Corsairs post a 6-3 overall record in 2001 season, ranked #10 in final New England Division III poll

(Dartmouth, MA) -- Victories over New England Football Conference rivals Salve Regina University and Bridgewater State College, along with a non-conference victory over Springfield College, lifted UMass Dartmouth to a 6-3 overall record and a 3-2 mark for third place in the NEFC Bogan Division.

Only a 30-21 season ending loss to Curry College kept Coach Bill Kavanaugh's Corsairs out of the NEFC playoff picture. The Corsairs' 6-3 overall record was good enough to earn UMass Dartmouth a #10 ranking in the final New England Division III college football poll.

At the conclusion of the season, UMass Dartmouth placed three players on the New England Football Conference's 2001 All-Conference team and added five others to the NEFC Second Team. The Corsairs had two players named to the NEFC First Team defensive unit, including senior Geoff Taintor (Natick, MA) at defensive back and senior punter Jacob Jata (Port Richey, FL). On the First Team NEFC offensive unit, UMass Dartmouth was represented by senior tackle Brandon Barry (Portsmouth, MA), who capped his career with the Corsairs by being named to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-Star team.

UMass Dartmouth's five representatives on the NEFC Second Team include senior defensive tackle Mike Caito (Chelmsford, MA), senior offensive guard Chris Jones (Foxboro, MA), senior running back Shane Harris (Marion, MA), junior wide receiver Joe Sabina (Taunton, MA) and Jata as a place kicker.

The Corsairs were a balanced unit on both sides of the ball, finishing fifth in total offense with 314.6 yards per game and third in total defense, allowing only 257.2 yards per game. With 26.8 points per game, UMass Dartmouth ranked third among NEFC teams in points scored and fourth in points allowed with 17.9 points per game.

Sabina was among the Corsairs' NEFC statistical leaders for the season, placing third in receiving with 4.8 catches per game. His 43 catches for 705 yards led the Corsairs, as did his eight touchdowns. He also averaged 9.4 yards per punt return, seventh in the NEFC. Jata was the NEFC leader in both placekicking with 23 of 28 extra points and nine of 11 field goals for 50 points. Jata also led the NEFC in punting with a 37.5 yard average. Harris was the Corsairs' leading running back with 830 yards of total offense in eight games with eight touchdowns.

Sophomore John Falcone (Norwood, MA) was the Corsairs' starting quarterback for the first six games until an injury ended his season. Falcone connected on 75 of 146 passes for 953 yards with eight TDs and eight interceptions. After Falcone's injury, sophomore quarterback Val Teixeira (Dorchester, MA) stepped into the lineup and came up with 40-79 passing for 506 yards with seven TDs and three interceptions.

In addition to Sabina, the Corsair quarterback's favorite passing targets included sophomore Matt O'Day (Westminster, MA) (26 catches, 302 yards, two TDs), sophomore Cameron Barker (Palm Bay, FL) (15 catches, 220 yards, two TDs) sophomore Alberto Rodriquez (Everett, MA) (10 catches 105 yards) and junior Jason Marino (Revere, MA) (eight catches, 131 yards, one TD).

In the defensive backfield, sophomore Tom Koska (New Bedford, MA) was sixth in the NEFC with team-high four interceptions, while sophomore Marco Angelo (Norwood, MA) had two of his own.