MASCAC Releases Football Preseason Poll

FITCHBURG, MA: Reigning MASCAC Regular Season Champion UMass Dartmouth has been tabbed by the coaches from around the league to win their third straight conference crown in the 2024 preseason poll.

The Corsairs earned four first place votes to sit on top of this year’s poll. They finished 7-1 to take home a share of the MASCAC Regular Season title. Returning to the team is Dante Aviles-Santos who earned his second straight Offensive Player of the Year after finishing atop the MASCAC in several categories, including total yards (2,233), yards per game (223.3), touchdowns (21) and pass efficiency (153.7. During the 2023 season, he broke the school record for passing completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passing attempts.

Grabbing the second spot with four first place votes is WestConn. The Wolves were also 7-1 to grab a part of the Regular Season title. Last season Patrick Adams, the MASCAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, helped the team finish first in the conference in several categories, including scoring (408), points per game (45.3), yards per game (470), passing yards (2,579) and passing touchdowns (28). The Wolves were third in rushing yards (1,651), rushing touchdowns (24) and rushing yards per game (183.4).

Sitting in third with the final two first place votes is Bridgewater State. The Bears were also 7-1 for a piece of the Regular Season crown. All-Conference punter Shane Drake returns after he averaged 41.2 yards on 43 punts with 13 inside the 20 and a long of 60. Five of his punts went for over 50 yards. Drake also averaged 58.2 yards on 54 kickoffs with 19 touchbacks.
Framingham State comes in fourth. The Rams were 5-3 during MASCAC action in 2023 with running back Joshua Ramos rushing for 232 yards, average of 7.5 yards per rush with two touchdowns and a long run of 46 yards on the season.

Landing in fifth is Plymouth State. The Panthers finished 4-4 during the league campaign last season. Braden Lynn finished the season with 1,507 yards, 14 touchdowns, a 61.2 completion percentage and 140.2 pass efficiency rating during the 2023 year.

Massachusetts Maritime comes in sixth after winning two games last season. Demetri Boozer collected 43 tackles, including 28 solo while averaging 4.3 per game over his 10 games played.

Coming in seventh is Westfield State. The Owls finished with three wins in conference play. Linebacker Dylan Clark registered 45 tackles, including 19 solo along with two sacks for a loss of 12 yards last season.

Joining the MASCAC this season is Vermont State-Castleton. The Spartans bring back Kevin McDonough, who led the team with 76 total tackles, 34 solo, 8.4 tackles per game, 12 tackles for a loss, and 4.5 sacks as a part of the ECFC.

Closing out the 2024 poll in eighth and ninth are Worcester State and Fitchburg State. For the Lancers, receiver Deion Osei-Sarpong returns after making eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown last season. For the Falcons, All-Conference defensive lineman Cameron Monette is back. He racked up 55 tackles (29 solo, 26 assisted), 4.5 sacks, and 19.5 tackles for loss.

2024 MASCAC Football Preseason Coaches Poll (First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. UMass Dartmouth (4) 76 points
2. WestConn (4) 74 points
3. Bridgewater State (2) 68 points
4. Framingham State 56 points
5. Plymouth State 49 points
6. Massachusetts Maritime 39 points
7. Westfield State 32 points
8. VT State-Castleton 27 points
9. Worcester State 15 points
10. Fitchburg State 13 points

RELEASE COURTESY OF THE MASCAC SID OFFICE

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