CAA Week 2 Previews & Predictions: Home Openers Offer Chance To Bounce Back
CAA Week 2 Previews & Predictions: Home Openers Offer Chance To Bounce Back
Week 1 proved the value of playing at home for teams throughout the CAA. Teams coming home for Week 2 aim for similar success.
Home-field advantage was good to Coastal Athletic Association teams in Week 1 of the 2024 college football season. CAA members who opened on the road hope to keep the positive vibes of playing on campus going into Week 2.
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Seven CAA teams make their home debuts, including Bryant in its first game at Beirne Stadium as a Coastal program; and Stony Brook in coach Billy Cosh's first appearance at Kenneth P. LaVelle Stadium.
The Week 2 slate also includes some marquee matchups with CAA squads on the road:
Lafayette at Monmouth
Monmouth returns to the Jersey Shore after making the furthest trip in program history in Week 1. The Hawks fell at Eastern Washington, 42-27, but there was some silver lining on the red turf in Cheney.
Derek Robertson passed for 390 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers, providing the first glimpse at a post-Jaden Shirden era offense at Monmouth.
"You saw the emergence of some of our young receivers in T.J. Spate, Josh Derry, Gavin Nelson, Max James," Monmouth coach Kevin Callahan said. "They all contributed and showed that they have the ability to play at a high level."
Establishing the run moving forward will be critical for the Hawks, however, and they face a stiff Week 2 challenge from Lafayette. The Leopards ranked No. 27 against the run in their 2023 Patriot League-winning campaign, which included holding Shirden to 41 yards in Lafayette's 28-20 win over Monmouth last September.
Week 2 also pits an inexperienced Monmouth defense against a playoff-caliber offense for a second straight week. Expect plenty of offense in what should be a one-possession game throughout.
PREDICTION: Monmouth 35, Lafayette 31
Wofford at Richmond
Wofford may have finished 2023 near the bottom of the Southern Conference, but the Terriers proved last November anything can happen on any Saturday. Their defeat of Furman knocked the Paladins from potential playoff home-field advantage all the way to Frisco.
Wofford likewise kicked off its 2024 with a win over a 2023 playoff team, outlasting Gardner-Webb in a 21-20 defensive struggle. The Terriers don't mind — and would in fact, seem to prefer — getting into physical wars of attrition.
Richmond's stout defensive line is certainly up to that task, though needs a stronger start than it saw at Virginia. The Spiders were playing catch-up the entire way after digging a 17-0 first-quarter hole in Charlottesville.
"I want to see more energy. I want to see more excitement," Richmond coach Russ Huesman said. "I want to see this team tackle better. Communication, eyes, all those things have to get better this week."
Look for Richmond to answer its coach's challenge after its Week 1 loss.
PREDICTION: Richmond 24, Wofford 13
Stonehill at Stony Brook
Stony Brook's revamped offense got off to a tough start with its Week 1 matchup against FBS opponent Marshall, failing to reach the end zone against the Thundering Herd. Stil, Billy Cosh saw potential for the Seawolves from freshman quarterback Malachi Marshall.
"He's a super talented kid. He's only going to get better," Cosh said. "He would move the team and do things that a lot of our guys couldn't do. And he'll only get better. He's eager. He wants to improve. And I think he's got a high ceiling. So we're going to start Malachi this week."
With Marshall making the first of what could be many starts in his Stony Brook career, the Seawolves have a prime opportunity to bounce back against a Stonehill team kicking off its 2024. The Stonehill defense gave up 30 points per game a season ago, and surrendered nearly six yards per play.
PREDICTION: Stony Brook 27, Stonehill 20
Franklin Pierce at Bryant
Bryant's first home game of the CAA era pits the Bulldogs against NE-10 member Franklin Pierce in what is the Ravens' season opener.
Bryant began its inaugural CAA season against longtime Coastal standard-bearer Delaware, and the Bulldogs took the fight to the Fightin' Blue Hens for much of the first half. Delaware pulled away in the second half.
"What we have with 60 new faces, you have to learn to see what you got and where you're at," Bryant coach Chris Merritt said of getting his first look at the 2024 Bulldogs. "Now the adjustment's got to be made."
Cole Nilles was impressive for Bryant, delivering two tackles for loss, a quarterback hurry and a pass break-up, making the start at linebacker as a freshman.
Franklin Pierce is an opponent that knows about young lineups. The Raves went 4-6 a season ago playing a youthful rotation of starters who head into 2024 with significant experience as a result.
Leading rushers Alex Benitez and Andrew Meleski, quarterback Adrian Parker and top receiver Joziah Gonzalez were all either freshmen or sophomores. Defensively, the Ravens welcome back a number of top contributors, including linebackers Sam Kamara and Trey Sejour.
Franklin Pierce will be a team to watch in the NE-10, but it's a tough matchup drawing Bryant in Week 1.
PREDICTION: Bryant 45, Franklin Pierce 14
Winston-Salem State at North Carolina A&T
North Carolina A&T endured significant growing pains in 2023, adjusting to life both as a new CAA member and under first-year head coach Vincent Brown.
The first 30 minutes of the Aggies' season opener at Wake Forest, it was readily apparent that 2024 is a new chapter for North Carolina A&T. The Aggies battled the Demon Deacons to a near-stalemate that only flipped in the second half on a special-teams touchdown.
A&T racked up more than 200 yards of rushing when not accounting for sacks on drop-backs. The Aggies' ability to run the ball with a multifaceted approach, and with more balance from the passing game than they saw in 2024, were huge positives.
Another was the standout effort of running back Kenji Christian, who went for 121 yards and a touchdown.
"The thing that was equally impressive [to his ball-carrying] for me was that his ball security has really improved," Brown said. "There are a couple of times where, you know, it would have been very easy to put the ball in jeopardy, gets flipped over, you know, one of the cut tackles, and he keeps the ball chest high and tight."
Christian and Co. should score an emphatic win in Week 2.
PREDICTION: North Carolina A&T 49, WSSU 17
Campbell at Western Carolina, 1 p.m. ET on ESPN+: Both Campbell and Western Carolina kicked off 2024 with impressive Week 1 showings against FBS opponents with legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations. In turn, the Camels and Catamounts have an opportunity to make an early-season FCS Playoffs statement with this in-state clash.
New Hampshire at Holy Cross, 2 p.m. ET on ESPN+: Regional counterparts each looking to avoid an 0-2 hole tussle in Worcester. The Crusaders face their second CAA opponent in as many weeks after going down to the wire with Rhode Island in Week 1.
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College Football Rankings 2024 - Week 1
AFCA Coaches Poll
- South Dakota St. (17) - Prev. 1
- North Dakota St. (5) - Prev. 2
- Montana St. (4) - Prev. 4
- Montana (1) - Prev. 3
- Villanova - Prev. 6
- South Dakota - Prev. 5
- Idaho - Prev. 7
- Sacramento St. - Prev. 10
- Central Arkansas - Prev. 13
- Chattanooga - Prev. 8
- UIW - Prev. 15
- Southern Illinois - Prev. 11
- UAlbany - Prev. 14
- William & Mary - Prev. 16
- Richmond - Prev. 12
- Furman - Prev. 9
- Western Carolina - Prev. 19
- UC Davis - Prev. 17
- Lafayette - Prev. 18
- North Dakota - Prev. 22
- Tarleton St. - Prev. 21
- Illinois St. - Prev. 20
- Youngstown St. - Prev. 23
- Florida A&M - Prev. 25
- Nicholls - Prev. 24
Others Receiving Votes: Northern Iowa, 55; ACU, 43; Mercer, 41; Eastern Washington, 40; North Carolina Central, 33; Eastern Illinois, 30; Rhode Island, 26; Southeast Missouri St., 20; Weber St., 17; Delaware St., 14; Harvard, 14; Missouri St., 14; Princeton, 14; Elon, 13; McNeese, 13; Stephen F. Austin, 12; UT Martin, 11; Wagner, 10; Northern Arizona, 5; Wofford, 5; Indiana St., 3; Yale, 3; Tennessee St., 2; Alabama A&M, 1; Murray St., 1; North Carolina A&T, 1; Samford, 1.
Stats Perform FCS Top 25 Poll
- South Dakota State (36) - Prev. 1
- North Dakota State (11) - Prev. 2
- Montana State (8) - Prev. 4
- Montana (1) - Prev. 3
- Villanova - Prev. 6
- South Dakota - Prev. 5
- Idaho - Prev. 7
- Sacramento State - Prev. 8
- Central Arkansas - Prev. 11
- Southern Illinois - Prev. 10
- Chattanooga - Prev. 9
- UIW - Prev. 14
- William & Mary - Prev. 15
- Richmond - Prev. 13
- Furman - Prev. 12
- UAlbany - Prev. 16
- Western Carolina - Prev. 20
- UC Davis - Prev. 18
- Lafayette - Prev. 17
- Tarleton State - Prev. 21
- Illinois State - Prev. 19
- Nicholls - Prev. 23
- North Dakota - Prev. 24
- Weber State - Prev. 22
- Youngstown State - Prev. 25
Others Receiving Votes: Elon (0-1, 0-0 CAA) 120; Mercer (1-0, 0-0 SoCon) 117; Florida A&M (2-0, 0-0 SWAC) 99; UT Martin (0-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) 98; Abilene Christian (0-1, 0-0 UAC) 74; North Carolina Central (1-0, 0-0 MEAC) 73; Eastern Illinois (0-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) 59; Eastern Washington (1-0, 0-0 Big Sky) 41; Northern Iowa (1-0, 0-0 MVFC) 29; Austin Peay (0-1, 0-0 UAC) 19; Alabama State (0-1, 0-0 SWAC) 10; Rhode Island (1-0, 0-0 CAA) 9; Southeast Missouri (1-1, 0-0 Big South-OVC) 8; Harvard (0-0, 0-0 Ivy) 4; Lamar (0-1, 0-0 Southland) 4; West Georgia (1-0, 0-0 UAC) 2
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Saturday, September 7
All Times Eastern
- Lafayette vs. Monmouth - 12:00 p.m.
- Stonehill College vs. Stony Brook - 3:30 p.m.
- Wofford vs. Richmond - 3:30 p.m.
- Franklin Pierce vs. Bryant - 4:00 p.m.
- Morgan State vs. Towson - 6:00 p.m.
- Virginia Union vs. Hampton - 6:00 p.m.
- Winston-Salem vs. North Carolina A&T - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 14
- Delaware vs. North Carolina A&T - 1:00 p.m.
- Charleston Southern vs. Richmond - 2:00 p.m.
- Holy Cross vs. Bryant - 2:00 p.m.
- Towson vs. Villanova - 3:00 p.m.
- Monmouth vs. Maine - 3:30 p.m.
- Campbell vs. Rhode Island - 6:00 p.m.
- Stonehill College vs. New Hampshire - 6:00 p.m.
- Western Carolina vs. Elon - 6:00 p.m.
- Hanover vs. Butler - 6:00 p.m.
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