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Stony Brook Seawolves
Five things to know - week 5 vs. merrimack

Five Things to Know - Week 5 vs. Merrimack

9/26/2025 11:00:00 AM

STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook football team returns to LaValle Stadium this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. to host Merrimack College for their first meeting in nearly 30 years and for their final non-conference game of the season.

Stony Brook (1-3, 0-1 CAA) vs. Merrimack (2-2, Independent) 

WHERE: Stony Brook, N.Y.
VENUE: LaValle Stadium
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 27, 3:30 p.m. (ET)
HOW TO WATCH: FloCollege
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast

SERIES HISTORY
… OVERALL – 2-0
… AT STONY BROOK – 0-0
… AT MERRIMACK – 1-0 (W, 19-14 on Oct. 24, 1998 in Massachusetts)
… NEUTRAL SITE – 1-0 (W, 17-16 on Oct. 25, 1997 in Albany)
… FIRST MATCHUP – N/A
… LAST MATCHUP – N/A

OPENING KICK
  • The Seawolves enter the game with a 1-3 (0-1 CAA) record, following losses to FBS foe San Diego State, No. 8/9 Rhode Island, and Lindenwood, and a victory over Fordham.
  • In their last outing, the Stony Brook football team came back after trailing 27-3 at the break to cut the deficit to 30-27, but the Lindenwood Lions held on for the victory on Saturday night in Missouri.
  • Jayce Freeman recorded his second consecutive multi-touchdown performance, hauling in nine receptions for 178 yards. His 178-yard outing is the most by any Seawolves receiver this season and the most since Nick Anderson's 205-yard performance at Towson on November 9, 2019.
  • This will be the third meeting between the two programs, the first since 1998. The Seawolves lead the overall series 2-0.
  • This marks the final non-conference matchup of the season for the Seawolves. The squad is 1-2 this season against their non-conference opponents.
  • P Clayton Taylor was selected as a semifinalist for the prestigious William V. Campbell Trophy, as announced by the National Football Foundation on Wednesday morning.
  • This week marked the first week this season that the Seawolves did not receive votes in the FCS Top 25 poll by Stats Perform FCS or the AFCA Coaches Poll.
  • Stony Brook owns a 5-3 record at LaValle Stadium dating back to last season. This is their third of six home games this season.
LAST TIME OUT 
  • The Stony Brook football team came back after trailing 27-3 at the break to cut the deficit to 30-27, but the Lindenwood Lions held on for the victory on Saturday night in Missouri. 
  • Dempster notched his second rushing touchdown of the season and the 23rd of his career, finishing with 88 rushing yards. He has now rushed for at least 80 yards in three straight games. With an additional 24 receiving yards, Dempster has eclipsed 100 total yards in three of the team's first four games.
  • Jayce Freeman caught two touchdown passes—three receptions for 47 yards total. He became the first Seawolf with two TD catches in a game since Dez Williams vs. Monmouth (11/16/24). Freeman now has nine career touchdowns, the most among active players.
  • Zellous capped off his night with a career-high 317 passing yards, completing 24-of-41 passes with two touchdowns and a fumble. Over his last two games, he has thrown for 577 yards, four touchdowns, and added a rushing touchdown.
  • Ferrelli led the defense with a team-high 14 tackles, tying his career high set against Marshall in the 2024 season opener on August 31.
  • Dietz became the first Seawolf with 10 or more receptions in a game since Dez Williams had 11 against Monmouth on November 23, 2024. Dietz finished with 47 yards on his 10 receptions.
  • With this defeat, the Seawolves move to 7-4 all-time against current OVC–Big South opponents.
  • This game marked the first-ever meeting between Stony Brook and Lindenwood.
FREEMAN WAS FREE
  • In the Seawolves' defeat to Lindenwood, Jayce Freeman had a career day, securing nine catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard reception for a score.
  • His 178-yard outing is the most by any Seawolves receiver this season, 10th most all-time in a single game by a Seawolf, and the most since Nick Anderson's 205-yard performance at Towson on November 9, 2019.
  • It marked his second consecutive multi-touchdown game of the season and third of his career.
  • It was his third career game hauling in at least 100 receiving yards.
  • He leads all Stony Brook players on the roster in career and 2025 receiving yards, touchdowns, and yards per catch.
  • Freeman is also tied for third in the CAA in touchdown receptions and 12th in yards per catch.
TAYLOR NAMED NFF SEMIFINALIST
  • Senior punter Clayton Taylor has been named a semifinalist for the 2025 William V. Campbell Trophy, one of college football's most prestigious academic honors, the National Football Foundation announced Wednesday morning.
  • To be eligible for the award, nominees must maintain a minimum 3.2 GPA, be a significant contributor on the field, and demonstrate strong leadership in the classroom and community.
  • Taylor is one of six student-athletes from CAA Football selected among the 178 semifinalists across all divisions of college football.
  • Through the first several weeks of the 2025 campaign, Taylor leads the CAA in touchbacks (2) and ranks second in the league in total punts (25), punting yards (1,051), and punts inside the 20-yard line (8). He has recorded a 42.04-yard average, with a long of 63 yards, five fair catches, and two punts traveling 50 yards or more.
  • Taylor currently ranks second in single-season punting average (42.3), tenth in career punting average (39.1), and second in career punts (184) in the Stony Brook record book.
  • Finalists for the Campbell Trophy will be announced on October 22. Each will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship. The national winner, to be announced on December 9 at the National Football Foundation Awards Dinner in Las Vegas, will receive a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship.

WELCOME TO THE HALL, MIKE! 
  • Former Stony Brook OT Michael Bamiro '13 has been selected to the Stony Brook Athletics Rita & Kurt Eppenstein 2025 Hall of Fame class, as announced by the Athletics Department on June 11, 2025, and officially inducted into the Hall on September 26.
  • Bamiro anchored the right side of Stony Brook's offensive line from 2010–12. He started 33 straight games at right tackle and was key to the program's back-to-back FCS playoff appearances in 2011 and 2012—seasons in which Stony Brook's rushing offense ranked among the top 10 in the country.
  • He earned first-team All-Big South and AP All-America honors in 2012.
  • Bamiro signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He went on to play professionally at three different levels: NY Giants (NFL), Montreal Alouettes (CFL), and Washington Valor (AFL).
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
  • The Merrimack football program is led by head coach Mike Gennetti. Coach Gennetti has been at the helm of the program for the last two seasons, owning an overall record of 7-8 after going 5-6 last season.
  • The Warriors enter the game with a 2-2 record, defeating Saint Anselm and CCSU, with defeats against Kent State and Kennesaw State.
  • Ayden Pereira leads the way at QB for Merrimack. He has thrown for 687 yards on 58-of-109 passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing with 271 yards this season, averaging 67.7 per game with two total rushing touchdowns.
  • Kendal Sims and DJ Frazier pace the defense as they've combined for 47 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, a blocked kick, and two fumble recoveries.
  • The Warriors rank top-20 in multiple categories for the FCS, including defensive touchdowns (3rd), time of possession (6th), scoring defense (14th), total defense (14th), red zone defense (16th), rushing defense (17th), and passing efficiency defense (19th).
  • The Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of the National Football Foundation announced on Sunday afternoon that senior placekicker Carlton Thai would be the Week Four FBS/FCS recipient of the Gold.
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.
 
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