HARRISONBURG – The Colonial Athletic Association kicks off its first full week of league play with five conference games on Saturday.
This past week, the conference went 10-1 in non-conference games.
Each week, the DN-R will put out its CAA power rankings to reflect which squads are trending in the right direction, and which ones aren’t.
Here’s our power rankings following Week 3:
1. James Madison
Record: 3-0
Last Week: Win, 75-14 vs. Norfolk State
This Week: Saturday vs. Maine
JMU outscored its three non-conference opponents 161-38, and heads into league play as the overwhelming favorite to win the CAA. The Dukes will do so without leading rusher Cardon Johnson, though, who coach Mike Houston said, suffered a season-ending injury last week in the team’s 75-14 win over Norfolk State.
2. Villanova
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 59-0 vs. Lafayette
This Week: Saturday at Albany
Villanova’s defense recorded a shutout for the third straight season as the Wildcats limited Lafayette to just 77 yards of total offense. Villanova also scored two touchdowns on defense – a 35-yard interception return by Jaquan Amos and a 27-yard return by Keeling Hunter – in a 36-point second quarter.
3. Richmond
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 68-21 vs. Howard
This Week: Saturday vs. Elon
The Spiders had their offense rolling as quarterback Kyle Lauletta threw for 321 yards and six touchdowns in a win over Howard. Richmond has now scored at least 48 points twice this season.
4. New Hampshire
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Loss, 51-26 at Holy Cross
This Week: Saturday vs. Rhode Island
New Hampshire followed up its win over FBS Georgia Southern with a loss at Holy Cross. The biggest problem for New Hampshire was its 3-of-17 third-down conversion rate. The Wildcats couldn’t move the chains, but will try to bounce back this week as it hosts Rhode Island.
5. Maine
Record: 1-1
Last Week: Idle
This Week: Saturday at James Madison
Maine used its bye week to start early on preparation for James Madison. Last year, Maine took a lead into the fourth quarter against the Dukes before JMU rallied to win. Maine coach Joe Harasymiak said winning close games is something his program must start doing.
6. Albany
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 28-14 vs. Monmouth
This Week: Saturday vs. Villanova
Running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks ran for 63 yards and a touchdown for Albany in his season debut after he was held out of the first two weeks due to injury. The Great Danes could take a huge step this week in contending for a CAA title, if they can upset Villanova.
7. Stony Brook
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 45-7 vs. Sacred Heart
This Week: Saturday vs. Towson
For a team that had offensive problems last year, Stony Brook seems to have found a bit more success this season. Quarterback Joe Carbone threw for three touchdowns and as a team, Stony Brook rushed for 294 yards in its win over Sacred Heart.
8. Elon
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 19-17 vs. Charleston Southern
This Week: Saturday at Richmond
Elon has knocked off two good teams in back-to-back weeks, with a victory over Charleston Southern this past Saturday and Furman in Week 2. Running back Malcolm Summers rushed for 178 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers.
9. Delaware
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win 41-14 vs. Cornell
This Week: Idle
Delaware forced Cornell into five first-half turnovers and the Blue Hens offense scored 27 points off those Big Red miscues. In a bye week, coach Danny Rocco is off to a 2-1 start in his first season at the school.
10. William & Mary
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 30-9 vs. Bucknell
This Week: Idle
The Tribe led Bucknell just 10-9 at halftime but used 20 unanswered points to pull away in a lopsided win. In two games against FCS competition, William & Mary has given up just 15 points.
11. Rhode Island
Record: 1-2
Last Week: Win, 17-10 vs. Harvard
This Week: Saturday at New Hampshire
Coach Jim Fleming’s club picked up its first win of the year, knocking off Ivy League Harvard, which won seven games last season. Rhode Island looks improved and Central Florida transfer quarterback Tyler Harris has seemed to be a stabilizing force for the Rams.
12. Towson
Record: 2-1
Last Week: Win, 16-14 at Saint Francis
This Week: Saturday at Stony Brook
Towson has the worst scoring offense in the CAA through three games, but its defense has held up against FCS competition shutting out Morgan State in Week 1 and limiting St. Francis to just 14 points this past weekend.
