Philadelphia, Pa. - (9/14/2017) – For the Chestnut Hill College sprint football program year three marks a significant stage in development, "We expect to be one more year mature, stronger from hard work in the weight room, and a more cohesive unit that embraces the great competition in our league," stated Head Coach Mike Pearson. The Griffins – who finished their first season against a full Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) schedule in 2016 – have their eyes set on a winning season. To accomplish that feat, the Scarlet and Gold will unite behind a leadership core that now includes 2016 CSFL Freshman of the Year in sophomore quarterback Michael Marino (Blue Bell, Pa.) (Honorable Mention) and nine other All-CSFL performers from a year ago.

 

After playing an abbreviated CSFL schedule in their inaugural season, Chestnut Hill College (2-5) showed they belonged in 2016. The Griffins went 2-5 against a full slate of games in 2016; a schedule that included road dates with Army West Point (L, 38-0 on 9/6), Post University (W, 14-12 on 10/8), the United States Naval Academy (L, 43-0 on 10/14), the University of Pennsylvania (L, 53-7 on 10/21), and Franklin Pierce University (L, 14-8 on 10/29), and a pair of home games opposite Cornell University (W, 29-24 on 9/30), and Mansfield University (L, 26-21 on 11/5).
 
Marino led the passing attack for the Griffins, throwing for 1,044 yards on 86 completions (86C-195A, .441). Marino averaged 149.1 yards/game, throwing seven touchdowns and six interceptions for an efficiency rating of 94.8. Junior Reggie Robinson Jr. (Washington, DC) (All-CACC Honorable Mention) serves as Marino top returning target; he led the team in total receiving yards (273, 54.6 yards/game), hauling in 12 catches that included four touchdowns and a 22.8 yards/reception average. The Griffins also used a balanced rushing attack in 2016, with a pair of players registering over 100 yards on the year. Sophomore Jonathan Barber (Brooklyn, N.Y.) – who has moved to the wide receiver ranks - led the rushing attack with 154 yards on 47 attempts (3.3 yards/carry), while junior Raevon Floyd-Bennett (Union City, N.J.) garnered All-CSFL First Team honors with just 39 yards om 11 carries (3.5 yards/carry). The Griffins also welcome back sophomore Dasantae Callis (Folsom, Pa.), who rushed for 381 yards in five games (76.2 yards/game) during the inaugural 2015 season.
 
Other notable returnees to the offense include All-CSFL lineman, juniors, Kevin Meredith (Germantown, Md.) (2^nd Team) and Kevin Clancy (Havertown, Pa.) (2^nd Team). Meredith and Clancy will be joined in the trenches by sophomore Nick Parsell (Christiansburg, Va.) and a trio of freshmen standouts that includes Uzziah Slaney (Millville, N.J.), Teddy Tabasco IV (Ridgefield, N.J.), and Matt Weir (Drexel Hill, Pa.). Skill additions include sophomore fullback Alex Nicolas (Langhorne, Pa.) and freshman tight end Frank Conway (Philadelphia, Pa.).
 
Special Teams was a strength for the Griffins in 2016. On punt returns, Floyd-Bennett recorded 74 yards on seven attempts (10.6 yards/return); his long of 53 yards resulted in a touchdown. On kick-offs, Floyd-Bennett recorded nine returns for 201 yards (22.3 yards/return), with a long of 36 yards. Barber led the team in kick return yardage, recording 233 yards on 15 returns (15.5 yards/return).
 
Sophomore Brian Layden (Springfield, Pa.) (1^st Team) led the defense with 48 tackles (28 solo, 20 assists), 5.0 sacks (5.0-33 yards), and 10.5 tackles for loss (10.5 TFL-44 yards). Fellow junior captain and All-CSFL performer, Jonathan Baldwin (Hudson, N.J.) (3^rd Team) was second on the team in tackles with 45 (26 solo, 19 assists), 7.0 tackles for loss (15 yards), and 0.5 sacks. Senior safety Kadeem Pankey (Easton, Pa.) – 2016 All-CSFL Second Team - was the ball-hawk of the defense, recording a team-best three interceptions on the season. He also registered 39 tackles (18 solo, 21 assists), with 3.0 tackles for loss (7.0 yards). Additional returnees on defense include All-CSFL Honorable Mentions, junior defensive lineman Josean Perez (Bethlehem, Pa.) and sophomore defensive lineman Tony Wilson (Kennett Square, Pa.). A young crop of defensive backs will add depth to the Scarlet and Gold secondary as Coach Pearson made note of the preseason performances from freshmen Terrell Bush (Valley Stream, N.Y.), Anthony Kelly (Perkasie, Pa.), Khalill Tramel (Levittown, Pa.), and sophomore transfer Ricky Robinson III (Binghamton, N.Y./Mansfield University), who is a five-time All-CSFL transfer from Mansfield University.
 
The 2017 season kickoffs this Friday, September 15, when the Griffins welcome the United States Naval Academy to A.A. Garthwaite Stadium (Conshohocken Field "A") in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.