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 of 46 yards on the season.  He also had three kick returns for 140 yards, including a touchdown and a long of 81 yards for the Rams. 

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 member 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.

Nine of the 10 MASCAC football teams begin their 2024 season Labor Day weekend with non-conference play while league play kicks off September 13-14.

 

 

(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