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Assumption picked to win NE-10

MANSFIELD, Mass. – Assumption was picked to defend its Northeast-10 Conference Championship by the league’s 10 head coaches in the NE-10 preseason poll, which was released Wednesday. The Greyhounds received one more point than runner-up LIU Post in the voting. Assumption received six of the 10 first place nods, while the Pioneers collected the other four.

The Greyhounds racked up 77 total points in the voting, while the Pioneers received 76 points. Assumption defeated LIU Post 54-20 last year on its way to the NE-10 title. The two perennial powers are scheduled to square off on Sept. 27 at Assumption’s Multi-Sport Stadium.

Assumption is coming off the most successful season in program history as it advanced to the National Quarterfinals last year. The Hounds knocked off California (Pa.) in the First Round of the NCAA Championship before defeating Findlay in the second round. The Greyounds’ season came to an end in the quarterfinals as they fell to Indiana (Pa.).

Assumption is ranked nationally in a number of preseason polls, and the Hounds return arguably the most dynamic player in the country in Deonte Harris. The senior was a First Team All-American a year ago, as he scored 17 touchdowns and accounted for nearly 2,000 all purpose yards.

A lot has changed in Worcester since their NE-10 title run from a year ago. Former head coach Bob Chesney has moved across town and is now the head man at Holy Cross. Andy McKenzie, who was an assistant at Holy Cross for almost a decade, was hired to replace Coach Chesney in the offseason.

Bentley was picked to finish third in the NE-10, following a 6-3 conference mark a year ago. The Falcons handed Assumption their only NE10 loss last year. New Haven was picked to finish fourth, while crosstown rival Southern Connecticut was ranked fifth. Merrimack, Stonehill, Pace, American International, and Saint Anselm rounded out the coaches’ selections.

The 2018 NE-10 football season will officially kick off Aug. 30 with a pair of NE-10 teams in action. Bentley plays host to West Chester in non-league action, while Southern Connecticut will head to Gannon. Both games are scheduled for a 6 p.m. kickoff.

There will be no NE-10 Championship Game this year, and the conference champion will be determined by the results during the regular season. Franklin Pierce has announced the elevation of their football program and will begin NE-10 play during the 2019 season.

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