RFC Small College Preview: Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC)

Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) 

2015 Football Standings - ECFC

Looking back: After a topsy-turvy 2015 season, the Norwich University Cadets emerged as the champions of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. The upstart squad from Vermont overcame an 0-3 start to advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs as the automatic qualifiers after upsetting Husson 20-17 on November 7, ultimately winning the tiebreaker over the Eagles at 6-1 in ECFC play. The Cadets fell to Albright, 49-0, in the first round.

Looking ahead: Don't be surprised if the race for the ECFC crown comes down to final week of 2016. By 2017, however, six of the conference's current members will join the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC).

Predicted order of finish (2015 overall record in parentheses):

1. Husson (7-3): The Eagles will look to put the sting of last season's late slump behind this season, as they lost two of their final three games of 2015 after starting 6-1.

2. Becker (7-3): A four-game winning streak to end 2015 has the Hawks faithful cautiously optimistic going into 2016. But if they're to advance to postseason play this year, they must do it under new head coach Frank Forcucci.

3. Castleton (7-3): After back-to-back seven-win seasons, the Spartans hope to take the next step in their program's short history: advance to the NCAA Division III playoffs for the first time ever.

4. Norwich (6-5): Don't count out the Cadets in the ECFC championship chase this fall.

5. Maritime (N.Y.)--(5-5): The Privateers won back-to-back games to finish an otherwise so-so 2015 season on a winning note. They hope to carry that small surge of momentum into the 2016 season.

6. Mount Ida (2-8): The Mustangs are looking at a long rebounding/rebuilding effort after a rough 2015 campaign.

7. Anna Maria (1-9): The AmCats gave up 40 or more points in six of the games that they lost in 2015. That included a stretch where they outscored by a combined score of 178-26 in October. 

8. Gallaudet (0-9): The Bison will be looking to win their first game since October 11, 2014. That was when they beat Becker, 16-12. They've lost 14 straight games since then.

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