STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook football team returns to LaValle Stadium this afternoon as they are set to celebrate their 2025 Kids Day against Fordham University at LaValle Stadium beginning at 3:30 p.m. 

RV Stony Brook (0-2, 0-1 CAA) vs. Fordham (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League)

WHERE: Stony Brook, N.Y.
VENUE: LaValle Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m.
HOW TO WATCH: FloFootball
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast

SERIES HISTORY
… OVERALL – 4-4
… AT STONY BROOK – 2-2
… AT FORDHAM – 2-2
… FIRST MATCHUP – Oct. 24, 1987 (L, 6-14)
… LAST MATCHUP – Sept. 14, 2024 (W, 27-21)

OPENING KICK

• The Seawolves enter the game with a 0-2 (0-1 CAA) record after defeats against FBS foe San Diego State and No. 8/9 Rhode Island.
• In their last outing, the Seawolves were taken down by the Rams at LaValle Stadium, with URI beating Stony Brook 31-17.
• Stony Brook owns a 4-4 record all-time against Fordham, defeating the Rams last season on Sept. 14 in the Bronx.
• The Seawolves received votes in this week's FCS Top 25 poll by Stats Perform FCS.
• Roland Dempster continues to pave the way for the Seawolves' rushing attack, as he ranks second in the CAA in total rushing yards (216.0) and rushing yards per game (108.0), averaging 5.3 yards per carry. As an offense, the Seawolves are ranked fourth in the CAA in total yards per game (157.5).
• Stony Brook holds a 16-11 record against teams that are currently in the Patriot League, having played against six current football member institutions.
• Among the 2025 current Patriot League members, Stony Brook has faced Lehigh (1-1), Bucknell (2-0), Lafayette (1-0), Colgate (4-1), Fordham (4-4), and Richmond (4-4).
• The Seawolves snapped a three-game losing streak against the Patriot League with their victory against Fordham last season.

LAST TIME OUT

• In their last outing, the Seawolves jumped out to an early 10-0 lead but allowed 17 unanswered points as No. 8/9 Rhode Island came back to defeat the Seawolves, 31-17, at LaValle Stadium on Saturday night.
• Dempster led the Seawolves' offense, recording 201 total yards. He rushed for 167 yards on 28 carries, averaging six yards per carry, and added a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 34 yards.
• Quarterback Chris Zellous made his first start for the Seawolves at LaValle Stadium and completed 12-of-20 passes for 137 yards, while also rushing for 83 yards on 20 carries and scoring his first career touchdown with the team.
• Cole Bunicci paced the receiving corps with two catches for 55 yards, including a 48-yard reception—the longest play of the season for Stony Brook. Marqeese Dietz led the team with four receptions for 28 yards, while Dez Williams added three catches for 19 yards. Jayden Flood-Brown also recorded his first career reception.
• Defensively, Franco Milano recorded a key field goal block. Chayce Chalmers tallied a team-high 10 tackles, with linebackers Aidan Kaler and Anthony Ferrelli each recording eight. In the secondary, Alhaji Kamara and Bryson Parker each totaled five tackles and a pass breakup.
• Time of possession favored the Seawolves, 32:34 to 27:26.
• Stony Brook moved to 12-38 all-time against nationally ranked FCS opponents and 7-4 all-time against URI.

THE HISTORY

• This marks the eighth matchup between these two programs dating back to 1987, with the series tied at 4-4.
• Fordham won the first meeting all-time in 1987 before the Seawolves won three straight in 1988, 2018, and 2019.
• Following the three-game winning streak by the Seawolves, the Rams went on their own three-game winning streak by taking down Stony Brook in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
• In their last meeting on Sept. 14, 2024, the Seawolves halted the Rams' winning streak by taking down Fordham 27-21 in the Bronx.
• In the victory last season, Stony Brook put together an impressive comeback Saturday afternoon, highlighted by a six-yard rushing touchdown from Brandon Boria, to erase a 21-17 third-quarter deficit and take down Fordham in the Bronx, 27-21.
• The victory over Fordham last season marked the first road victory of head coach Cosh's career.

DEMPSTER DOES IT AGAIN

• In the Seawolves' defeat against Rhode Island last Saturday, Roland Dempster finished with 201 total yards, including 167 rushing yards and a touchdown on 28 carries, averaging 6.0 yards per carry.
• It marked his most rushing yards in a game since his 179-yard performance against Campbell on Sept. 21, 2024, and his most total yards since his 202-yard game vs. William & Mary on Oct. 26, 2024.
• Dempster now has nine games in his career rushing over 100 yards and has four games in his career where he's accumulated over 200 yards in a game.
• The running back ranks eighth all-time in program history with 2,298 career rushing yards, trailing Oliver Bridges by 44 yards for seventh all-time.
• In the CAA, Dempster is currently second in total rushing yards (216) and rushing yards per game (108.0), averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
• The Seawolves rank fourth in the CAA in total rushing yards (315) and rushing yards per game (157.5).

ABOUT THE RAMS

• Head coach Joe Conlin enters his eighth season at the helm of the Fordham Rams, holding a career record of 31-43.
• In its 125th season, the Fordham football team played its first football game in 1882, where they defeated Seton Hall 1-0.
• The Rams have had 73 pro players in their program history, with 32 players drafted. Notable alumni include Chase Edmonds, John Skelton, Isa Abdul-Quddus, and Nick Zakelj.
• The Rams are coming to LaValle 0-2 after falling to Boston College in their first week and Monmouth last weekend.
• Fordham grad student linebacker James Conway leads the defense as he has 453 total tackles, a new Fordham and Patriot League career record. The 453 career tackles are also the most for any active NCAA Division I student-athlete. Conway was named a 2025 First Team Stats Perform All-American, as well as being named preseason All-Patriot League.
• Gunnar Smith is the Fordham QB this season, tossing two touchdowns with 547 yards over the first two games. Jack Freeburg and Jack Betten lead the Fordham receiving room by combining for 195 yards and a touchdown this year.
• Fordham will be represented by five captains in 2025: senior tight end Jaden Allen, grad student linebacker James Conway, senior defensive back Alex Kemper, senior offensive lineman Duke Leonard, and senior defensive lineman Claudy Robinson.

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.

For an inside look at the Seawolves football program, be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.