Will The Wildcats Score 100?

Fair question, after-all both squads in this match-up are Wildcats. However, questions loom for both squads. Will New Hampshire’s offense be effective against a Big Ten defense? How will Northwestern handle the loss of Randy Walker? Can the in-experienced signal callers of Northwestern lead this team past the offensive powerhouse from I-AA?

New Hampshire returns the two potent weapons in its offense, QB Ricky Santos and WR David Ball. The defense is more experienced but total defensive numbers again could be skewed if third stringers are playing out the second half’s in blowouts all year.

Northwestern’s most experienced QB on its roster is C.J. Bacher who played 4 games last season. The sophomore completed 6 of 15 passes for 59 yards and a score. The only other QBs on the roster are freshmen. The running game is more promising with second year back Tyrell Sutton who ran for 1,474 yards as a true freshman last season. The receiving corps are thin aswell with Shawn Herbert the top returning wideout.

New Hampshire’s offense has less questions, if any at all. The ground game will be without it’s top rusher from last season but still remains a strong group of guys to lineup behind Santos. David Ball will be looking at some records from the early parts of the season including touchdown receptions which is currently at 50 by Jerry Rice, Ball has 45 entering the season.

David Ball Tops I-AA WR Rankings.

The Sports Network has released a listing of the top wide receivers in I-AA football and New Hampshire’s David Ball tops the list. Ball has a chance to break many I-AA records this upcoming season including receiving yards and touchdowns.

The Top Five.

1. David Ball, UNH
2. Laurent Robinson, Illinois State
3. Tony Kays, UC Davis
4. Henry Tolbert, Grambling State
5. Tyrone Timmins, MVSU

The Atlantic 10 Conference added three others in the top twenty-five; Andrae Brown, Towson; Joe Nicholas, William & Mary; Arel Gordon, Maine.

The complete list is here.

We’re Number One

Lindy’s Magazine has ranked New Hampshire as the #1 team in I-AA for the upcomming season.

The Wildcats, who won a school-record 11 games in 2005, were named Co-Atlantic 10 Champions and made an appearance in the NCAA I-AA quarterfinals for the second consecutive season. UNH’s explosive offense was ranked second in the nation in 2005 with 74 TDs and was No. 1 in the nation with 493 yards per game and No. 1 in the country with a mark of 41.7 points per contest.

The rest of the top ten is as follows:

1. New Hampshire
2. Appalachian State
3. Southern Illinois
4. Montana
5. Texas State
6. James Madison
7. Eastern Kentucky
8. California-Poly
9. Illinois State
10. Furman

David Ball and Ricky Santos were named to the All I-AA Team in the same publication.

Ricky Santos Tops I-AA QB Rankings.

The Sports Network has released a listing of the top quarterbacks in I-AA football and New Hampshire’s Ricky Santos tops the list. Eric Sanders who led Northern Iowa to a win over the Wildcats last November in Durham during the NCAA playoffs is ranked second. Matt Dougherty, who put the list together has Santos and Sanders in a class of their own.

The Top Five.

1. Ricky Santos – New Hampshire
2. Eric Sanders – Northern Iowa
3. Justin Rascati – James Madison
4. Jon Grant – California-Davis
5. Anton Clarkson – Hofstra

The Atlantic 10 Conference added two others in the top twenty; Marvin Burroughs of Villanova and Ron Whitcomb of Maine.

The complete list is here.

New Hampshire Ranks Well In Pre-season Poll

The first pre-season poll of 2006 was released today, and New Hampshire will start the season close to where they spent most of 2005, near the top. The Wildcats, who return the most explosive offensive duo in all of college football ranked #2 just behind defending National Champion Appalachian State.