RFC Summer Semester--Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) Preview (NCAA Division III)

Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC)

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2012 Final Standings 

Looking back: Both Mount Ida and Castleton State finished ECFC play at 6-1 in league play.  However, because of their 52-28 win over Castleton on November 10, Mount Ida earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.  

While the Mustangs fell to Wesley, 73-14, in the first round of the NCAA playoffs, the Spartans season ended on a losing note as well, as St. John Fisher cruised to a convincing 63-7 win in the ECAC Northwest Bowl.

Elsewhere in the ECFC, the Maritime-Norwich game that was scheduled to be played on November 3, 2012 was cancelled due to Hurricane Sandy.

Looking ahead: Expect yet another wide-open race for the ECFC title in 2013.

Predicted order of finish (2012 overall record in parentheses)

1. Mount Ida (8-3):  The Mustangs hope to make to back-to-back ECFC crowns in 2013.  They do face one team had a winning record last season to close out their non-conference schedule, as they travel to Springfield (8-3 in 2012) on September 21.

2. Castleton State (7-4):  The Spartans carried a 7-2 overall record into their regular season finale against Mount Ida before losing that game, followed by the blowout loss to St. John Fisher in the ECAC Northwest Bowl.  They must replace the 19 seniors that helped them earn a share of the conference crown they won last season.  If there is one positive for the Spartans, they do get to host Mount Ida on October 12.

3. Galluadet (7-3):  The Bison hope to build on last year's 5-2 conference mark.  They won back-to-back games over Mount Ida and Maritime to close out the 2012 season.

4. Norwich (7-3):  The cancellation of the November 3 game against Maritime forced the Cadets to settle for a 4-2 mark in ECFC play in 2012.  If that wasn't enough, they advanced to the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl, where they fell to Endicott, 34-14.  Hopefully, 2013 will bring about a different ending for the Cadets: an ECFC title.

5. Becker (3-7):  The Hawks lost six games by 10 or more points in 2012.  That's a stat that must change if they're to have a winning season in 2013, which would be the first in the program's eight-year history.  However, the three wins they did get last season are a school record.

6. Maritime (N.Y.)--(3-6):  The Privateers will try to return to the winning form of 2010 (10-1) and 2011 (8-2) after a disappointing 2012 season.

7. Anna Maria (2-8):  After winning four games in all the past two years, the Amcats hope to take yet another giant step in 2013: trying to clinch the program's first-ever winning season.  But doing that might be easier said than done, as they'll face five teams that posted winning records themselves in 2012.  That includes four teams in the ECFC.

8. Husson (2-8):  The Eagles hope to notch their first winning season since 2008, when they finished 7-3.

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