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| Alec Dietsch and the Saints remember missing out on the playoffs by just a few points last season. St. Lawrence athletics photo by Chris Cecere |
If you think St. Lawrence is ready for a pat on the back after taking control of the Liberty League race this past weekend, you’d be mistaken.
Maybe it’s that this year’s senior class experienced a 0-10 season back in 2012. Maybe it’s that they lost two games last season, by a total of five points, which included a last minute heart-breaker against eventual quarterfinalist Hobart.
But after dropping their nonconference season opener to Morrisville State back on the first weekend of September, St. Lawrence has strung together six consecutive victories and seem primed for their first trip to the NCAA D-III playoffs since 2010. The Saints already hold a head-to-head victory over second-place RPI and everybody else in the conference has at least two league losses.
Yet they still have upstart WPI (5-2, 2-2) left, a team enjoying its best season since 2008, wounded defending champ Hobart (4-3, 2-2), before ending the season hosting Merchant Marine (2-5, 1-4).
“The conference standings?” said linebacker Alec Dietsch. “We don’t really look at that too much. We just need to win the next game and ultimately those will add up.”
“We have three more league games to go,” added coach Mark Raymond. “Obviously, this conference is very competitive. It has great coaches and players. You can’t afford to look ahead to look ahead or look back.”
One of the keys to the Saints’ success this season has been the play of the defense and their ability to make big plays. The unit currently leads the Liberty League in sacks, tackles for losses, red zone defense and interceptions. That has translated to a plus-1.71 turnover margin, good for the eighth in all of D-III.
“We have lots of kids back that are really starting to play well together,” Raymond said. “We pride ourselves in being a physical and disciplined defense. These are guys that have played a lot of football together, having that experience has really helped us.”
One of the most experienced is Dietsch, a junior, who has been a starter since his freshman year. The native of Buffalo suburb Clarence, N.Y., earned ECAC and LL Rookie of the Year honors in 2013 and followed it with first team LL honors last season. And if statistics are a true indicator, he has continued to raise his level of play this season with 3.5 sacks, four interceptions, 58 tackles (11 for loss) and fumble recovery.
“He’s certainly had a huge impact on our defense,” Raymond said. “He’s a very versatile player, strong against the run and pass with great intensity, physical and a great student.
“He’s one of the finest student-athletes at St. Lawrence. He is one of those guys you can use as a role model for your program. He’s great in the community, great in the classroom and excellent performer on Saturdays.”
So it’s not surprising that the junior, who carries a 3.6 grade point average in a double major of economics and government, credits the unit’s work ethic for their success this season.
“We pride ourselves in making sure we work harder than every other team in the conference,” Dietsch said.
He credits a veteran secondary and excellent defensive line play, especially that of tackle Chyron Brown-Wallace. Brown-Wallace, a native of Rochester, is currently second in the nation in sacks (10.5) and leads D-III in tackles for losses (19.5).
“He gets tons of sacks and occupies blockers,” said Dietsch, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Wednesday. “It really frees me up to be able to run sideline to sideline.”
A veteran secondary is also performing at a high level led by James Holley-Grisham (five interceptions) and two-way dynamo Leondre Simmon (three interceptions). Simmon, a D3football.com All-America last year, also contributes on offense at receiver with 14 receptions and five touchdowns.
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| Alec Dietsch's linebacker mentality has served him well on the lacrosse field as well for St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence athletics photo by Tara Freeman |
Dietsch is a two-way performer himself as member of the Saints lacrosse program too. When choosing a college, he wanted to go somewhere that gave him the opportunity to play both sports. At St. Lawrence he feels his found the perfect situation. Last spring his linebacking skills helped him to step into the role as the team’s faceoff specialist when injuries the Saints lax program.
“I’m definitely a defensive guy in both football and lacrosse,” said Dietsch, who also specializes as a defensive midfielder. “Faceoffs require upper body strength and reaction time and the ability to grind out groundballs, which is one of the most difficult things to do in lacrosse.”
Dietsch was able to win more than 50 percent of his faceoffs, impressive in a league that sits mostly in one of the hot beds of lacrosse in New York State. He also led the Saints in ground balls, which in the sport is often an indicator of hustle. Just like in football, gaining possession of the ball is vital in getting your offense more opportunities to score.
Speaking of offense, Dietsch admits he doesn’t get much of chance to watch his the Saints unit whether in the film room or while making adjustments on the sideline during the game.
Raymond, however, is excited by the progress they have made this season. They currently lead the Libery League in pass offense and have taken care of the football.
Quarterback Mike Lefflbine has completed over 65 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Like the defense, this unit also returned most of its key components from last year’s 8-2 team.
The receiving corps is especially deep returning a pair of excellent tight ends in juniors Mitch Gallagher and Matt Gardiner. The duo has combined for over 50 catches this season, 650 yards and eight touchdowns. At wide out, sophomores Vincenzo Ferraro and Patrick Bryant have stepped up to join Simmon as outside threats.
“Everybody’s pitched in, it’s been a really good team effort.” Raymond said of his team’s progress this season.
So even with expectations high and the prize of a conference title within reach, the veteran coach will continue to keep his team focused on the next opponent. This week it is WPI.
“They’re playing very well and are getting better each week,” he said of the Engineers. “They present a big challenge on both sides of the ball.”
Top 25
Wesley (7-0, 6-0 NJAC) stayed at No. 4 after beating Rowan 38-25. With the loss, Rowan (5-2, 4-2 NJAC), ranked 21st last week, fell out of the poll, but is still receiving more votes (51) than any other unranked team. The Wolverines travel to Montclair State on Saturday, while Rowan will host 6-1 Frostburg State.
Salisbury (5-1, 5-0 NJAC) knocked off Kean 45-33 and jumped five places to No. 18. The Sea Gulls are second in D-III in rushing yards (398.5) and though they rarely throw the ball lead the country in yards per pass completion (25.87.) A matchup with Wesley on Nov. 7 looms, but the Gulls host a puzzling Christopher Newport team, who has led in each of their six straight loses.
Cortland State (7-1, 5-1 E8) is back in the Top 25 after beating Brockport 35-14. With the game tied at 14-14 after one quarter, the Red Dragons scored 21 straight points to take control of the game. Cortland controls their own destiny in the Empire Eight. If they can beat Morrisville State on the road this week and knock off Ithaca on Nov. 14, they’ll win the conference title in their inaugural season as an E8 member.
Delaware Valley (6-1, 5-1 MAC) has won five in a row and debuts at number 24. The Aggies knocked off former No. 20 Albright (6-1, 5-1 MAC) 28-23 to gain control of the Middle Atlantic Conference. Though tied with the Lions (still receiving 25 votes) and Stevenson with at 5-1 in conference, Delaware Valley has beaten both head-to-head. They’ll still have to beat Lebanon Valley, Lycoming and Widener over the next three weeks to clinch. Each of that trio has at least shared a piece of the MAC title over the past two seasons.
St. Lawrence (6-1, 4-0 LL) also remains on the verge of the Top 25 after knocking off Springfield 38-21. The lone team remaining team in the Liberty League with an unblemished conference record hosts two of its final three games with a trip to Hobart sandwiched in between.
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St John Fisher. The Cardinals have three straight wins after dispatching Alfred State last Friday night. Though their conference title hopes are slim, if they can win out they’ll continue a string of seven-win seasons that started in 2003.
RPI. The Engineers (6-2, 4-1 LL) still have a shot at the Liberty League title if they can get win out and get a lot of help. They’ve won two straight after falling to Liberty League frontrunner St. Lawrence a couple of weeks ago and have an off week going into games against Springfield and Union. Their 21-20 win over Hobart was their first against the Statesman since 2011.
Frostburg State. The Bobcats (6-1, 5-1 NJAC) The Bobcats clinched their first winning season since 2002 by knocking off CNU 19-14. After winning five in a row, they’ll face their biggest challenge since a week two loss to Wesley when they travel to Rowan.
Buffalo State. With four wins in a row and a head-to-head victory over E8 leader Cortland State, the Bengals (5-2, 3-2 E8) still very much in the conference title race.
WPI. The Engineers (5-2, 2-2 LL) winners of two straight have clinched their best season since 2008. They travel to St. Lawrence this week and could throw a monkey wrench into the Liberty League race if they can upset the Saints.
Stevenson. (6-1, 5-1) Like Albright the Mustangs are at the top of the conference standings with just one loss. But they’ll have to beat the Lions on Nov. 7 and hope someone knocks off Delaware Valley to assure a playoff spot.
Lebanon Valley. (4-3, 3-2 MAC) After three straight wins and with trips to Delaware Valley (this week) and Albright in week 11 left on the schedule, the Dutch will have a lot to say about who wins the MAC.
Morrisville State. The Mustangs (4-3, 3-3) posted their first winning season and shared the NJAC title last season. A second winning season in a row is within reach as well as a chance to play spoiler in the E8 when they host Cortland State this Saturday.
TCNJ. The Lions got in the win column for the first time this season by knocking off longtime rival Montclair State. They have a chance to pick up a couple more over the next two weeks when the travel to William Paterson and host Southern Virginia.
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Kean. The Cougars (4-3, 3-3 NJAC) have lost two straight but should get a victory this week on a long road trip to Southern Virginia.
CNU. The Captains (1-6, 1-5 NJAC) have led at some point in each game they’ve played this season. Still it’s been a disappointing first year in the NJAC for a team that won a playoff game last season. Traveling to Salisbury to take on a red-hot Sea Gull offense will be a tough challenge but.
Union. It’s been a winless season for a program with a great winning tradition, but Saturday’s collapse in the fourth quarter after leading Rochester 30-13 had to be the most painful loss yet.
Springfield. The Pride (4-4, 2-3 LL) handed Hobart its first Liberty League since 2011 a few weeks ago but haven’t won since.
Hobart. Kudos on the failed attempt to go for two and the win in Saturday’s 21-20 loss to RPI but the Statesmen have still lost back-to-back conference games for the first time since the end of 2010.
Ithaca. The Bombers (4-3, 2-3 E8) have dropped two straight and out of the E8 race. Meanwhile, they still have St. John Fisher, Buffalo State and Cortaca left.
Games to Watch
Frostburg State (6-1, 5-1 NJAC) at Rowan (5-2, 4-2 NJAC) The Bobcats can turn heads here if they can catch a Prof team still smarting from last week’s missed opportunities in the fourth quarter against Wesley.
Lebanon Valley (4-3, 3-2) at Delaware Valley (6-1, 5-1 MAC) Two teams that rank in the top twenty in rushing this season square off with MAC title impactions on the line for both.
Cortland State (6-1, 4-1 E8) at Morrisville State (4-3, 3-3 E8) Last season, this was a NJAC game and the Mustangs knocked off Cortland for the first time by a score of 38-31. This year Morrisville can play spoiler in the E8 race with a victory. It’s the second straight year the Red Dragons will travel to Drake Field.
WPI (5-2, 2-2 LL) at St. Lawrence (6-1, 4-0 LL) The Engineers have bounced back from a two-game skid after a 3-0 start but face a huge challenge on the road against a team with veterans on both sides of the ball.
