Week 1 Recap: Fireworks, First Impressions and a Heartbreaker

By Grant Ashworth | CAC Network

If Week 0 introduced us to the Continental Athletic Conference, Week 1 showed us just how unpredictable it intends to be.

York Tech won the conference’s first full-scale shootout. Acadia State controlled the Game of the Week. Philadelphia Tech survived overtime. Blue Ridge State suffocated Appalachian State. Lake Charles State forced four turnovers and still somehow cleft Starkville one point short.

Ten games. Nine CAC victories. More than a few warning shots.

Welcome to the CAC.  Here's the whip around:

Game of the Week: Acadia State 38, Coronado State 20

Acadia State’s offense arrived ready for a track meet. Coronado discovered by halftime that it had entered a race it could not win.

The Mainiacs built a 28–10 halftime lead, piled up more than 500 yards of total offense and added 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to finish a convincing 38–20 victory. Coronado produced 400 yards of its own, but much of it came while trying to chase a game Acadia had controlled early.

John McCourt led the Mainiacs with 320 passing yards and two touchdowns. Johnny Kuberski added 108 yards on the ground, while Logan McClung scored twice despite being held to 70 rushing yards.

Acadia also produced two 100-yard receivers. Gage Lehan finished with 109 yards, while Greg Silva and Max Kush caught McCourt’s two touchdown passes.

Defensively, Damon Kacyvenski collected 10 tackles and broke up three passes, helping keep Coronado from turning its yardage into enough points.

Alex McQuiston threw for 295 yards and a touchdown for the Admirals, and Addison Westbrook added a rushing score. Strong safety Alex Loiseau led the defense with 12 tackles and a pass breakup. Coronado also received a 51-yard field goal from its kicking unit.

The Admirals fall to 1–1 and now travel to Philadelphia Tech for another conference test. Acadia heads to Philadelphia as well, where the Mainiacs will face Temple.

York Wins the Conference’s First Shootout

York Tech 49, Keweenaw Tech 35

The first conference matchup of Week 1 gave us 84 points, 576 yards from York Tech and two quarterbacks who refused to slow down.

York quarterback Spencer Clemente completed 65 percent of his passes for 358 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Devin Hicks supplied 125 rushing yards, two touchdowns and nine broken tackles, while Alex Overhauser added 80 yards on only nine carries.

Connor Costanzo caught a touchdown and finished with 109 receiving yards. Jeremiah Greason gave York a second 100-yard receiver, catching six passes for 103 yards and another score.

Keweenaw quarterback Vince Parker was exceptional despite the loss. Parker threw for 316 yards and four touchdowns while adding 108 yards on the ground, accounting for 424 total yards. Kurt Calloway caught two of Parker’s touchdown passes and finished with 82 receiving yards.

The defenses saw plenty of action. Keweenaw middle linebacker Howie Garrison recorded 15 tackles, while Mike Reese added 12 tackles, including one for a loss. For York, Phil Morton intercepted Parker, and Glenn Byrne and Tommy Sampson each finished with nine tackles.

York Tech moves to 2–0 overall and 1–0 in CAC play. The No. 20 Oystermen now travel to New Mexico for another conference game against Territorial State. Keweenaw returns home to face an FCS opponent with an opportunity to earn its first victory.

Philadelphia Survives in Overtime

Philadelphia Tech 33, FCS Southeast 30 — OT

Philadelphia Tech controlled much of its Week 1 matchup but needed overtime to escape with a 33–30 victory.

Kevin Wells improved considerably from his Week 0 performance, throwing for 222 yards and two touchdowns. Martin Fisher emerged as his leading target with eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Jeff Daniels paced the Iron Horses’ defense with 14 total tackles. Kicker Josh Van Ginkle finished 2-for-3 on field-goal attempts as Philadelphia earned its first victory and improved to 1–1.

The Iron Horses will remain home in Week 2 for Grant’s Game of the Week against 1–1 Coronado State.

Lake Charles Forces Four Turnovers and Still Falls by One

Mississippi State 41, Lake Charles State 40

Lake Charles State appeared positioned to secure the CAC’s biggest victory of the weekend after carrying a 37–31 lead into the fourth quarter.

Mississippi State answered with 10 points in the final period and escaped with a 41–40 victory.

The Bulldogs outgained Lake Charles 514–383 but committed four turnovers against an opportunistic Trawlers defense. Warren McAfee, Clifton Parker and Devin Boone each intercepted a pass, while Robert Harris forced a fumble.

Lake Charles quarterback Mike Walter threw for 161 yards. Kevin Hicks and Donald Doss each scored two rushing touchdowns, giving the Trawlers four scores on the ground.

Lake Charles did almost everything required to steal a road win against an SEC opponent. Almost.

Instead, the Trawlers suffered their first loss of the season in one of Week 1’s most painful finishes.

Blue Ridge Smothers Appalachian State

Blue Ridge State 21, Appalachian State 13

Blue Ridge State did not need a shootout to make its statement.

The Wayfinders overwhelmed Appalachian State 475–158 in total yardage and held the Mountaineers in check all day en route to a 21–13 victory. It was one of the most complete defensive performances of the young CAC season and another significant non-conference result for the league.

Other CAC teams produced larger margins and flashier individual statistics. Few controlled their opponent as thoroughly as Blue Ridge.

Daytona’s Offense Hits Another Gear

Daytona Beach Tech 42, FCS Opponent 7

Daytona Beach Tech improved to 2–0 with another emphatic victory, defeating its FCS opponent 42–7.

Justice Nesbitt threw for 212 yards and four touchdowns. Aiden Spielman was responsible for most of the damage, turning five receptions into 126 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged more than 25 yards per catch and added one rushing attempt.

Bruce Isaac contributed 97 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, John Webb recorded two tackles for loss, including a sack. Strong safety David Thompson and SAM linebacker T.J. Daniels each finished with an interception and a pass breakup.

Daytona has handled everything placed in front of it through two weeks. That changes dramatically in Week 2 when the Daredevils travel to Baton Rouge to face No. 11 LSU.

Carolina State Finds the Win Column

Carolina State 45, FCS Southeast 24

Carolina State jumped ahead 27–14 by halftime and never gave its opponent an opportunity to climb back into the game.

Brian Best threw for 179 yards, while Colin Farwell rushed for 155 yards. Farwell did not reach the end zone, but Owen Roy certainly did: Roy turned 73 rushing yards into four touchdowns for the Shiners.

Zach Rivas led Carolina State with seven tackles. Cornerback Colby McQuiston produced one of the week’s most complete defensive stat lines, recording six tackles, an interception and three pass breakups.

Now 1–1, Carolina State travels to Auburn for a significant Week 2 test against the Tigers.

High Plains Storms Past Sam Houston

High Plains Tech 40, Sam Houston 23

High Plains Tech generated 536 yards of offense, raced to a 27–7 halftime lead and cruised to a 40–23 victory over Sam Houston.

Howie Mundy completed 72 percent of his passes for 344 yards and three touchdowns. Brendan Durant caught one of those scores while accumulating 155 receiving yards. Connor Emory added 92 yards and a touchdown, and tight end Thomas Dishman caught Mundy’s third scoring pass.

High Plains recorded four tackles for loss and two sacks defensively. Kerry McGinnis added an interception and a pass breakup.

The 2–0 Storm will host an FCS opponent in Week 2 with an opportunity to remain unbeaten.

The Berserkers Get Back on Track

Lake Superior State 45, FCS Opponent 17

Lake Superior State took a 24–10 lead into halftime and controlled the second half on its way to a 45–17 victory.

Bryson Cantrell threw for 214 yards and one touchdown, but the afternoon belonged to Colin Meinerz. The Berserkers’ runner accumulated 154 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns.

Reed Baker led Lake Superior with nine tackles. Gary McNairy and Eric Griggs each recorded a sack.

The 1–1 Berserkers face a much different challenge in Week 2 when they travel to Clemson to meet the 0–1 Tigers.

Territorial Turns Takeaways Into a Rout

Territorial State 41, FCS Opponent 7

The Dealers forced four turnovers and rolled to a 41–7 victory.

Eric Stevens threw for 194 yards and a touchdown. Pat Presley led the rushing attack with 120 yards, while Taylor Shuning added 99 yards and two touchdowns.

Territorial’s defense produced five tackles for loss, including two sacks. Free safety Jason Rossi intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown. Cade Mcaddley, Tim Hyde and Mitch Mellette each forced a fumble, and the Dealers recovered all three.

Now 1–1, Territorial returns to conference play when York Tech arrives in New Mexico.

Offensive Three Stars

1. Spencer Clemente, QB, York Tech
   358 passing yards, five touchdowns and 65% completions in a 49–35 conference win.
2. Aiden Spielman, WR, Daytona Beach Tech
   Five receptions, 126 yards and three touchdowns.
3. Colin Meinerz, RB, Lake Superior State
   154 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

The hardest omission is Keweenaw quarterback Vince Parker: 316 passing yards, four passing touchdowns and 108 rushing yards. The loss keeps him just outside the three.

Defensive Three Stars

1. Jason Rossi, FS, Territorial State
   Five tackles, one interception, one pass breakup and a defensive touchdown.
2. Colby McQuiston, CB, Carolina State
   Six tackles, one interception and three pass breakups.
3. Damon Kacyvenski, Acadia State
   Ten tackles and three pass breakups in the Game of the Week victory.

Grant’s Week 2 Games to Watch

All lines and totals are CAC Network projections.

Game of the Week: Coronado State at Philadelphia Tech

Projected line: Coronado State -4.5
Projected O/U: 66.5
Grant’s Guess: Coronado State 38, Philadelphia Tech 31

Both programs enter at 1–1, but they arrive there by very different routes. Coronado is trying to respond after Acadia controlled the Week 1 Game of the Week, while Philadelphia needed overtime to escape an FCS opponent.

Kevin Wells took a step forward for the Iron Horses, and Philadelphia has the benefit of playing at home. Still, Alex McQuiston and the Admirals have already shown that they can generate offense against a quality opponent.

The pick: Coronado State wins and covers. Grant leans over.

Daytona Beach Tech at No. 11 LSU

Projected line: LSU -17.5
Projected O/U: 61.5
Grant’s Guess: LSU 38, Daytona Beach Tech 27

The Daredevils have scored 42 points in consecutive weeks, but Baton Rouge represents an entirely different level of opposition.

Justice Nesbitt and Aiden Spielman have been electric, and Daytona’s big-play offense should produce enough points to make LSU uncomfortable. Winning in Death Valley is another question.

The pick: LSU wins, but Daytona covers. Grant leans over.

No. 20 York Tech at Territorial State

Projected line: York Tech -6.5
Projected O/U: 67.5
Grant’s Guess: York Tech 38, Territorial State 31

York just scored 49 points against Keweenaw. Territorial just forced four turnovers in a 34-point victory.

The Dealers’ defense can create chaos, but Spencer Clemente, Devin Hicks and York’s collection of receiving weapons give the Oystermen several ways to attack. Territorial will need another turnover-heavy performance to protect its home field.

The pick: York Tech wins and covers. Grant leans under—barely.

Carolina State at Auburn

Projected line: Auburn -13.5
Projected O/U: 52.5
Grant’s Guess: Auburn 31, Carolina State 20

Carolina State’s rushing attack broke through behind Colin Farwell and Owen Roy in Week 1. The Shiners will need that ground game to travel against a much more physical Auburn defense.

Carolina can keep this competitive if Farwell controls the pace and Colby McQuiston’s secondary creates another takeaway. Auburn’s depth eventually becomes the difference.

The pick: Auburn wins, but Carolina State covers. Grant leans under.

Lake Superior State at Clemson

Projected line: Clemson -16.5
Projected O/U: 53.5
Grant’s Guess: Clemson 34, Lake Superior State 20

The Berserkers rediscovered their identity in Week 1, with Colin Meinerz rushing for 154 yards and three touchdowns. Now that power-spread offense travels to Clemson to face a talented Tigers team searching for its first victory.

Lake Superior’s physicality should keep the Berserkers within striking distance, but Clemson has too much firepower at home.

The pick: Clemson wins, but Lake Superior covers. Grant leans over.

Week 1 showed us that the CAC can score with anyone.

Week 2 will begin telling us whether it can beat anyone.

—Grant Ashworth, CAC Network