UMass Dartmouth hopes returning veterans will help the Corsairs come up with the big play in 2001

(Dartmouth, MA) -- Despite a 5-4 overall record last season, UMass Dartmouth Coach Bill Kavanaugh's Corsairs were within one game of spot in the inaugural New England Football Conference championship game. But in the game to decide the Boyd Division championship, the Corsairs came up on the short end of a 51-27 loss to Salve Regina University.

"We had a shot against Salve Regina, but we just couldn't come up with any big plays," said Kavanaugh, who is entering his 12th season with the Corsairs (61-50).

It was the Corsairs' inability to come up with those big plays, especially on defense last season, which left UMass Dartmouth in second place in the Boyd Division with a 4-2 conference mark. As the Corsairs enter the 2001 season, Kavanaugh's team will be building around a core of 18 experienced veterans and a handful of newcomers to the program who could have a significant on the team's success.

Led by All-New England Football Conference junior wide receiver Joe Sabina (Taunton, MA), the Corsairs had the NEFC's top passing offense, averaging 230 yards per game last season. Sabina led all UMass Dartmouth receivers with 51 catches for 897 yards and 5 TD catches. His 5.7 catches per games and 99.7 yard average were both tops in the NEFC.

"Having Sabina line up at wide receiver means that the opposing defense knows right away that they have to double cover his side of the field," said Kavanaugh. "What we have to do is find ways to get the ball to him and to move the ball around to our other receivers. We think our group of receivers are going to help up this season."

Joining Sabina at the wide out position will be returners sophomore Matt O'Day (Westminster, MA) (9 catches, 124 yds), junior Jason Marino (Revere, MA) (15 catches, 214 yds, 1 TD) and sophomore Alberto Rodriguez (Everett, MA) (5 catches 45 yds, 1 TD). With depth at the wide receiver position, Kavanaugh has moved one of the Corsairs' two best receivers from last year into the offensive backfield.

Senior co-captain Shane Harris (Marion, MA) will be the Corsairs' top running back this season after earning NEFC Second Team honors as a wide receiver last year. Harris was second in pass receptions for the Corsairs with 28 catches for 388 yards and 5 TDs, including a season-long 92-yard TD against UMass Boston.

"Harris has always been a running back until we moved him to the outside last year," Kavanaugh said. "He's the most experienced running back we have this season and we are really expecting a big year from him. He's a slashing runner who has always been good at running the draw play. We just need him to stay healthy with an increased workload."

Joining Harris in the backfield will be senior Franz Philogene (Bridgewater, MA), a four- year player for the Corsairs, who saw action last season. Philogene may back up Harris and also play some fullback in the Corsairs offense along with sophomore Sean Theriault (Wakefield, MA).

The quarterback position will have a new face this season following the graduation of Matt McLaughlin, an NEFC Second Team selection a year ago. Despite a lack of experience at the position, Kavanaugh thinks either sophomores Val Teixeira (Dorchester, MA) or John Falcone (Norwood, MA) could step into the starting lineup to run the offense. Teixeira is a drop back quarterback with good height and a strong arm, while Falcone, a transfer from Stonehill College, is a multi-faceted quarterback with a reputation for being a winner.

Whoever earns the starting job at quarterback should enjoy plenty of protection from an offensive line that has 3 of its 5 starters returning. Senior co-captain Paul Tarillo (Mansfield, MA) anchors the line at center with senior Jonathan Rawson (Grafton, MA) and senior Jim Sullivan (Dennis, MA) back this season. Kavanaugh is also happy with a pair of sophomore tight ends, Cameron Barker (Palm Bay, FL) and Steve Franics (Pawcatuck CT), a pair of 230 pounders who can block and catch.

"We've got some experience on the offensive side of the ball, but we need to settle on a quarterback," said Kavanaugh. "Our offensive philosophy won't change. We're still going to throw the football, but we want to be able to run and we want to try to throw deep as well."

UMass Dartmouth has 10 returnees on defense including all 4 defensive linemen and 4 defensive backs as well. The front line will have senior Dustin Soule (Middleboro, MA) and senior Mike Caito (Chelmsford, MA) at defensive tackle with senior co-captain Mark Kulakowski (Peabody, MA) and Chris Jones (Foxboro, MA) at defensive end. Jones is a converted linebacker and Second Team All NEFC selection last year. In the defensive backfield, senior co-captain Tony Lopes (Norwood, MA), senior Geoff Tainter (Natick, MA) (4 Ints, 46 yds, 1 TD), sophomore Marco Angelo (Norwood, MA) (1 int) and sophomore Tom Koska (New Bedford, MA) will all be back for another season.

The Corsairs a little thin at linebacker where senior Nick Freitas (Swansea, MA) will be back after a solid season last year. Senior Chris Landeville (Portsmouth, MA), a former defensive back, has been moved into one of the linebacker positions.

"We have to get tougher on defense this year," Kavanaugh said. "We just didn't create any turnovers last year. We have plenty of experience back this year and we hope that experience will help ups. I think our experience in the secondary will help us a great deal."

Special teams should be a strength for the Corsairs again this season with the return of senior punter/place kicker Jacob Jata (Port Richey, FL). In his first season with the Corsairs, Jata connected on 4-7 field goals and made 26 of 36 extra points for an average of 4.2 points per game, second best in the NEFC. He also averaged 32.8 yards per punt.

UMass Dartmouth opens the 2001 season with a pair of tough non-conference opponents. Springfield College will help the Corsairs open the season at Cressy Field on Sept. 8 before UMass Dartmouth travels to Plymouth State College on Sept. 15. UMass Dartmouth opens NEFC Boyd Division competition at home on September 29 against Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"We think we've got the toughest Division III schedule in New England," said Kavanaugh. "The first two games are tough and our Boyd Division games are all very tough. I think Salve Regina, Nichols College and Curry College will all be very good again this season, but our goal is to play in the NEFC championship game."

Jim Mullins
Administrative Assistant
UMass Dartmouth Athletic Department
285 Old Westport Road
Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300
Phone: (508) 910-6930
Fax: (508) 999-8867
Email: jmullins@umassd.edu