Westfield, Mass.— Reigning MASCAC Regular Season Champions Framingham State has been tabbed by the coaches from around the league to win their fourth straight conference crown in the 2022 preseason poll. 

The Rams earned five first place votes for 61 points to sit on top of this year’s poll. They finished a perfect 8-0 to take home the MASCAC Regular Season title. Returning to the team are two major award winners from 2021. MASCAC Offensive Player of the Year Devaun Ford returns after collecting 10 touchdowns on the ground and four in the air while amassing 1,200 yards, 805 rushing and 395 receiving. His total rushing yards, yards per game and touchdowns were the third-best in the MASCAC last season. Joining Ford is 2021 MASCAC Defensive Rookie of the Year Dylan DeWolfe who collected 52 total tackles, including 35 solo, a sack and 10 tackles for a loss of 32 yards.

Grabbing the second spot with 59 points and the final four first place votes is UMass Dartmouth. The Corsairs were 6-2 in 2021 during conference play. Quarterback Dante Aviles-Santos is back after earning 2021 MASCAC Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He finished the season atop the MASCAC with 25 touchdown passes and added eight more on the ground and caught one in the end zone for 34 total. On  defense, Javien Delgado finished with 63 tackles and 1.5 sack on the season to earn All-Conference honors.

Sitting in third is Bridgewater State with 50 points. The Bears also were 6-2 during the 2021 campaign. The team returns a pair of All-Conference honorees on each side of the ball. Running back Adam Couch carried the ball 167 times for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2021 despite missing most of two games due to injury. He became the ninth different running back in BSU football history to crack the 1,000-yard rushing barrier for a season. Linebacker Steven Silvia closed out 2021 with 104 tackles, including a team-high 72 solo stops, to go along with eight tackles for loss, two sacks, a pair of  interceptions, three pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and one blocked kick.
 

WestConn is in the fourth spot with 40 points. The Wolves were 4-4 during MASCAC action in 2021. Quarterback John Giller returns under center after throwing for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first season with the team. 

Landing in fifth is Massachusetts Maritime with 35 points. The Buccaneers finished with three MASCAC wins in 2021. In his first season on the Bay, Andrew Brightman grabbed All-Conference honors after making a team-high 47 receptions and 675 yards for two touchdowns. His 47 receptions were good for third in the conference while his 675 receiving yards were good for fourth in the league.

Plymouth State comes in sixth with 34 points. The Panthers had a 5-3 record in conference action in 2021. On defense, Quinn Girard led the team with 91 tackles, 58 solo, three for a loss and a forced fumble.  

Coming up in seventh is Worcester State with 22 points. The Lancers had three wins during the 2021 league campaign and were led by wide receiver Ke’Vaughn Davis who led the MASCAC with 13 receiving touchdowns, 70 receptions and 1,132 receiving yards. He had four more receiving touchdowns than the next closest player in the conference, was the leader in catches by 14 receptions, and led in receiving yards by 368.

Closing out the 2022 poll in eighth and ninth are Westfield State and Fitchburg State with 15 and eight points, respectively. During his first year with the team, Gabe Fernandez took over starting quarterback duties and accumulated six touchdowns and 495 yards. For the Falcons, Frank Sims IV returns after rushing for 364 yards over 10 games played and a long of 27.

Eight of the nine MASCAC football teams begin their 2022 season this weekend, September 2 and 3 with non-conference play while Massachusetts Maritime kicks off their season on September 9.

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

 

1. Framingham State (5) - 61 points

2. UMass Dartmouth (4) - 59 points

3. Bridgewater State - 50 points

4. WestConn - 40 points

5. Massachusetts Maritime - 35 points

6. Plymouth State - 34 points

7. Worcester State - 22 points

8. Westfield State - 15 points

9. Fitchburg State - 8 points