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EASTON, Mass. (Sept. 16, 2026) -- Stonehill will remain on the road to take on Massachuetts in the Skyhawks' first-ever meeting with an FBS opponent, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at McGuirk Alumni Stadium.

The Skyhawks enter the week 1-2 after falling at New Hampshire, 42-35, last week, while the Minutemen improved to 2-0 with a 37-10 victory over Sacred Heart.

Stonehill is 1-1 on the road, and Massachusetts is 1-0 at home this fall.

Game Coverage
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. Shawn Kenney and Charlie String will have the call.

Against The Minutemen
Saturday's game will mark the first time Stonehill and Massachusetts have met on the gridiron.

Last Time Out
At New Hampshire last week, Jack O'Connell amassed 433 yards of total offense, throwing for a career-high 380 yards with four passing TDs and adding 53 yards rushing. Jaylin Baker caught two of those touchdown passes (6 and 21 yards), while Shane Eason caught four passes for 77 yards, added 20 rushing yards, including a three-yard score and had a 22-yard kick return for 119 all-purpose yards. Alijah Turner had 86 kick return yards, 43 receiving yards and 18 punt return yards for a 147-yard performance.

What A Night
JackO'Connell posted career-highs with 380 passing yards and four touchdowns through the air at New Hampshire Sept. 12. His 433 yards of total offense was also a career-best, and he completed 27-of-44 attempts. O'Connell became the first Stonehill quarterback with four passing TDs since he threw four against Duquesne in 2024. It was also the first time a Skyhawk QB threw for over 300 yards since Anton Stoneking had 337 vs. Bentley in 2019.

Spot in Record Books
With his six touchdown passes and 774 yards passing this season, Jack O'Connell now ranks seventh in program history with 29 career TD tosses. O'Connell is eighth in team history with 3,329 passing yards over the course of his career in Easton.  

O'Connell's 1,875 passing yards in 2025 were good enough for eighth in a single-year in program history and his 15 TD passes last season ranked tied for 10th most in school history.

They're Honored 
After the 21-3 win at New Haven Sept. 5, Mo Seide was selected as the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Defensive Player of the Week, and Jack O'Connell was honored as the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Offensive Player of the Week. Aidan Garrett, Seide and O'Connell were also chosen as NEC Prime Performers for their efforts.

Following the contest at New Hampshire Sept. 12, Jack O'Connell was tabbed the NEC/Atlantic Tomorrow's Office Offensive Player of the Week for the second-straight time. O'Connell, Jaylin Baker and Cole Clarke were also named NEC Prime Performers for the week.

Among the Nation's Best
Through two games, Stonehill is tied for first in the country in passes intercepted (0), fourth in time of possession (35:05), eighth in team passing efficiency defense (100.36). 12th in 3rd down conversion percentage defense (.265), 15th in passing yards allowed (158.7 per game) and 20th in completion percentage (.652).

Individually, Alijah Turner ranks second in the FCS in combined kick returns (271) and 15th in all-purpose yards per game (124.67). Jack O'Connell stands 13th in passing yards (774), 14th in total offense (284.3), 15th in passing TDs (6), 17th in passing yards per game (258.0) and 19th in passing effiency (157.4)

Moving' on Up!
Eli Gardner, The Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach, (42-54) took sole possession of second place in the program's varsity era (1988-pres.) with his 37th career win against Sacred Heart last fall. He moved past Connie Driscoll who posted a 36-24 mark at the College from 1993 to 1998, and now trails just Robert Talley with 48 wins (48-46) from 2007-2015. Gardner's 11 years as head coach surpasses Talley as the longest tenured head coach in the program's varsity era. 

Gardner has also now moved past Talley for the most games coached in program history with 96.

Nice to Meet You
Stonehill will take on two opponents this season for the first time in program history. The Skyhawks will face Football Bowl Subdivision members Massachusestts Sept. 19 and Ohio Sept. 26. These will also mark the first time Stonehill face members of the FBS level.

Oh Captains, My Captains!
In June, Eli Gardner, The Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach named seniors Jordan Irvine, Jack O'Connell, Joshua Troiano and Ma'Hkai Wilson as team captains. 

In addition to Irvine, O'Connell, Troiano and Wilson, coach Gardner chooses a game captain each week (Mo Seide - Bryant; Cole Clark - New Haven; Christopher Gill - New Hampshire).

All-Purpose Stars
The Skyhawks have had three players surpass 100 all-purpose yards in a game this fall: Alijah Turner - 160 vs. Bryant and 147 at New Hampshore, Shane Eason - 106 at New Haven and 119 at New Hampshire and Aidan Garrett - 101 at New Haven.

Top Punter
Senior punter Logan Chenette was recently selected to the FCS Punter of the Year Award Preseason Watch List.

The 14 candidates on the list incorporate a broad spectrum of FCS punters and were compiled based on previous FCS Punter of the Year semifinalists, 2025 All-American, and All-Conference selections, top performing punters, and 2026 Preseason All-American and Preseason All-Conference selections. This is not a final list as the winner of the FCS Punter of the Year Award does not need to appear on the preseason watch list. 

The FCS Punter of the Year Award winner will be determined by the FCS Punter of the Year Award national voting body, which consists of FCS sports information directors and national sports writers.

20-20 Vision
Stonehill is 35-19 overall in 11 seasons under head coach Eli Gardner when scoring 20-plus points and 26-5 when scoring 30-plus points.

Get There First
The Skyhawks owned a 4-0 lead last season when scoring first, defeating Maine, LIU, Mercyhurst and Saint Francis in the process. Stonehill is 0-0 in 2026.

For Openers
Stonehill is 15-24 all-time in week one games in program history and have won three of its last six opening contests. The Skyhawks are 9-13 all-time in week one games on the road and have won three of its last five road openers. Under Eli Gardner, The Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach, owns a 4-6 record in week one contests.

Control the Tempo
Stonehill boasted a 3-3 mark when owning the time of possession battle in games last fall and are 1-2 so far this season.

Halfway There
Stonehill is 30-5 under head coach Eli Gardner when holding a halftime lead. The Skyhawks are 33-5 under Gardner when leading after three quarters.

Century Charm
Stonehill is 28-6 during head coach Eli Gardner's 11-year tenure at the helm when having a 100-yard rusher.

Preseason Nods
Senior linebacker Tyler Bannon and senior punter Logan Chenette were tabbed to the All-NEC preseason team.  Bannon started all 12 games for the Skyhawks in 2025, recording 53 tackles, a team-best 7.5 tackles for a loss and 2.0 sacks. Bannon also led the team with eight pass breakups, intercepted two passes, forced two fumbles and had five quarterback hurries.

Chenette earned the Coach Gary Richardson Special Teams Champion award last season. Chenette, who was named to the New England Football Writers' All-New England Team, played in all 12 games and had 59 punts for a season average of 40.4 yards. He also placed 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and had 10 punts of 50 yards or more.

Preseason Prognostications
Stonehill was picked seventh in the preseason coaches' poll the Conference announced at its Social Media Day on Aug. 3. The coaches poll is led by reigning NEC Champions and NCAA I FCS Championship participant Central Connecticut State with six of eight first place votes. Duquesne is second with two first-place votes, while LIU was third, followed by Wagner in fourth. Rounding out the poll were Mercyhurst (fifth), Robert Morris (sixth, Stonehill (seventh) and New Haven (eighth).

Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach
A meaningful chapter in Stonehill history was written on Sept. 20, 2025, as the College officially established the Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach Endowment Fund. This fund creates a newly named coaching position, serving as an enduring tribute to the football program Finn helped form in 1970. It also marks the first-ever endowed role within Stonehill Athletics, which was bestowed on current head coach Eli Gardner, recognizing his energy, vision and commitment to student-athlete development.   
A founding member of Stonehill's club football team, the Knights—which paved the way for football to become a varsity sport in 1988—Finn has remained a dedicated supporter of the program since his time on the field. His longstanding commitment has paralleled the team's growth over the decades, culminating in its 2022 transition to NCAA Division I as a member of the NEC.  

Director of Athletics Dean O'Keefe '94 emphasized the long-term significance of Finn's support and philanthropy. "This game-changing gift will have a transformative effect on our Skyhawk football program and recognizes the vital role our coaches play in shaping student-athletes," he said. "We're deeply grateful to Paul for his enduring support and commitment." 

An attorney and former Stonehill trustee, Finn began his legal career as a partner at Berks & Finn. He served there from 1978 to 1992 before becoming president of Commonwealth Mediation & Conciliation Inc., where he has since mediated thousands of claims and played a key role in managing high-profile cases. Finn is affiliated with several legal and mediation organizations and authors the Massachusetts Practice Series, Volume 47, Mediation & Arbitration. He was also recognized as one of the Lawyers of the Year by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly. In addition to a bachelor's degree in history from Stonehill, Finn earned a master's degree in government administration from Harvard University Extension School and a Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. 

In 2017, Finn delivered the acceptance speech when Stonehill inducted the 1970 Knights into the College's Athletic Hall of Fame.  

Winning Formulas
Stonehill was dealt just its fifth loss under Eli Gardner, The Paul Finn '71 Head Football Coach, when scoring 30-plus points with its 42-35 setback at New Hampshire in 2026. The Skyhawks are 26-5 in Gardner's 10 years as head coach when surpassing 30 points. The Skyhawks are also a perfect 6-0 when rushing for 300-plus yards, including a 20-3 clip when rushing for 200-plus since Gardner took over as head coach. Stonehill is 19-5 all-time under coach Gardner when accumulating 400-plus yards of total offense.

Next Level
Stonehill College announced in early April, 2022, that it had accepted an invitation to join the NCAA Division I NEC and concluded its accelerated reclassification to full NCAA Division I status, effective for the 2025-26 athletic season. The Skyhawks entire set of 24 varsity programs now compete in the NEC, with the exception of equestrian, women's ice hockey (NEWHA) and men's ice hockey (independent).

Success In The Classroom
Thirty-seven Stonehill footall players earned spots in last year's Fall 2025 NEC Honor Roll. Junior defensive back Phoenix Sward (Wakefield, R.I.) was one of six Stonehill student-athletes across all fall sports to achieve a perfect 4.0 grade-point average. To qualify for the NEC Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.20. Additionally, student-athletes who achieved a GPA of 3.75 or higher, earned a spot on the NEC Fall Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.

Chi Alpha Sigma
In April, the Stonehill college athletics department welcomed the classes of 2025 and 2026 for the institution's second annual induction to the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society. Senior offensive lineman Joshua Troiano was among the honorees. To be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must be a member of a varsity athletics team at a four-year, accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA or NAIA. They must also have achieved junior academic standing or higher after their fourth full-time semester and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5.

DIG
The Stonehill captains select a teammate to carry a team shovel to each practice and game over the course of the week. The Ames Shovel symbolizes the team's motto DIG - Discipline, Intellect and Grit. The shovel was chosen from the Ames shovel collection at Stonehill. The land that now holds the College was purchased by the Congregation of Holy Cross from the Ames Family hat operated a world-class shovel factory known for their quality that helped supply many of America's major construction events. Known as the founder of the Ames Shovel Company, Oliver Ames was the youngest child of Captain John Ames and his wife Susanna Howard of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. John Ames was the village blacksmith and made shovels in addition to a wide variety of other iron products. Oliver married Susana Angier in 1803, and that same year moved to Easton where he bought a defunct nail making shop and began the production of shovels. In 1807, Oliver and his family moved to Plymouth where he supervised the shovel making plant of the Plymouth Iron Works. Shovel Production continued at his own North Easton factory. The Ames brand became known for its quality and the company became the key supplier to America's major construction events. Stonehill is home to the Ames Shovel Museum.

Our Home
W.B. Mason Stadium is home to Stonehill field hockey, football, lacrosse, and track & field, and is one of the premier athletic facilities in the northeast.

Formally dedicated on September 10, 2005, the 2,400-seat stadium features a FieldTurf playing surface, a 400-meter eight-lane track, specialty areas for track and field events, and lighting for evening events. The playing field, Timothy J. Coughlin Memorial Field, was named in memory of Tim "Cogs" Coughlin, a football student-athlete and member of the Stonehill Class of 1980, who was managing director of Cantor Fitzgerald Securities and eSpeed when he lost his life in the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.

W.B. Mason president and CEO Leo Meehan, a Stonehill trustee and alumnus, announced prior to development of the facility that the company and its alumni employees would contribute $1.5 million of the $4 million cost of the project.

W.B. Mason Stadium has hosted nationally televised football games, as well as served as host to NCAA Championship events in field hockey and lacrosse as well as conference and New England Championships in track & field as well as field hockey and lacrosse.