The Worcester State University football team enters the 2017 season with an optimistic outlook, after coming off of a 3-7 overall and 3-5 league record in the previous season.
"We really progressed the second half of the season last year," said 35-year head coach Brien Cullen. "Combine that with a great off season in our new facility, it is a great base to make improvement for success this year."
This season the Lancers look to replace running back Matt Lezama (Milton, Mass.) who led the team with 581 rushing yards on 117 carries, eight rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns. The Blue and Gold also lost wide receivers Tyler Barrie (Oxford, Mass.) and Arron Witkus (Chelmsford, Mass.) who recorded 36 and 33 receptions, respectively. Defensively, the team lost Samuel Weeks (Methuen, Mass.) and Matt Loureiro (W. Boylston, Mass.) who picked up 82 and 79 tackles, respectively. Weeks also marked a team-high 6.5 sacks and team-high nine tackles for a loss.
Piloting the Worcester State offense this season will be Mike Kadlick (Dedham, Mass.) and Noah Brum (Honolulu, HI) at the quarterback positions. Kadlick played in five games last season and registered a 56.5% completion rate (70-for-124), averaging 150 yards per game. Brum returns to the team after a year hiatus, playing in two games during the 2015 campaign.
Offensively, Worcester State returns running back Dexter Andrews (Boston, Mass.) who registered 64 carriers for a total of 195 yards last season. He averaged 27.9 yards per game and scored one touchdown last season. Andrews will be joined in the backfield by juniors Hunter Paupaw (Hudson, Mass.) and Frank Catanoso (Marshfield, Mass.).
On the receiving end, the Lancers welcome back receiver Dan Orlando (Westborough, Mass.) who totaled 33 receptions for 224 yards with a touchdown. Jacob Maher (Marshfield, Mass.) returns at tight end following an injury last season. He played in two games as a sophomore. Newcomers Kyler Brown (Chelmsford, Mass.) and Justin Lewis (Lynn, Mass.) bring depth to the receiving corps.
The offensive line will be anchored by three-year starter Chris Walles (Feeding Hills, Mass.). Walles will be joined by three-year starter Jimmy King (Reading, Mass.) and sophomore Marc Merchant (Fitchburg, Mass.) who made eight starts as a freshman.
Defensively, the Blue and Gold bring back defensive backs Theo Bryant (Lowell, Mass.), Rafael Guzman (Cambridge, Mass.), and Bemnet Morgan (Springfield, Mass.). Bryant led the Lancers in tackles last year with 83 (48 solo, 35 assisted) including 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Guzman led the team with two interceptions and picked up 30 tackles last season, while Morgan collected 64 tackles. Stephen Smialek (Dartmouth, Mass.) returns at linebacker positon after recording 82 tackles last year. Linebacker Mike Quinn (Sutton, Mass.) comes back after a shortened season last year due to an injury. In three games played in 2016, Quinn notched 19 tackles, one forced fumble and one breakup. Rookies Fernando Montalban (Ware, Mass.), Kyle Driscoll (Spencer, Mass.), and Gus Ramstrom (Natick, Mass.) will compete for playing time on the defense.
Worcester State's 2016 MASCAC All-Conference honoree, Noah Hwang (Brooklyn, N.Y.) returns to the team after scoring the second-most points for the Lancers in 2016. In total, he scored 34 points on 19 extra points and five field goals.
The 2017 season kicks off on Saturday, September 2 at Salve Regina for a 12 noon game. The Lancers' home opener follows on Friday, September 8 under the lights at 7 p.m. when they host Becker College. Worcester State's homecoming game is scheduled for Saturday, October 21 against UMass-Dartmouth at 2 p.m. For the complete schedule, please click HERE
For the MASCAC Preseason Poll, please clickHERE
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