Is it a three-team race in the NEWCRC?

Maybe.

We’re two weeks into the New England-Wide Conference, and three teams in the Tier 1 are undefeated. Hope is not lost for the rest of the teams, but they’ll need a little bit of help. 

Vermont, which made the national quarterfinals last year before falling to Iowa Central, is back on top with a 2-0 record and two pretty convincing victories. 

Boston University surprised few in opening its season with a win over Hartford. But 57-0 was more than most would have expected.

And they’ve got depth. Brendan Flaherty scored two tries and was off before halftime. Didn’t matter, BU kept up the onslaught. 

And the other team that’s easy to overlook, Quinnipiac. The Bobcats were challengers in 2018 and are now 1-0 after beating Southern Connecticut 36-19. That game started slowly for Quinnipiac, but three tries in the space of six minutes in the first half put them up 19-5, and while SoCon drew within a try, two tries from fullback Drake Marchese and prop Colby Miliken’s second put the game away.

OK, so this all seems like w’ere just getting ahead of ourselves so early in the season, but there are only seven teams in the league, so things can move quickly. 

Here’s What We See

Vermont is still the favorite, and having beaten a pretty solid Coast Guard Academy side, UVM shouldn’t have too much trouble with SoConn or Hartford later this fall.

Quinnipiac is good, but a question-mark.

You know we love shutouts and BU got one against Hartford. But the Terriers have some difficult games ahead.

With a four-team conference playoff expected in November, there’s a chase for that #4 spot, and Coast Guard, currently at 1-1 having beaten SoConn, is in decent shape to get there. A win over Quinnipiac and you’re talking higher than that. Sacred Heart is 1-1, but haven’t had the right game yet to show us where they could fit.

Key Games Coming Up

This Saturday is a big one, as Vermont plays Quinnipiac. A loss for the Bobcats won’t be the end of the world, but UVM will be looking for that #1 seed and need to win to get there. Boston University has Quinnipiac October 12 and Vermont October 26, but right now there’s the immediate need to beat Sacred Heart this weekend.

Coast Guard against Sacred Heart October 19, and against Quinnipiac a week later, could well decide the entire playoff picture.