The Husson University Eagles are set to open up their 2024 football regular season this coming Saturday afternoon in non-conference action as they welcome in the Framingham State Rams to the Winkin Complex.
Husson is coming off a 7-3 season in 2023, where they also finished 3-2 in the Commonwealth Coast Conference that has now been re-branded to the Conference of New England (CNE). The Eagles lose standout quarterback Nic Visser (2,148 pass yards, 17 TD last fall) to graduation, and top running back Elijah Garnett (1,390 yards, 19 TD) who transferred to Division II Washburn College in Topeka, Kansas. They will return eight offensive starters this fall however, including three of their top four receivers in Ja’Quan Myles (43 receptions, 645 yards, 6 TD), Cullen Casey (53 rec, 571 yards, 5 TD), and Dom Wilson (23 rec, 271 yards). Husson will be led by junior quarterback Max Clark (Bangor High School), who is the son of head coach Nat Clark. Clark has only appeared in 12 collegiate games with the Eagles, including nine last season in a very limited role where he was 4-4 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown. Junior Jed Lober is expected to be the full time running back to replace the loss of Garnett. Lober rushed for 343 yards on 59 attempts with seven touchdowns in 2023. On the defensive side of the ball, the Eagles graduated their four top tacklers including CCC Defensive Player of the Year Tucker Buzzell (111 tackles, 6.5 sacks), but do return inside linebacker and fifth-leading tackler CJ Nicely (54 tackles) along with inside linebackers Ryan Bannister (37 tackles) and Ricky Hendrix (24 tackles). The cornerbacks will be Antwan Turner, Clay Maloney, Tyler Armeen, and transfer James Opio while the starting safeties will be seniors Bode DayCoombs and Ethan Turgeon. Senior Carson Markevich will do the kicking, while Garrett Martin and the tight end Casey will do the punting duties. Husson is predicted to finish third in the six team pre-season CNE poll, behind Endicott and Western New England. The Eagles lost very competitive games with them two programs last fall, 10-9 on the road at WNEU and at home to Endicott 23-13. They will host Western New England on November 2 in Bangor, before a road contest with the Gulls the following week (11/9).
The opponent on Saturday in the Framingham State Rams went 5-4 in 2023, and 5-3 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MSCAC). They were tabbed for a fourth place finish in the MSCAC this fall in their pre-season poll. They feature top running back and kick returner Joshua Ramos, who rushed for 7.5 yards per attempt last fall with two touchdowns and also averaged 46.7 yards per kickoff return including an 81 yard TD. The kickoff between Husson and Framingham is slated for 1 p.m. Saturday in Bangor. Here is the entire Eagles regular season schedule below-
Saturday, September 7 vs Framingham St @ 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 14 vs Springfield College @ 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 21 at Norwich University @ 1 p.m.
Saturday, September 28 at Anna Maria College @ 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 12 at Dean College @ 12 p.m
*Saturday, October 19 vs Nichols College @ 2:30 p.m.- homecoming
*Saturday, October 26 at Curry College @ 2:30 p.m.
*Saturday, November 2 vs Western New England University @ 12 p.m.
*Saturday, November 9 at Endicott College @ 12 p.m.
*Saturday, November 16 vs University of New England @ 1 p.m.- 4th Annual Lobster Trap Rivalry Game
*- denotes CNE games
