Northeastern hopes to bounce back from close losses last year

Posted 9:56PM on Thursday 1st September 2005 ( 19 years ago )

STATESBORO, Ga. (AP) Motivation? Georgia Southern and Northeastern need only to look at themselves to find it. Georgia Southern has used last year's first round playoff loss to New Hampshire to fuel its drive through the off-season and the brutal heat of preseason camp. Northeastern finished 5-6 and didn't make the playoffs last year, but is driven by four losses by fewer than four points. This year, preseason pollsters have the Huskies as one of the top four teams in the Atlantic 10. Both teams will open their season as Georgia Southern visits Northeastern on Saturday at Parsons Field in Boston. ``This game is a measuring stick for our program,'' said Northeastern coach Rocky Hager, who won Division II titles at North Dakota State in 1988 and 1990. ``They've won six national championships and they are what everyone in I-AA aspires to be.'' But season openers have been a problem for Georgia Southern. The Eagles own a 15-8 record when opening a season. Of those eight losses, six came against NCAA I-A institutions. Their last won a season opener on the road in 1996, a 28-14 victory at South Carolina State. With Jayson Foster assuming the starting quarterback position, it probably won't be any easier. Foster, last year's Southern Conference freshman of the year at receiver, replaces school record-setter QB Chaz Williams, who graduated. Like Georgia Southern, the Huskies are faced with replacing a three-year starter at quarterback. Hager said he is confident Anthony Orio, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound redshirt freshman can do the job. ``He is a very calm young man who is difficult to rattle,'' said Hager. ``He is a young man who knows how to battle to the end and succeed.'' Size might be a problem for Georgia Southern. Northeastern have three senior offensive linemen guard Keith Ford, tackles Ryan Gibbons and Mike Roseborough who weigh over 300 pounds. ``Their size is a definite concern,'' said Georgia Southern coach Mike Sewak. ``Those offensive tackles are big, and they're big in the middle of the defensive line. They've got a couple of big linebackers, too. About everywhere you look they've got somebody big.'' Northeastern will also rely on Cory Parks, one of the top receivers in the Atlantic 10. Parks caught 65 passes for 1,096 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. For his career he has 156 receptions for 2,510 yards and 28 touchdowns. ``The key for us Saturday is to establish our 50-50 offensive philosophy,'' Hager said. ``We have to keep Georgia Southern from dictating the pace.'' The running game features senior tailback Anthony Riley, a 5-6, 185-pound darter who ran for 940 yards as a freshman but had only 781 yards rushing the last two years due to injuries. Fullback Shane Hopkins, a 6-2, 245-pound junior, is used strictly as a blocker. Northeastern is not a stranger to the triple option offense, having faced it against Navy last year and the version which former GSU coach Tim Stowers runs at Rhode Island. ``It's a dangerous offense,'' said Hager. ``They force a defense to be assignment oriented. You can't slide off and help because then you will get hurt.'' Hager said he believes the Eagles' strength to be their offensive line, and he is leery of Foster who, he said, ``has exceptional speed and once he gets in the crease he can hurt you.'' Information from: Statesboro Herald, http://www.statesboroherald.com (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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