Individual efforts highlight UMass Dartmouth
Corsairs' 1999 football campaign

(Dartmouth, MA) - Despite a 3-7 overall record, UMass Dartmouth's 1999 football season had several individual highlights, including a pair of players named to the All New England Football Conference First Team.

A pre-season Division III All-America cornerback, senior co-captain Mike Cotton (Middleboro, MA) had another outstanding season on defense for the Corsairs. After leading the NCAA Division III in interceptions as a junior, opponents didn't throw to Cotton�s side of the field to often, limiting him to 3 interceptions during the year. Cotton was also among the top punt returners in the NEFC, averaging 10.3 yards per return, sixth in the NEFC.

Also earning First Team All-NEFC honors was sophomore punter Brian West (Raynham, MA), who led the NEFC with a 37.6-yard punting average. West also led the NEFC in field goals, connecting on 7 of11 attempts (.78 per game), including a pair of season-long 38-yard efforts. Senior co-captain and offensive tackle Kevin Mahoney (Dix Hills, NY) earned All-NEFC Second Team honors and senior tight end Mike Armandi (Foxboro, MA) earned NEFC Honorable mention distinction for the Corsairs.

Although he didn't earn post season honors, the performance of junior running back Frank Meranda (Richmond, CA) was one of the biggest highlights of UMass Dartmouth�s 1999 season. A transfer student from Sonoma (CA) State College, Meranda single-handedly carried the Corsairs' ground game throughout the year.

Meranda rushed for 1,103 yards on 262 carries for an average of 110.3 yards per game, eighth best in the NEFC. His 121.1 total yards per game was also eighth best in the NEFC. He scored 10 TDs to lead UMass Dartmouth in scoring with 60 points and caught 6 passes for 29 yards. When he wasn't running the ball from scrimmage, Meranda returned 5 kickoffs for 79 yards.

In each of the Corsairs' three wins during the 1999 season, it was Meranda who led the way for UMass Dartmouth. In UMass Dartmouth's 10-3 overtime win over Worcester State on Sept. 18, Meranda carried the ball 34 times for 129 yards. The following week against UMass Boston in the first annual President's Cup game, Meranda exploded for 125 yards on 13 carries and 3 TDs in the first half of a 58-6 win. Meranda was also the workhorse in the Corsairs� 34-6 win over Western New England College on Oct. 23 by picking up 145 yards on 31 carries plus a TD.

In total, Meranda had 6 100-yard games out of the Corsairs' 10-game schedule. His season's best mark was the season-opening 169 yard and 1 TD performance against Western Connecticut College on Sept. 11, followed by 142 yards on 29 carries and a pair of TDs in an overtime loss to MIT on Oct. 9. Meranda closed out his season with 135 yards on 38 carries in a 21-17 loss to Curry College on Nov. 13.

UMass Dartmouth had two quarterbacks sharing the signal calling duties for the 1999 season. Junior Matt McLaughlin (Mansfield, MA) appeared in all 10 games, completing 69 of 128 passes for 874 yards, 5 TDs and a rating of 117.90, fourth best in the NEFC. Junior Jason Nutting (Norwood, MA) appeared in 8 games for the Corsairs, completing 45 of 86 passes for 609 yards, 2 TDs and a 98.55 rating, seventh best in the NEFC.

By averaging 3.2 catches and 52.3 yards per game, senior Mike Armandi (Foxboro, MA) was eighth in the NEFC pass catching category and the Corsairs� leading receiver. After senior Jason Antonio (Mattapoisett, MA) was injured and out for the year after 5 games (15 catches 229 yards, 1 TD), Armandi stepped in and came up with 32 catches for 523 yards. He had 2 TD catches, including a season-long 69 yarder against MIT.

Three other Corsairs reached double figures in catches, led by freshman Joe Sabina (Taunton, MA) with 18 catches for 277 yards and a team-leading 3 TD receptions. Senior co-captain Steve Wozniak (Whitman, MA) had 17 catches for 208 yards and a TD, while sophomore Shane Harris (Marion, MA) had 15 catches for 108 yards. Harris was also the Corsairs� second leading scorer behind Meranda with 276 yards and 3 TDs. Harris was also fourth in the NEFC in kick off returns, averaging 22.7 yards per kick return. Senior Shawn Harris (Dartmouth, MA) picked up 172 yards rushing on 31 carries plus 4 TDs for UMass Dartmouth.

Meranda was the Corsairs' leading scorer with 60 points, followed by West with 38 points, Shane Harris (26 points), Sabina (22 points) and Wozniak (20 points). For the season, UMass Dartmouth ranked fifth in total offense, averaging 306 yards per game and fourth in passing by averaging 143.3 yards per game.

On defense, Charlie Hogan (Waltham, MA) was UMass Dartmouth�s top tackler with 51, including 31 unassisted and 20 assists. Hogan was followed by senior co-captain Brandon Duarte (Wareham, MA) (34 unassisted, 16 assisted, 50 total), junior Manny Santo (Warwick, RI) (34-16-50, 2 INT) and sophomore Mark Kulakowski (Peabody, MA) (34-15-49). Led by Cotton and Santo, UMass Dartmouth's passing defense ranked second in the NEFC in passing efficiency allowing only 8 TDs with 9 interceptions for an 84.76 rating. The Corsairs finished sixth in total defense, allowing 295.3 yards per game.

Three of UMass Dartmouth's 10 games went to overtime with the Corsairs coming away with a 1-2 record in the extra sessions. In their second game of the year, the Corsairs captured a 10-3 win in double overtime against Worcester State College. Antonio caught a 25-yard TD pass from McLaughlin for the game-winner. UMass Dartmouth wasn�t as lucky in their other two overtime games, falling, 30-29, to MIT and 31-24 to the eventual NEFC champions from Bridgewater State College.