Football Projected to Finish Second in Bogan Division in NEFC Preseason Poll
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University football team has been projected to finish second in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) Bogan Division in the conference's preseason poll voting conducted by the league's coaches.
Endicott College was selected to claim the NEFC title and the landed atop the Boyd Division in the poll with 62 points, while Maine Maritime was slated to win the Bogan Division with 58 total points. Western New England landed in the second spot on the Boyd side with 52 points, while the Rams claimed the second spot on the Bogan side with 47 points and a single first place vote.
Rounding out the Bogan Division in the poll is Bridgewater State in third just a point behind the Rams, Massachusetts Maritime in fourth with 37 points and Westfield State in fifth with 35 points. Worcester State, Coast Guard and Fitchburg State were chosen sixth, seventh and eighth respectively.
In the 2011 the Rams will look to continue the success from 2010 when they went a school record 9-2 and were victorious in the programs first post season bowl game.
This season the Rams offense will be led by senior wide receiver James McCarthy (Newton, Mass.) and sophomore running back Melikke Van Alstyne (Salem, Mass.). Van Alstyne, the Bogan Division Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, was the Rams leading rusher a season ago with 1,152 yards on the ground with seven touchdowns. McCarthy, a preseason All-American selection, led the nation in scoring in 2010 with 22 touchdown receptions and 1,100 receiving yards.
On the defensive side of the ball the Rams the Rams return junior defensive lineman James Muirhead (Middleboro, Mass.), who was a second team All-Division selection in 2010 as he picked up 63 tackles including six sacks.
The Rams open the 2011 season on Saturday, September 3rd at Endicott College at 1 p.m.