A pair of Husson University football seniors, defensive lineman Matt Pellerin and quarterback Joe Seccareccia, headline four Eagles named Monday to the 26th USA College Football Division III Preseason All-American teams.
Pellerin was a second-team selection, while Seccareccia was tabbed to the third team. Junior defensive back Kenny Sweet Jr. and sophomore defensive lineman Luke Washburn were honorable mention selections.
Pellerin notched 40 tackles last season and was a second team All-Eastern Collegiate Football Conference pick. The Leeds product totaled three sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick.
Seccareccia was a second team All-ECFC pick a year ago after completing just under 50 percent (122-of-245) of his passes for 1,490 yards, 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, including a single-game school-record five touchdown effort against Mount Ida (Massachusetts). The Bangor native also rushed for 201 yards on 68 carries with three scores.
Sweet Jr. and Washburn were second team All-ECFC selections in 2014. Sweet Jr. led the league with seven interceptions to go along with 31 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and six pass breakups for a defense that tied for a league high with 19 interceptions.
Washburn compiled 31 tackles, eight tackles for loss, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries for a defense last season that allowed league-lows in per game average for total yards (287.3), points (18.4) and rushing (92.8) and tied for a league high with 27 sacks.
Selections are made by coaches, sports information directors, pro scouts, certified players’ agents, members of the Football Writers of America, Metropolitan New York Football Writers Association, New England Football Writers Association, Philadelphia College Football Writers Association and the staff of USA Football News.
Husson kicks off the 2015 campaign at noon Saturday, Sept. 5, against Alfred (New York) at Husson’s Winkin Sports Complex in Bangor.
UMaine basketball schedule features UConn, Marquette
The University of Maine men’s basketball team’s nonconference schedule announced last week includes games UConn, Marquette and Boston College as well as six games at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
“We’ve put together a schedule that will challenge us and hopefully prepare us to compete for an America East championship,” Maine head coach Bob Walsh said in a news release.
“We will once again play some of the best programs at the highest level of college basketball, but we were also able to schedule a few more home games. I think we’ve put together a team the great basketball fans in the state of Maine will really want to come out and watch,” he added.
Maine opens with an exhibition against the University of Southern Maine on Oct. 31 in Portland. The Black Bears then host Husson University in an exhibition contest on Nov. 7 at the Cross Insurance Center.
Regular season play opens at traditional power and 2014 national champion UConn on Nov. 13 in Storrs, Connecticut. The Black Bears travel to Long Island on Nov. 19 and Wagner on Nov. 21, before hosting Longwood in the regular season home opener on Nov. 25 at the Cross Center. November ends with a trip to Central Connecticut State University on the Nov. 29.
Maine hosts Army on Dec. 2, before traveling to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to face Marquette on Dec. 5. The Black Bears return home to host Dartmouth on Dec. 9, before embarking on a three-game road trip. Maine travels to Boston College on Dec. 13, Fordham on Dec. 19 and Holy Cross on Dec. 21. The Black Bears return from the break to host Quinnipiac on Dec. 29 and Brown on Jan. 2.
America East Conference play will round out the rest of the schedule.