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2013 Final Standings
Looking back: American International defeated Stonehill not once, but twice--31-10 on October 5, and 27-17 in the title game on November 16--to claim the 2013 Northeast 10 Conference football championship. However, the Yellow Jackets were "one and done" in the NCAA Division II playoffs, as West Chester cruised to a convincing 38-7 win in the first round.
Looking ahead: Expect another tight race for the NE10 crown in 2014.
Predicted order of finish (2013 overall record in parentheses):
1. Stonehill (8-3): After finishing tied with American International for the NE10 regular season title at 8-1 in league games last season, the Skyhawks will look to soar to the top of the conference this season. They return the bulk of the roster they had from 2013, including conference defensive player of the year Brian Harrington.
2. American International (9-3): The Yellow Jackets hope to put the sting of last year's first round playoff loss behind them in 2014. One of the seniors they must replace is on the defensive side of the football, as linebacker Joel Bowen is among the 12 players that graduated after the 2013 season.
3. New Haven (8-3): The Chargers will quickly find out how good they might be on September 6. That's when they'll open the 2014 season at home against West Chester.
4. Assumption (6-5): The Greyhounds will be tested right out of the gate to start 2014, opening the season at home against American International, followed by road games at FCS Sacred Heart and New Haven on back-to-back Saturdays in September.
5. Merrimack (7-4): Warriors begin their second season under head coach Dan Curran hoping to improve on their best finish since 2009.
6. Bentley (6-5): Falcons look to move forward under first-year head coach Bill Kavanaugh, who once worked under now Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien, who himself was an assistant at Penn State.
7. Southern Connecticut State (3-8): The Owls look to bounce back after having back-to-back three-win seasons. They'll turn to former player Tom Godek to begin the lengthy rebuilding process in 2014.
8. LIU-C.W. Post (5-6): Pioneers face a long uphill battle to move up in the NE10 standings after finishing 3-6 in conference play last season.
9. St. Anselm (1-10): Speaking of long uphill battles, that's the boat the Hawks find themselves in as well, as they play six road games in 2014.
10. Pace (0-11): New head coach Andrew Rondeau will try to get the Setters back on the winning track after a winless 2013 season. Their last win came on September 10, 2011, when they defeated Stonehill, 23-20, in overtime.
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