WESTFIELD, Mass. — The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) has announced the preseason polls entering the 2023 season and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth was selected by the conference's coaches to repeat as MASCAC Champions.
The Corsairs earned seven first place votes for 63 points to sit on top of this year's poll. In 2022, the squad finished a perfect 8-0 to earn their first-ever MASCAC Regular Season title to advance to the NCAA Division III Football Tournament for the second time in program history – and the first since 2002.
UMass Dartmouth – as a team – ranked third in the nation in Total Offense in 2022 with a 532.0 average in yards. The Corsairs were 10th overall in first downs offense (290) and 3rd Down Conversion Percentage Defense (.268). Additionally, the team was 14th in Passing Offense (298.9) and Rushing Offense (233.1).
Among the MASCAC, the Corsairs ranked first in 17 different categories, in addition to top-5 in 33. UMass D was first in 4th Down Conversion Percentage Defense (.346), as well as First Downs Defense (158), Passes Intercepted (12), Team Sacks (2.82) and Winning Percentage (.818).
Individually, the Corsairs were paced by multiple outstanding efforts, including nationally-ranked efforts from 11 different players. Leading the charge was 2022 MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year,
Dante Aviles-Santos. The senior quarterback led the conference in several categories, including total completions (199), total yards (2,940), yards per game (294), touchdowns (26) and pass efficiency (158.5).
Amongst the nation's best, Aviles-Santos was eighth in Division III in Passing Yards (3,189), and Passing Yards Per Game (289.9). An All-Conference First Team and the 26th annual Joe Zabilski Award, recognizing New England's top offensive player in Divisions II/III, Aviles-Santos was also a D3Football.com All-Region First Team and the NEFW Season Gold Helmet Award Winner.
Also highlighting the offense for the Corsairs is junior wide receiver
Angel Sanchez, who finished the 2022 season ranked second in the nation in receiving yards per game (131.2) and eighth in the country in total receiving yards (1,181) with nine touchdown catches. He led the MASCAC several categories, including receiving yards, receiving yards per game and Receptions per Game (6.6).
The defense, which ranked 35th in Division III and second in the MASCAC with 258.7 yards, returns senior defensive back
Shane Meerbott. In 2022, Meerbott was 54th nationally and third in the conference in passes defended with 1.2. Junior linebacker
Sam Alicea also returns, having finished fourth in the MASCAC in Sacks with a .55 average.
Grabbing the second spot in the Preseason Poll with 53 points is Bridgewater State, while WestConn was third with 47 points and a first place vote. Framingham State received the final first place vote for 46 points and the fourth spot. Landing in fifth was Plymouth State with 41 points, followed by Massachusetts Maritime (29), Westfield State (19), Worcester State (16) and Fitchburg State (10).
UMass Dartmouth is one of eight MASCAC teams opening their season next weekend as the Corsairs kick-off 2023 at Nichols College. The squad heads to Dudley, Mass., for a 6pm tilt against the Bison on September 1.
