009), a four-game improvement in PFL play and a three-game improvement overall.

SIXTEEN PFL STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED TO CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT TEAMS | Sixteen Pioneer Football League student-athletes were named to the Capital One Academic All-District teams as selected by the College Sports Information Directors Association. Dayton and San Diego each had four student-athletes recognized while Campbell and Drake had three each and Butler and Marist had one student-athlete named. A complete listing of those Pioneer Football League student-athletes receiving Academic All-District recognition are listed on the league’s website.

HOME SWEET HOME, WEST COAST | San Diego extended its home win streak to 12 games (second-best in the FCS) with a Week 11 win against Dayton. The Toreros finished 2012 with a clean home slate (6-0), a repeat of their 2011 accomplishment (6-0).