UMass Dartmouth football completes dream season with NEFC title, #1 ranking in New England and NCAA bid

(Dartmouth, MA) – The 2002 football season at UMass Dartmouth will long be remembered as the finest campaign in the 14-year history of the program. The Corsairs posted several firsts as a team, including an undefeated regular season record of 11-0, the first outright New England Football Conference Championship and the first appearance in the NCAA Division III Football Tournament.

UMass Dartmouth cruised to the NEFC Bogan Division Championship, clinching a spot in the NEFC Championship game. Facing Westfield State College in the title game, the Corsair defense rose to the occasion, blanking the Owls, 16-0, to earn UMass Dartmouth’s first invitation to the NCAA Division III tournament. Despite a 56-6 season-ending loss to Muhlenberg College in the NCAA Tournament, the Corsairs 2002 season was a tremendous accomplishment.

As a team, UMass Dartmouth finished the season as the top ranked team in the final New England Division III football poll. At season’s end, the Corsiars were ranked 38th in one national football Division III poll and has been as high as 21st in the AFCA poll.

While the Corsairs’ efficient offense was lighting up scoreboards, it was UMass Dartmouth’s defensive unit, which played a key role in the team’s success. With four shutouts, including the NEFC Championship game, UMass Dartmouth’s defense led the nation in turnover margin with 25 fumbles recovered (tie for first national) and 28 interceptions (second in the nation) for a total of 53 turnovers recovered, the most of any DIII team in the country. Having lost only 21 turnovers on offense (five interceptions, 16 fumbles), the Corsairs were +2.67 in turn over margin to lead the nation. The Corsair defense was also fifth in pass efficiency defense (78.25 rating), sixth in scoring defense (11.2 points/game) and 11th in total defense (245.2 yards/game)

Leading the post-season award winners was head coach Bill Kavanaugh. In his 13th season with the Corsairs, Kavanaugh earned Coach of the Year honors from the NEFC, the Boston Gridiron Club and was the New England Football Writers Division II/III Coach of the Year.

Leading the post-season award winners among the players were eight players named to either the First or Second team All-NEFC team. Senior tackle Brandon Barry (Portsmouth, RI) was also an ECAC Division III and NE Football Writers Div. 2/3First team selection. Senior Joe Sabina (Taunton, MA) (44 receptions, 508 yards, 2 TD) was an ECAC Div. 3 Second Team choice. Junior defensive end Phil Rashkovetsky (Newton, MA) was also an NEFC First teamer. Among the NEFC Second Team all-stars were junior defensive back Matt O’Day (Westminster, MA) (5 interceptions), senior defensive back Mike Marino (Revere, MA), senior offensive lineman Paul Tarallo (Mansfield, MA), junior quarterback John Falcone (Norwood, MA) and senior kicker Brian West (Raynham, MA) (33-42 PAT, 10-20 FG, 63 points). O’Day and freshman defensive back Matt Lavallee (Milbury, MA) (6 interceptions #1 in NEFC) both were 2002 Football Gazette Division III All East Region selection at defensive back.

The Corsairs’ offense was led by the two-pronged attack of Falcone and junior running back Shawn Theriault (Wakefield, MA). Falcone, a Golden Helmet Award winner during the season, connected on 143 of 240 passes for 1631 yards with 11 TDs and four interceptions. Falcone also was the Corsairs’ second leading rusher wit with 713 yards on 147 carries with eight TDs. Falcone led the NEFC in passing efficiency (128.46 rating) and total offense with 198 yards per game. Theriault rushed for 1181 yards on 239 carries, an average of 4.7 yards per carry and 94.2 yards per game.

One footnote to the season was that the Corsairs did not play a single game on campus. Due to renovations at Cressy Field, UMass Dartmouth played home games at both Bishop Stang and at Dartmouth HS and moved one home to Curry College. But the location of home games had little impact on the outcome during the regular season as the Corsiars outscored opponents 29.4 to 11.3 and 11 straight regular season victories.

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