December 11, 1998
by Jim Mullins
Assistant Director
Sports Information

1998 Corsair Highlights

1998 record 8-2 overall 5-1 NEFC Blue
Ranked #6 ECAC New England Div. III

For the third year in a row, Coach Bill Kavanuagh's UMass Dartmouth Corsairs finished with an 8-2 record. In the New England Football Conference Blue Division, UMass Dartmouth placed second with a 5-1 record.

UMass Dartmouth placed eight players on the New England Football Conference All-Star team, more than any other team in the NEFC.

The senior pass-catch combination of quarterback Jay Furtado (Swansea, MA) and wide receiver Ryan Bland (Dartmouth, MA) were the Corsairs' only repeat NEFC First Team selections from last season. Furtado earned both First Team NEFC honors at quarterback and NEFC Offensive Player of the Year for a second straight season. In 10 games as a senior, Furtado connected on 163 of 298 passes (54.7%) for 2,298 yards with 28 TDs and 10 interceptions. He averaged 229.8 passing yards per game and was ranked #27 nationally in Division III with a rating of 146.3.

One of the reasons for Furtado's and the Corsairs' success on offense was the play of Bland, who earned First Team NEFC All-Star honors as a wide receiver for a second year in a row. Bland finished his final season with the Corsairs by catching 69 passes in 10 games (11th best in Div. III) for 919 yards and a 13.3 yards per catch average and a 91.9 yards per game average. He caught 12 TD passes, added two more rushing TDs and had two interceptions on defense.

Joining Furtado and Bland on the NEFC First Team were offensive guard Nate Manderson (Ipswich, NY) and offensive tackle Kevin Mahoney (Dix Hills, NY). Manderson, a 6-0 230-pound senior guard and Mahoney, a 6-2, 270- pound senior tackle were key players in the Corsairs' offensive unit which finished second in total offense in the NEFC (383.7 yards per game) and first in pass offense (233.8 yards per game).

While the Corsairs' offense provided plenty of fireworks during the season, the improved play of UMass Dartmouth's defense had a lot to do with the Corsairs' success during the 1998 season. UMass Dartmouth finished the year ranked #3 among all NCAA Division III defensive units in total defense, allowing an average of 202.4 yards per game. The Corsairs were ranked 10th nationally in scoring defense, allowing only 10.8 points per game and 30th nationally against the run, allowing 99.7 yards per game

Joining the four NEFC First Team selections from offense were four members of the UMass Dartmouth defensive unit. Sophomore defensive back Mike Cotton (Middleboro, MA), who finished the season by leading the NCAA Division III nationally with an average of 1.1 interceptions per game (11 total), earned First Team honors in the defensive backfield. Cotton was joined on the NEFC First Team by defensive lineman Matt Souza (Mansfield, MA) and senior linebackers David Spiriti (Everett, MA) and O. J. Powell (Wareham, MA).

Souza, 6-1, 220-pound sophomore provided the Corsairs with great line play throughout the season. Spiriti, an NEFC Second Team All-Star a year ago as a junior, is a 6-2, 210-linebacker who teamed with the 5-10, 220-pound Powell to give the Corsairs outstanding play at the linebacking position this season. Spiriti (7.1 tackles/game) and Powell (6.5 tackles/game) finished the season ranked first and second in tackles for the Corsairs' defense.

Named to the NEFC Second Team was Corsair tight end Mike Armandi (Foxboro, MA). A 6-0, 225-pound sophomore, Armandi finished the season with 19 catches for 283 yards, an average of 14.9 yards per catch and four TDs.

NEFC Honorable Mention was bestowed on 6-1 245-pound sophomore defensive lineman James Lupton (Wareham, MA) and freshman place kicker Brian West (Raynham, MA). West connected on 28 of 35 extra points and made three of five field goals for 37 points, second best on the Corsairs behind Bland's 84 points.

Click here to see the 1998 game results

Click here to see the 1998 player statistics