STONY BROOK, N.Y. - Behind 380 passing yards from freshman quarterback
Quinn Boyd and two touchdowns by
Jayce Freeman, the Stony Brook football team rolled to a commanding 38-12 victory over North Carolina A&T at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium in their first-ever meeting.
Boyd delivered his most prolific performance of the season, completing 37-of-48 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns through the air. The freshman also added his first career rushing touchdown and totaled 14 yards on the ground.
In the first quarter, graduate running back Dempster joined program greats Miguel Maysonet (2010-12, 4,880) and Conte Cuttino (2006-09, 3,783) as the only Seawolves to surpass 3,000 career rushing yards following his three-yard carry. Dempster finished the day with 60 rushing yards on 19 attempts and a touchdown, while also adding a season-high 72 receiving yards on six catches to pace the offense.
Freeman led the receiving corps with seven catches for a team-high 140 yards and two touchdowns.
Marqeese Dietz hauled in eight receptions for 54 yards, while
Dez Williams added five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown.
Jayden Flood-Brown and
Cole Bunicci each caught three passes for 21 yards, and
Justin Reshard added three receptions for 15 yards.
Defensively, Stony Brook turned in one of its strongest efforts of the season, holding the Aggies to just six points in each half and taking a 31-6 lead into the break.
Alhaji Kamara and Jojo Garcia each recorded interceptions, while
AJ Roberts led the way with eight tackles and a sack.
Anthony Ferrelli added six tackles, and
Chayce Chalmers contributed four tackles and a sack in the dominant win.
Williams made his presence felt on special teams with 37 kick return yards.
Clayton Taylor punted twice for 70 yards, while
Michael Mannino connected on a 34-yard field goal and went 1-for-2 on the day, missing from 46 yards in the third quarter.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Seawolves won the opening coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
- North Carolina A&T opened the scoring with a 45-yard field goal on the game's first possession.
- Stony Brook responded immediately, marching down the field in five plays, capped by a 33-yard touchdown strike from Boyd to Freeman.
- After allowing points on the opening drive, the Seawolves defense tightened up, forcing a three-and-out on the Aggies' next possession.
- Stony Brook kept the momentum going with an eight-play drive, capped by Boyd's first career rushing touchdown to extend the lead.
- The defense continued its dominant start, forcing a second consecutive three-and-out.
- On the ensuing drive, Dempster made history with a three-yard run that pushed him past 3,000 career rushing yards. The possession ended with Mannino's 34-yard field goal to make it 17-3 Stony Brook.
- The defense once again stifled the Aggies, forcing another quick punt after holding them to just 16 yards.
- The Seawolves capitalized quickly as Boyd connected with Freeman for a 65-yard touchdown to stretch the lead to 24-3.
- North Carolina A&T went three-and-out again on its next possession, marking its third of the half.
- Stony Brook opened the second half with a methodical 17-play, 52-yard drive that chewed up nearly eight minutes of clock but ended in a missed field goal attempt. Dempster rushed for 18 yards and Boyd threw for 34 yards on the drive.
- The Aggies answered with a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-12.
- After a three-and-out by Stony Brook, the defense once again forced a punt to regain possession late in the third quarter. On the next series, Boyd connected with Dempster for nine yards and with Dietz for 11 to move the ball to the Seawolves' 29-yard line. After a nine-yard reception from Flood-Brown and three straight runs for 13 yards, Stony Brook advanced to the Aggies' 29-yard line before the drive stalled and they were forced to punt with 7:36 remaining.
- The Seawolves defense came up with a big takeaway on the next Aggie possession as Garcia intercepted a pass at the North Carolina A&T 45-yard line.
- Stony Brook capitalized on the turnover, extending its lead to 38-12 behind Dempster's one-yard rushing touchdown.
- On the first play of the next drive, Kamara intercepted a pass at the Stony Brook 45-yard line, allowing the Seawolves to run out the clock in victory formation.
STATS AND NOTES
- Freeman recorded his third multi-touchdown game of the season and surpassed 100 receiving yards for the second time this year, finishing with seven catches for 140 yards. He continues to lead the team in both receiving yards and touchdowns.
- Dempster became just the third player in program history to eclipse 3,000 career rushing yards, joining Miguel Maysonet (2010-12, 4,880) and Conte Cuttino (2006-09, 3,783). He is also one of only three Seawolves to log more than 600 career carries. With 33 career rushing touchdowns and 34 total touchdowns, he ranks second all-time in both categories. His 72 receiving yards marked a season-high.
- Williams has now caught a touchdown pass in three straight games and in five of his last six.
- Dietz's eight receptions for 54 yards marked his ninth game this season with at least four catches.
- Roberts led the team with a season-high eight tackles and a sack, his fifth game in the last six with at least one sack.
- Garcia has recorded an interception in back-to-back games.
- Kamara notched his first interception of the season.
- The 380 passing yards marked a new season high for Stony Brook, matching their season-best three passing touchdowns.
- The Seawolves have recorded at least two rushing touchdowns in each of their last three games and in five of their last six.
- The defense tied its season high with four sacks and allowed just 41 rushing yards—the second-lowest total of the season and the second time in three games holding an opponent to 41 or fewer.
- This was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
- It also marked Stony Brook's third first-time opponent of 2025, joining Lindenwood and San Diego State.
- Stony Brook improved to 4-1 at LaValle Stadium this season and 8-3 at home dating back to last year.
QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
UP NEXT
Stony Brook returns to action next weekend, traveling to Villanova to face the Wildcats in its final road game of the regular season. Kickoff in Philadelphia is set for 1:00 p.m., with live coverage available on FloCollege.
Bring your group out to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and enjoy the thrill of gameday, exclusive group benefits, and great discounted pricing to help create an unforgettable experience.
Click here or contact the Stony Brook Athletics ticket office at 631-632-WOLF or seawolvestickets@stonybrook.edu to get started.
More information on each theme and ticket offers will be available throughout the offseason on social media and at StonyBrookAthletics.com.
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