2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football season

Last updated

2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference season
League NCAA Division III
Sport football
DurationSeptember 1, 2023
November 18, 2023
Number of teams9
TV partner(s) LEC Network
2024 NFL draft
Seasons
  2022
2024  
2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
UMass Dartmouth +  7 1   9 2  
Bridgewater State +  7 1   7 3  
Western Connecticut +^  7 1   7 3  
Framingham State  5 3   5 4  
Plymouth State  4 4   4 6  
Westfield State  3 5   3 7  
Massachusetts Maritime  2 6   2 8  
Worcester State  1 7   1 9  
Fitchburg State  0 8   0 10  
  • + Conference co-champions
  • ^ NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference season will be the 11th season of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference taking place during the 2023 NCAA Division III football season. The season will begin on September 1, 2023, with non-conference play and with conference play beginning on September 15, 2023.

Contents

Preseason

Recruiting classes

National Rankings
TeamTotal Signees
Bridgewater State11
Fitchburg State17
Framingham State28
Massachusetts Maritime13
Plymouth State13
UMass Dartmouth25
Western Connecticut21
Westfield Staten/a
Worcester Staten/a

Preseason poll

The preseason poll was released on August 24, 2023. [1] [2]

MASCAC
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1UMass Dartmouth63 (7)
2Bridgewater State53
3Western Connecticut47 (1)
4Framingham State46 (1)
5Plymouth State41
6Massachusetts Maritime29
7Westfield State19
8Worcester State16
9Fitchburg State10

Head coaches

TeamHead coachYears at schoolOverall recordRecord at schoolMASCAC record
Bridgewater State Joe Verria 837–2637–2634–14
Fitchburg State Zach Shaw 10–00–00–0
Framingham State Tom Kelley 19120–67–1120–67–164–8
Massachusetts Maritime Jeremy Cameron 1959–10259–10224–48
Plymouth State Paul Castonia 2087–12585–9733–39
UMass Dartmouth Josh Sylvester 10–00–00–0
Western Connecticut Joe Loth 11110–10154–3731–17
Westfield State Pete Kowalski 1022–6022–6017–47
Worcester State Adam Peloquin 44–164–164–12

Schedule

Index to colors and formatting
MASCAC member won
MASCAC member lost
MASCAC teams in bold

All times EST time.

Regular season schedule

[3]

Week One

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 16:00 PM UMass Dartmouth Nichols Vendetti Field • Dudley, MA W 57–6  564
September 17:00 PM Worcester State WPI Alumni Stadium • Worcester, MA L 13–44  3,112
September 212:00 PM Merchant Marine Western Connecticut The WAC • Danbury, CT L 35–12  775
September 212:00 PM Westfield State Anna Maria Caparso Field • Paxton, MA L 26–51  368
September 212:00 PM Fitchburg State Dean Dale Lippert Field • Franklin, MA L 17–33  1,007
September 212:00 PM Bridgewater State MIT Steinbrenner Stadium • Cambridge, MA L 27–41  957
September 21:00 PM Plymouth State Castleton Dave Wolk Stadium • Castleton, VT L 21–25  3,106
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Two

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 76:30 PM Framingham State Salve Regina Toppa Field • Newport, RI L 0–29  2,107
September 87:00 PM Western New England Westfield StateAlumni Field • Westfield, MA L 0–46  2,000
September 87:00 PM Maritime Massachusetts Maritime Clean Harbors Stadium • Buzzards Bay, MA (Annual Chowder Bowl)L 7–14  1,234
September 87:00 PMWPIBridgewater StateSwenson Field • Bridgewater, MA L 21–24  1,504
September 912:00 PM New England (ME) Plymouth StatePanther Field • Plymouth, NH L 21–31  2,681
September 912:00 PM Union Worcester StateJohn F. Coughlin Field • Worcester, MA L 0–63  0
September 93:00 PMCastletonFitchburg StateElliot Field • Fitchburg, MA L 3–32  350
September 95:00 PM Curry UMass Dartmouth Cressy FieldDartmouth, MA W 28–14  2,788
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Three

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 157:00 PMWestfield StateWestern ConnecticutThe WAC • Danbury, CT  42–0 (WCSU)  775
September 1612:00 PMUMass DartmouthFramingham State Bowditch FieldFramingham, MA  33–7 (UMD)  800
September 1612:00 PMFitchburg StateWorcester StateJohn F. Coughlin Field • Worcester, MA  33–13 (WOR)  245
September 1612:00 PMPlymouth StateBridgewater StateSwenson Field • Bridgewater, MA 41–19 (BSU)  1,100
September 1612:00 PMMassachusetts MaritimeAnna MariaCaparso Field • Paxton, MAL 30–37  391
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Four

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 2312:00 PMWestfield StateFramingham State Bowditch FieldFramingham, MA  9–8 (FRA)  1,000
September 2312:00 PMWorcester StateUMass Dartmouth Cressy FieldDartmouth, MA LEC Network 59–0 (UMD)  300
September 231:00 PMFitchburg StateMassachusetts MaritimeClean Harbor Stadium • Buzzards Bay, MA  21–3 (MMA)  1,891
September 234:00 PMWestern ConnecticutBridgewater StateSwenson Field • Bridgewater, MA  35–28 (BSU)  1,100
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Five

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
September 3012:00 PMMassachusetts MaritimeWestfield StateAlumni Field • Westfield, MA 17–10 (WES)  1,017
September 3012:00 PMBridgewater StateFitchburg StateElliot Field • Fitchburg, MA 38–14 (BSU)  1,200
September 301:00 PMFramingham StatePlymouth StatePanther Field • Plymouth, NH 24–14 (FRA)  4,679
September 304:00 PMUMass DartmouthWestern ConnecticutThe WAC • Danbury, CT 52–21 (WCSU)  1,995
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Six

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 612:00 PMBridgwater StateWorcester StateJohn F. Coughlin Field • Worcester, MA 35–7 (BSU)  912
October 712:00 PMFramingham StateFitchburg StateElliot Field • Fitchburg, MA 40–7 (FRA)  1,200
October 71:00 PMMassachusetts MaritimeUMass DartmouthCressy Field • Dartmouth, MA 26–0 (UMD)  0
October 74:00 PMPlymouth StateWestern ConnecticutThe WAC • Danbury, CT 55–20 (WCSU)  1,001
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Seven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 1212:00 PMWorcester StateMassachusetts MaritimeClean Harbors Stadium • Buzzards Bay, MA 22–19 (MMA)  2,134
October 1412:00 PMWestern ConnecticutFramingham StateBowditch Field • Framingham, MA 56–34 (WCSU)  600
October 1412:00 PMFitchburg StatePlymouth StatePanther Field • Plymouth, NH 40–21 (PSU)  1,213
October 142:00 PMUMass DartmouthWestfield StateAlumni Field • Westfield, MALEC Network 26–23 OT (UMD)  2,326
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Eight

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 207:00 PMMassachusetts MaritimeWestern ConnecticutThe WAC • Danbury, CT 28–0 (WCSU)  880
October 2112:00 PMWorcester StatePlymouth State StatePanther Field • Plymouth, NH 35–0 (PSU)  192
October 214:00 PMFitchburg StateUMass DartmouthCressy Field • Dartmouth, MA 42–7 (UMD)  419
October 214:00 PMWestfield StateBridgewater StateSwenson Field • Bridgewater, MA 21–0 (BSU)  2,000
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Nine

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
October 2812:00 PMFramingham StateMassachusetts MaritimeClean Harbors Stadium • Buzzards Bay, MA 28–3 (FRA)  1,764
October 2812:00 PMUMass DartmouthBridgewater StateSwenson Field • Bridgewater, MA 34–14 (UMD)  1,500
October 284:00 PMPlymouth StateWestfield StateAlumni Field • Westfield, MA 20–19 (PSU)  1,207
October 283:00 PMWestern ConnecticutWorcester StateJohn F. Coughlin Field • Worcester, MA   -
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Ten

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 412:00 PMWestern ConnecticutFitchburg StateElliot Field • Fitchburg, MA 54-0 (WCSU)  1,200
November 412:00 PMBridgewater StateFramingham StateBowditch Field • Framingham, MA   -
November 412:00 PMWorcester StateWestfield StateAlumni Field • Westfield, MA   -
November 412:00 PMMassachusetts MaritimePlymouth StatePanther Field • Plymouth, NH   -
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Week Eleven

DateTimeVisiting teamHome teamSiteTVResultAttendanceRef.
November 1112:00 PMWestfield StateFitchburg StateElliot Field • Fitchburg, MA 49-0 (WES)  1,200
November 1112:00 PMBridgewater StateMassachusetts MaritimeClean Harbors Stadium • Buzzards Bay, MA (Cranberry Bowl)   -
November 1112:00 PMPlymouth StateUMass DartmouthCressy Field • Dartmouth, MA   -
November 1112:00 PMFramingham StateWorcester StateJohn F. Coughlin Field • Worcester, MA   -
#Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. All times are in EST.

Playoffs

    Head to head matchups

    Head to head
    TeamBridgewater StateFitchburg StateFramingham StateMassachusetts MaritimePlymouth StateUMass DartmouthWestern ConnecticutWestfield StateWorcester State
    Bridgewater State L 14–38L 19–41L 28–35L 7–35
    Fitchburg State W 38–14W 40–7W 21–3W 33–13
    Framingham State L 7–40L 14–24W 33–7L 8–9
    Massachusetts Maritime L 3–21W 26–0W 17–10L 19–22
    Plymouth State W 41–19W 24–14W 55–20
    UMass Dartmouth L 7–33L 0–26W 52–21L 0–59
    Western Connecticut W 35–28L 20–55L 21–52L 0–42
    Westfield State W 9–8L 10–17W 42–0
    Worcester State W 35–7L 13–33W 22–19W 59–0

    Updated with the results of all regular season conference games.

    Awards and honors

    Player of the week honors

    WeekOffensiveDefensiveSpecial TeamsRookie
    PlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPositionPlayerTeamPosition
    Week 1 [4] Dante Aviles-SantosUMass DartmouthQBTrell BestUMass DartmouthDBBraedyn DeMarcoUMass DartmouthKRocky MarchitelliFitchburg StateQB
    Week 2 [5] Marvens JeanUMass DartmouthWRTrell Best (2)UMass DartmouthDBIsaiah WrightBridgewater StateRBJason NickersonUMass DartmouthDB
    Week 3 [6] James CahoonBridgewater StateQBRyan JustinWorcester StateDLJoey NasoBridgewater StateKLance WilliamsWorcester StateWR
    Week 4 [7] Adam CouchBridgewater StateRBJared MartinoFramingham StateLBIsaiah Wright (2)Bridgewater StateRBDae'Shawn AllenWestern ConnecticutRB
    Najier MonteiroFramingham StateLB
    Week 5 [8] Devaun FordFramingham StateRBMax MargesonWestfield StateDBAiden FigueroaWestern ConnecticutRBCooper HarveyWestfield StateK
    Week 6 [9] Devaun Ford (2)Framingham StateRBMike HenricksenUMass DartmouthLBMoise NazaireFramingham StateDBJorge Aquino DebesBridgewater StateDE
    Week 7 [10] Keion JonesWestern ConnecticutQBCade NelsonWestfield StateDLCooper HarveyWestfield StateKDae'Shawn Allen (2)Western ConnecticutRB
    Week 8 [11] Luis GonzalezUMass DartmouthRBJack CataldiPlymouth StateRBAngel SanchezUMass DartmouthWRDae'Shawn Allen (3)Western ConnecticutRB

    Home game announced attendance

    TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7TotalAverage% of capacity
    Bridgewater StateSwenson Field1,6001,5041,1001,1002,000†1,500------7,2041,44190.1%
    Fitchburg StateElliot Field1,2003501,200†1,200†------------2,75091776.4%
    Framingham State Bowditch Field 5,1308001,000†600------------2,40090017.5%
    Massachusetts MaritimeClean Harbors Stadium2,3001,2341,8912,134†1,764---------7,0231,75676.3%
    Plymouth StateCurrier Memorial Field / Panther Field1,2002,6814,679†1,213192---------8,7652,191182.6%
    UMass Dartmouth Cressy Field 1,8502,788†3000419---------3,50787747.4%
    Western ConnecticutThe WAC4,5007757751,995†1,001880------5,4261,08524.1%
    Westfield StateAlumni Field4,0002,0001,0172,326†1,207---------6,5501,31032.8%
    Worcester StateJohn F. Coughlin Field2,5000245912†------------1,15738615.4%

    Bold – exceeded capacity
    † Season high

      Other headlines

      On October 4, 2023, Anna Maria College announced it was leaving the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference and joining the MASCAC for the 2025–26 academic year. [12]

      On October 10, 2023 Dean College announced it was leaving the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference and joining the MASCAC for the 2025–26 academic year. [13]

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      References

      1. "UMass Dartmouth Tabbed to Win Back-to-Back MASCAC Football Titles". August 24, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      2. "Football Tabbed Favorite to Repeat in MASCAC". UMass Dartmouth. June 23, 2023. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
      3. "2023 MASCAC Football Schedule". MASCAC. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
      4. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards Winners 9/3". September 3, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      5. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 9/10". September 10, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      6. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 9/17". September 17, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      7. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 9/24". September 24, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      8. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 10/1". October 1, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      9. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 10/8". October 8, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      10. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 10/15". October 15, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      11. "MASCAC Football Weekly Awards 10/22". October 22, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      12. "Anna Maria College Accepts Invitation to Join MASCAC". October 4, 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
      13. "Dean College Football to Join MASCAC in 2025". Dean College. Retrieved October 12, 2023.