By Jordan Gibbons
file photo of Miguel Maysonet. Photo by Jordan Gibbons
For the third year in a row, the Seawolves’ season will come down to the final Saturday against the Liberty Flames. This time, Stony Brook (7-3, 5-0 Big South) looks to grab sole ownership of the Big South Conference Championship and advance to the NCAA playoffs.
Head coach Chuck Priore has not downplayed the importance of this matchup for his players or for the program.
“There’s been many good moments at Stony Brook over the course of its football career, over 26, 27 years,” Priore said. “This will be another moment, but for this team, it’s the biggest game we’ve ever played.”
The Flames come to Long Island off a six-game winning streak, but their last two games have been one-score victories over conference opponents that the Seawolves beat convincingly during their six straight games with at least 42 points.
The Liberty defense will present more of a challenge, holding all teams in the conference to under 32 points on the way to their 7-3 (5-0 Big South) record.
Priore plans to stick with what works for his team and it has been working well lately.
“We’re gonna try to control the football. This week will be no different,” he said. “We take pride in winning the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.”
Junior quarterback Kyle Essington has given his team a boost since he was named the starter before the fifth game, throwing 13 touchdowns and rushing for five, with only two interceptions. Essington is not trying to do anything different other than maintaining his usual confidence.
“It is a big game for us and there’s a little bit of pressure,” Essington. “But, I think we’re just preparing like any other week.” “We’re definitely ready to take home a Conference Championship.”
The Seawolves’ offense has been unstoppable since the end of September and it is no secret that Stony Brook’s foundation is its two running backs. Brock Jackolski’s 1,108 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns matched with Miguel Maysonet’s 1,327 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns are hard to ignore. The tandem does not see any signs of the running attack slowing any time soon.
“I think it’s just flowing now,” Jackolski said. “It’s just natural…it just clicks.”
Despite Maysonet’s impressive numbers, he credits the defensive effort for allowing the offense to show its prowess.
“Our defense puts us in a great position for us to show our explosive offense,” he said. “Thanks to them and hopefully you guys can bring it to the table on Saturday.”
The backfield duo cannot wait to get another shot at Liberty.
“We’re gonna bring our A game and we’re excited to play,” Maysonet said.
“It’s gonna be wild,” Jackolski chimed in.
The Flames offense, led by the their redshirt senior quarterback, Mike Brown, will present an interesting matchup for the Stony Brook defense. Brown has the ability to use his legs (415 yards rushing and seven touchdowns) and his arm (2,303 passing yards and 17 touchdowns) to attack defensive fronts.
Senior cornerback Al-Majid Hutchins will have to stick with his receivers regardless of Brown’s skills at extending the play.
“We gotta stay in coverage, not give up the big plays first and just swarm to the ball. That’s what we pride ourselves on doing on defense,” Hutchins said. “The most important thing is just staying in coverage, letting our defensive line and linebackers take care of him.”
The Flames present difficulties on special teams with junior defensive back and kick returner Kevin Fogg, who has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns. Priore has already implemented an unconventional approach to his kickoff coverage by using Hutchins, Jackolski and Maysonet on key special teams.
“What we’ve gotta do is train our special teams, our kickoff team specifically to understand their scheme,” he said. “Philosophically, we’re gonna go after him and if he’s better than our coverage team than so be it. We have our best players on our coverage team.”
Priore plans to do whatever is necessary to earn that elusive title, as their entire season and an NCAA playoff berth will be waiting for them at LaValle Stadium, Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
“I’m confident in this team’s ability to win the game; however we need to win the game,” Priore said.
