Cape Cod, MA --- Worcester State has been selected to play Salve Regina their first ECAC Bowl game since the 2003 season on Saturday at 12 PM at Gaudet Field in Middletown, RI.
The Lancers (8-2) come into the contest off their first winning season since 2004 as they tied for second in the final NEFC Bogan Division standings as they ended the season with a 27-13 triumph over division champion Framingham State.
The Blue and Gold are 1-4 in the ECAC's all-time as their only win was a 36-35 victory over Curry in a thriller that capped off a 10-1 season. The last appearance in a bowl game came against UMass Dartmouth as the Corsairs handed WSU a 21-7 setback.
Senior quarterback Tony Tokarz (Holden, MA) leads the charge for Worcester State as he tossed for 1,759 yards with 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding five scores on the ground and 377 yards. Fourth-year running back Marcus Price (Worcester, MA/Doherty) is third in the NEFC in rushing as he eclipsed the single-season record for rushing yardage with 1,193 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The wide receiving duo of sophomore AJ Scerra (Marlboro, MA) and senior Kenny Russell (Bedford, MA) have combined for 73 receptions, 1179 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 scoring strikes delivered though the air to Scerra.
As a team the Lancers bring in the second best scoring offense (34.1 PPG), rush offense (217.4 YPG) and total offense (409.9 YPG) in the conference as their passing attack is fourth overall (192.5 YPG). WSU has allowed just 10 sacks in 10 games and they lead the NEFC in third-down conversions (64-for-139 – 46 percent).
Senior defensive end Ray St. Laurent (Shrewsbury, MA) ties for the league lead in sacks (9.5) while he is second on the squad in tackling with 58 (40 solo). In addition to having 13 tackles for a loss of 66 yards, St. Laurent has two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Fourth-year linebacker Andrew Tokarz (Holden, MA) also propels the squad with 62 tackles (47 solo) and classmate Cliff Oratokhai (Worcester, MA/South) is tied atop the conference with six interceptions to his credit.
On special teams, junior return specialist Richie Dube (Shrewsbury, MA) has helped anchor a special teams unit that leads the league in punt returns (16 YPG) and is eighth in kickoff return yardage (18.8 YPG). Dube has 19 punt returns for 300 yards and a 63 touchdown return in a triumph against Nichols.
Salve Regina (7-3) finished in third place in the NEFC Bogan Division standings. Their non-conference slate included a 25-22 victory over Union and a 28-13 win over Framingham State as they also lost to #15 Montclair State, who finished at 8-2 and tied for second in the ultra competitive NJAC.
The Seahawks are 1-2 all-time in the ECAC's with lone win coming in a 36-6 triumph over Plymouth State in the Northeast Bowl to help them complete a 10-1 campaign in 1998. Their last apperance was in 1999 when the Panthers got revenge and defeated them the following year, 16-7.
Salve Regina brings in the second best scoring defense in the NEFC (14.9 PPG) as they are also fifth in rushing defense (122.6 YPG) and total defense (277.1 YPG). The squad leads the conference in turnover margin with 20 more takeaways than giveaways including just 12 turnovers in 10 games.
The Lancers are going to be tested as they are going to have to keep an eye on senior linebacker AJ Albert (Franklin Park, NJ) who ties for the league lead in tackles for a loss (20.5) while he is tied for third in total tackles (96) and solo tackles (52). Albert also has 6.5 sacks to his credit with four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
Fourth-year defensive end Shawn Lange (Bradford, CT) chips in with 50 tackles (24 solo) with 5.5 sacks and 11 TFL. In the secondary junior Maxwell Shubert (Westchester, PA) has four interceptions and four pass breakups while first-year Phil Terio (Trumbull, CT) adds nine deflections and one INT.
Sophomore Richie Edwards (Trumbull, CT) paces the squad offensively with 804 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Salve Regina leads the conference in sacks allowed with 31 – an average of 3.1 per game.
Worcester State is 6-2 all-time against the Seahawks. After winning back-to-back games in 1998 and 1999, the Lancers reeled off six consecutive victories with their last being a 28-27 triumph over Salve Regina in 2005.
The other regional bowl games include Endicott hosting Mount Ida in the North Atlantic Bowl and Bridgewater State entertaining Alfred in the Northeast Bowl.