Stony Brook’s mission: Keep moving up FCS

The Seawolves will take on Youngstown State on
Saturday at Stambaugh.

By PETE MOLLICA

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

YOUNGSTOWN — Football is on the rise at Stony Brook.

The Seawolves, who just two seasons ago were competing in the Northeast Conference, are now a Football Championship Subdivision independent and next year will become members of the Big South Conference.

Second-year coach Chuck Priore said things are heading full speed toward scholarship football.

“And it better be with the schedule we have facing us this season,” Priore said.

Stony Brook has started off on the right foot, winning its first two games against Georgetown (35-28) and last week against Bucknell (48-20).

“We are currently at 42 scholarships, which is still a long way from the 63 that we are allowed in FCS, but its a start and we’re happy with where we are at,” he said.

The Seawolves, who come to play Youngstown State on Saturday at Stambaugh Stadium, feel they are still undermanned against teams like the Penguins.

Still feeling growing pains

Last year in their inaugural season with scholarships the Seawolves had some lopsided losses to teams like New Hampshire and Massachusetts, proving the glaring difference with the maximum of 63 scholarships.

“If you do your work you don’t need to have every one of the 63,” said Priore. “The luxury of 63 is the luxury of being able to redshirt and 63 gives you three deep at every position.”

Stony Brook withdrew in 2005 from the Northeast Conference, which allows 30 scholarships for football.

To help this season, Stony Brook brought in 12 transfers, all juniors, and Priore expects them to make a difference.

One of them, junior tailback Brandon Mason (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) from Phillipsburg Junior College, is the team’s leading rusher after two games. He has 222 yards on 40 carries and scored two TDs.

The Seawolves’ quarterback is senior Josh Dudash (6-3, 230) who has passed for 434 yards and five touchdowns without an interception.

Stony Brook is averaging 41.5 points a game and 479.5 yards a game and has scored 12 touchdowns. The Seawolves are a balanced unit, rushing for 250.5 yards per game and passing for 229.

“But we haven’t played anybody of Youngstown State’s caliber yet,” Priore.

“Winning is important, but winning should never consume you because there are always going to be people who are better than you,” Priore said.

“Going into this season Youngstown State was not one of the games that we had earmarked with a ‘W,’ ” he added. “This is not to say that we are conceding to one of the division’s elite programs.

Need expectations

“I told our staff that one of the things we have to do is make it contagious for the kids to have the expectations to win the Youngstown State game. No matter whether they are better than us, there has to be that expectation.”

Defensively the Seawolves are allowing 319 yards per game and led by junior defensive end Adam Solvilien with 15 tackles.

Stony Brook hasn’t had a pass interception and has recovered one fumble.

Special teams has been a real plus for the Seawolves as they have already returned one punt and one kickoff for touchdowns.

Andre Jean-Pierre, a junior linebacker, returned a blocked punt 24 yards for one touchdown, while sophomore Conte Cuttino ran a kickoff back 95 yards for another score.

“Being an independent this year it is unlikely there will be any postseason play, that is unless we really catch fire and knock off one of our major opponents,” Priore said.

mollica@vindy.com