Catholic at Coast Guard football preview capsule

Vickie Fulkerson, The Day, New London, Conn.
·3 min read

Oct. 15—WHEN — Saturday, 1:30 p.m.

Where: Cadet Memorial Field, New London.

Records: Catholic 3-3 overall, 2-0 New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference; Coast Guard 2-4 overall, 0-2 NEWMAC.

Players to watch: Catholic, QB Nico Casares (54-for-82, 726 yards, 7 TDs, 0 INT), RB Jared Colletti (57 carries, 203 yards, 3 TDs; 16 catches, 168 yards), RB Kevin Licciardi (45 carries, 129 yards, 2 TDs), WR Preston Jeffrey (33 catches, 506 yards, 3 TDs), WR Malachi Hansen (15 catches, 222 yards, 3 TDs), LB Joe Nazzaro (49 tackles), LB Carson Henry (46 tackles, 3 pass breakups).

Coast Guard, QB Joey Armentrout (106-for-205, 1,422 yards, 7 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Spencer McMillion (116 carries, 676 yards, 11 TDs), WR Tafari Wall (31 catches, 433 yards, 1 TD), WR Broock Desta (30 catches, 438 yards, 6 TDs; 16 kick returns, 373 yards), DL Conner McGuire (32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 3 sacks), LB Connor Healy (55 tackles, 2 INT), LB Ethan Lasher (45 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 3 INTs), DB Garrett Bragg (39 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss), DB Logan Morris (36 tackles, 2 INT), K-P Finnegan Hall (26 punts, 42.9 yards per kick; 16-for-20 PATs, 6-for-9 FGs).

Analysis: Coast Guard is coming off a 49-6 loss to Springfield, a game in which not only did the Bears have the task of facing the defending NEWMAC champion and 2021 NCAA tournament participant, but they also did not play particularly well against the Pride and their potent triple-option offense. "We used it as a learning tool," Coast Guard coach C.C. Grant said, alluding to the Bears' game down the line this season against another triple-option team in rival Merchant Marine. "Dana (Fleischmann, defensive coordinator), specifically, told them, 'Take this and learn from it. It's not the last time you're going to see this offense.'" ... Coast Guard cornerback Ryan Vigo, who had seven tackles against Springfield, was named the Bears' Defensive MVP for the week. "We came into this year wanting to be a little more physical on the perimeter on defense. We liked the way he played in the game overall for what he went up against," Grant said. "When the ball got pitched on the perimeter, he did a good job of fighting off the block of the receiver." ... Coast Guard now faces Catholic on Homecoming Weekend at the academy. The Bears will get star running back Spencer McMillion back from an ankle injury this week after he missed the Springfield game. They will also face off against 2021 star running back Jared Colletti, a junior now playing for Catholic. Colletti rushed for 786 yards and three touchdowns last year for Coast Guard and also caught 35 passes for 295 yards and another three touchdowns. ... Catholic defeated Coast Guard last season 30-7. ... Catholic quarterback Nico Casares started his first game of the season Oct. 1 against MIT and delivered a five-touchdown performance (31 completions, 448 yards) in a 42-7 win. Last week, Catholic scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to come from behind against WPI in a 24-21 win. Casares threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns and Colletti added 132 yards and a touchdown. "They've got really good skill guys on the outside," Grant said. "Catholic's very good; they're 2-0 in the NEWMAC. We've got our work cut out for us."

— Vickie Fulkerson