FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 3, 2004

UMass Dartmouth to open 2004 football season

at Div. II Merrimack College on Sept. 5

(Dartmouth, MA) – The UMass Dartmouth football team will take a big step up in competition

this Sunday afternoon when the Corsairs open their 2004 season by travelling to Merrimack College.

Kickoff is set for 12 noon.

Head Coach Bill Kavanaugh added the Division II Warriors to the schedule for what will be the first

meeting between the two teams.  It will be the season-opener for both teams and the first game for new

Merrimack College head coach Jim Murphy.

Coming off a 9-2 record last season, UMass Dartmouth will have an interesting mix of veterans and

newcomers in its lineup for the 2004 season.  With four of five starters returning on the offensive line,

the Corsairs will be steady up front, but new starters will be in place at both quarterback and running back.

After losing the career leading rusher Shawn Theriault and three-year starting quarterback John Falcone

to graduation, the Corsair offense will have some important new faces in the lineup.  The pre-season

battle at quarter back has been between senior Val Teixeira (Dorchester, MA), junior Bryan Marino

(Revere, MA) and freshman Pat Franey (Burlington, MA).  In the backfield, the new quarterback will

probably be handing off to sophomore Jamison Humphries (Longmeadow, MA), who moves into the

startling lineup at running back.

If the Corsairs can get their passing game going, the new quarterback will have some experienced receivers

to look for.  Victor Cruz (New Bedford, MA) was the Corsairs’ best receiver last year and will get a lot

of attention from opposing defenses this year.  Wayne Homol  (Swansea, MA) will also be a target on the

outside as well as someone Kavanaugh wants to run the ball a few times every game to keep defenses honest.

On defense, UMass Dartmouth was the top defensive unit in the New England Football Conference last year a

nd should be right back at the top this season.  Six starters from last year are back for UMass Dartmouth on

defense, led by NEFC Second Team linebacker Jason Berroa (Lynn, MA) along with juniors Mike Bleakley

(Oakmont, MA) and Louis Lopes (Norwood, MA). 

When the Corsair defense is on the field it will have to pay close attention to Merrimack’s top offensive

threat, senior tight end Aaron Clark. A Pre-Season Division II All-America selection, Clark was the Warriors’

leading receiver a year ago with 49 catches for 656 yards and 7 TDs, school records in all three categories. 

Merrimack was picked to finish fourth in the pre-season coaches’ poll in the Northeast 10.

The Merrimack College game is the first of three non-conference games to open the Corsairs’ 2004 season. 

UMass Dartmouth will host Plymouth State University in the Corsairs’ home opener at Cressy Field on Saturday,

September 11 at 12 noon.  UMass Dartmouth will be back on the road to take on traditional rival Bridgewater

State College on September 18 in the second annual Shrine Bowl game sponsored by the Southeastern

Massachusetts Shrine Club.

Results from Sunday's game will be available on the UMass Dartmouth Sports Information Hotline

at (508) 999-8751.