Stony Brook was on pins and needles a week ago today, unsure if it would receive an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs.
Now, following an impressive 20-10 home victory over Villanova yesterday, the Seawolves are riding high with grand dreams of doing serious damage in the 20-team tournament.
“The team as a whole was motivated a lot by the whole scare of not making the playoffs,” defensive lineman Kevin Hauter said after the Seawolves notched their program-record 10th victory. “We were ready to play again.”
Villanova found out the hard way.
Miguel Maysonet, a candidate for the Walter Payton Award — FCS’ version of the Heisman — ran for 160 yards and two touchdowns and the defense held the potent Wildcats (8-5) to 271 total yards and picked off quarterback John Robertson twice.
“We played great on the offensive line and defensive line,” Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore said. “We really controlled the line of scrimmage. We played great. It was really satisfying.”
Hauter had three tackles, two for losses, and one of two Stony Brook sacks. Robertson, the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year, never was able to get comfortable and completed just 15 of 31 passes for 144 yards as Villanova was blanked in the first half for the first time this season.
“We just had a great pass rush,” Hauter said. “We definitely got after the quarterback. Coming into the game we knew that would be huge.”
Stony Brook (10-2), which also won its opening-round contest last year, will travel to Bozeman, Mont., to face No. 3 Montana State in the Round of 16 on Saturday at 7 p.m.
Maysonet, Stony Brook’s all-time rushing leader, scored on rushes of 1 and 14 yards as the Seawolves raced out to a 14-0 lead in the second quarter.
“Another terrific game obviously,” Priore said. “He’s a complete player. I’m not surprised by anything he does.”
It was 20-3 early in the fourth quarter after Wesley Skiffington’s 29-yard field goal and Stony Brook was well on its way to keeping its season alive.
“We got an opportunity and we wanted to capitalize on it, which we did,” Priore said.