Corsairs Check into NCAA Regional Rankings

DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team has checked into the NCAA Division III Regional rankings.

The first rankings are in alphabetical order. UMass Dartmouth currently has an 8-1 record and is undefeated, 7-0, in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) heading into their final regular season game at Plymouth State on Saturday, Nov. 12. The Panthers (7-1, 5-1 MASCAC) also made an appearance in the regional rankings.

UMass Dartmouth leads the MASCAC with 546.2 yards per game, 2,723 passing yards and 2,193 rushing yards for 4,916 total yards of offense to go with 54 touchdowns. The Corsairs are also the best defensive team in the conference, holding opponents to 244.0 yards per game. The team leads the MASCAC with 31 sacks and are tied for first with 10 interceptions.

Junior quarterback Dante Aviles-Santos leads the conference with 23 touchdown passes, 291.6 passing yards per game and 2,624 yards through the air. Sophomore Angel Sanchez is second in the nation with 140.4 receiving yards per game with seven TD catches, while Senior Luis Gonzalez leads the MASCAC with 12 rushing touchdowns and Jalyn Aponte is fifth in the conference in rushing yards per game (65.8).

On the defensive end, senior Josh Lacerte is second in the conference with eight sacks, while sophomore Sam Alicea is third with seven QB takedowns. 5th-year senior JP Mason and junior Shane Meerbott are both tied for third with two interceptions each.

UMass Dartmouth is at Plymouth State next for a chance to win the MASCAC and earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Corsairs will win the conference this Saturday If the Panthers lose at Mass. Maritime.