Football Voted Second in MASCAC Preseason Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass. - After finishing second in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) in 2021, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth football team is officially in the conversation to win the conference and represent the MASCAC in the NCAA Tournament. The Corsairs were selected second in the coaches' preseason poll on Tuesday.

UMassD received 59 points and four first-place votes. Defending champion Framingham State was the only team in front of UMass Dartmouth with 61 points and five top votes. Three-through-nine shaped out with Bridgewater State (50 pts.), WestConn (40 pts.), Mass. Maritime (35 pts.), Plymouth State (34 pts.), Worcester State (22 pts.), Westfield State (15 pts.) and Fitchburg State (8 pts.).

UMass Dartmouth brings back junior quarterback Dante Aviles-Santos, who won the Offensive Rookie of the Year last season with 34 total touchdowns and 2,197 passing yards. Back as well on offense are senior and sophomore running backs Luis Gonzalez and Marvens Jean. Gonzalez was second in the conference with 87.6 rushing yards per game and sixth with seven touchdowns in 2021, while Jean finished third with 81.9 yards per game and ninth with five touchdowns. Senior Andrew Paulus and All-MASCAC Sophomores Tyler Gmyr and Kolby Stockwell will lead the offensive line.

On defense, the Corsairs return 2021 First Team All-MASCAC Javien Delgado (63 Tk, 1.5 sacks) and Second Team All-MASCAC performers in seniors Marcus Elysee (43 Tk, 4 sacks), JP Mason (82 Tk), Josh Lacerte (35 Tk, 6.5 sacks) and junior Logan Chappell (44 Tk, 5 INT).

UMassD plays two non-conference contests before MASCAC play begins. The Corsairs first host Husson (Sept. 3). From there, The team goes on the road to face Anna Maria (Sept. 10). The first conference matchup is home against Framingham State (Sept. 17). Key dates include a Friday night White Out against Western Connecticut (Sept. 30) and Blue & Gold Weekend versus Westfield State (Oct. 15).
 

MASCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Place	Team (First-Place Votes)	Points
1.	Framingham State (5)	61
2.	UMass Dartmouth (4)	59
3.	Bridgewater State	50
4.	Western Connecticut	40
5.	Mass. Maritime	35
6.	Plymouth State	34
7.	Worcester State	22
8.	Westfield State	15
9.	Fitchburg State	8