Philadelphia, Pa. - (9/13/2016) – Head Coach Mike Pearson and the Chestnut Hill College sprint football team embarks on their second tour of the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) in 2016. With the stakes raised and expectations established, the Griffins take to the grid iron with excitement. "We really have a great group of guys here," acknowledged Coach Pearson. "We have some guys who got a taste of college football last year and are hungry for more, and we got some new guys who are eager to get their feet wet and show what they can do."
 
From start to finish the inaugural Chestnut Hill College sprint football season was an overwhelming success, as Coach Pearson and his staff led a promising group of young student-athletes to a 3-2 finish in the CSFL. Battling a five-game schedule that included home games versus Princeton University, Mansfield University, and Franklin Pierce University, and road games at Post University and Princeton University, the Griffins placed seven student-athletes on the All-CSFL Team and honored eight others who spent the fall of their senior year building a new tradition at Chestnut Hill College.
 
The Scarlet and Gold welcomes four top-flight CSFL programs to the schedule in 2016. Among them will be the Griffins' Week 1 opponent, Army. From there, the Griffins return to Plymouth Whitemarsh High School for a home opener opposite their second first-time opponent, Cornell University on Friday, September 30 (Week 3). After traveling to Post University, on October 8, for the second annual Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Bowl in Week 4, the Griffins visit the United States Naval Academy for a Week 5 matchup with Navy - the third newcomer to the schedule - on October 14 (7:00 p.m.). Week 6 brings Chestnut Hill College home to host the University of Pennsylvania on October 22, while Week 7 sends the Griffins to Franklin Pierce University on October 29, before Week 8 (November 5) bring the Scarlet and Gold home for the season finale opposite Mansfield University.

In their second season as members of the CSFL, Chestnut Hill College will rely on the experience and leadership of their returning core. "The goal is to get better every day, to compete in every game, and enjoy the process of building a program," remarked Coach Pearson. The 2016 Griffins look to their captains; 2015 Most Valuable Player (MVP) sophomore wide receiver/defensive back Raevon Floyd-Bennett (Union City, N.J.), sophomore linebacker Jonathan Baldwin (Charlotte, N.C.), and sophomore safety Kadeem Pankey (Easton, Pa.), for direction against a stiff slate of CSFL competition.
 
The trio was vital to the success the Scarlet and Gold achieved in their inaugural season. Floyd-Bennett and Baldwin were both named All-CSFL Honorable Mentions last season, the former totaled 571 all-purpose yards, ranking him third among this CSFL peers in all-purpose yards-per-game (114.2). He rushed for 71 yards on two carries, totaled 182 yards on 10 receptions, and ranked fourth in the CSFL for kickoff return yardage with 242 yards on 10 returns. He also recorded four interceptions, tying him for third among his league peers. Baldwin tied for 10th in tackles-per-game (7.0.) as he recorded 35 tackles (19 assist – 16 solo) over five contests. Pankey made an interception and 25 tackles (18 solo, seven assists), including three for a loss (26 yards).
 
Other key returnees include sophomore quarterback Reginald Robinson Jr. (Germantown, Md.), sophomore defensive end Kyle Johnson-Hackett, sophomore tight end/defensive end Kevin Meredith (Germantown, Md.), sophomore center Kevin Clancy (Havertown, Pa.), sophomore nose guard Brian Layden (Springfield, Pa.), and junior wide receiver/defensive end Josean Perez (Bethlehem, Pa.). Robinson threw for 614 yards on a 39.3 (35-for-89) completion percentage in his first season as the Griffins' play caller. He threw for eight touchdowns and rushed for two more while covering 213 yards on the ground. In front of him,
Meredith and Clancy anchored a front five that supported the league's fourth best rushing average (158.4 yards/game) and the league's best sack prevention (three sacks allowed). Layden, Baldwin, and Johnson-Hackett were a few of the Griffins' top defensive representatives. Layden led the Griffins in tackles (49, 19 assist - 30 solo) and sacks (3.5), ranking second in the league for tackles-per-game (9.8). Baldwin tied for 10^th in tackles-per-game (7.0.), recording 35 tackles (19 assist – 16 solo) while Johnson-Hackett contributed 26 tackles (12 solo, 14 assist) and three sacks (18 yards). Layden, Meredith, and Clancy joined Baldwin and Floyd-Bennett as All-CSFL Honorable Mentions.
 
For 2016, Coach Pearson has highlighted some newcomers who he feels will make an immediate impact for Chestnut Hill College. On offense, the Griffins welcome junior lineman Nick Parsell Christiansburg, Va.), freshman quarterback Michael Marino (Blue Bell, Pa.), freshman lineman Steven Venango (Philadelphia, Pa.), freshman full back Marcus Snyder (York, S.C.), freshman running back Sef Penson (Brooklyn, N.Y.), and a trio of freshmen wide receivers in Joe Lee (Horsham, Pa.), Jake Hural (Philadelphia, Pa.), and David Navas (Woodhaven, N.J.).
 
Meanwhile on defense, he endorsed the additions of freshman linebacker Mike McIlhenney (Philadelphia, Pa.), freshman defensive lineman Tony Wilson (Kennett Square, Pa.), freshman linebacker Luke Daub (Easton, Pa.), and freshmen defensive backs Nathan Moser (Easton, Pa.) and Tyler Nowlin (Owings Mills, Md.).
 
The 2016 sprint football season get underway this Friday, September 16, when Chestnut Hill College visits Army for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff.