Best bets for local college football in Week 2

FRIDAY

SAINT ANSELM at ASSUMPTION

The Greyhounds dropped a 24-20 heartbreaker with five seconds left at Bowie State, but the run defense was stout: 43 yards on 29 attempts.

FRAMINGHAM STATE at NICHOLS

Starter Matt Silva (shoulder) and backup Al Krasco (shoulder) went down in Week 1, so Rams may turn to receiver Jake Wardwell or defensive back Matt Costello at QB.

MASS. MARITIME at N.Y. MARITIME

Playing four of their first five matchups away from Buzzards Bay, Bucs seeking their first win in five tries against SUNY-Maritime.

SATURDAY

INDIANA at UMASS

Hoosiers QB Tre Roberson hooked up with 10 receivers against Indiana State; he’ll pressure a Minuteman defense that picked off two passes at UConn.

N.C. STATE at CONNECTICUT

Butler CC transfer Chandler Whitmer took command of Husky offense in romp over UMass, but interceptions will be costly against Tom O’Brien’s Wolfpack.

NEW HAMPSHIRE at MINNESOTA

Wildcats have surrounded impressive redshirt freshman QB Sean Goldrich with playmakers in Gold Helmet winner R.J. Harris (12 catches, 102 yards vs. Holy Cross) and fellow WR Joey Orlando.

RHODE ISLAND at MONMOUTH

With Warwick’s Bob Bentsen at the trigger after five impressive starts as a sophomore, Rams bullish on ending seven-game road losing skid.

BRYANT at SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.)

Elusive senior Jordan Brown is 217 yards shy of becoming Bulldogs’ career rushing leader (Andre McLeod had 3,521 from 2000-03).

LEHIGH at CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

Freshman DB Aaron Berardino was dazzling in debut with four stops and an interception that set up a score, and returning two kicks in loss to Stony Brook.

BENTLEY at WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN

In 42-0 pounding of Pace, QBs Danny Guadagnoli and Luke Zahradka directed the Falcons to first 200-yard rushing/300-yard passing day since 2005.

AIC at SHEPHERD

All-New England as a freshman, British-born punter/kicker Daniel Backx (via Mountain Ridge HS, Ariz.) gives Yellow Jackets a leg up on foes.

ROWAN at MERRIMACK

Warriors coach John Perry was effusive on play of right guard Mike Hubbard vs. New Haven: “The best game we’ve ever had from an offensive lineman.’’

SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT at STONEHILL

Skyhawk senior Kevin Anderson (Topsfield) ripped off a 92-yard return on opening kick at Bloomsburg.

NEW HAVEN at ST. AUGUSTINE’S

Senior lineman Tom Herd was a force against Merrimack: two sacks, a quarterback hurry, and a 27-yard pick six for 13th-ranked Chargers.

UMASS-DARTMOUTH at BRIDGEWATER STATE

In their grind-it-out opening win, Blaise Branch (5.7 yards per carry) and Bears outrushed host Springfield, the top ground attack in Division 3 last season.

CASTLETON at ENDICOTT

Vermont National Guard trainee Shane Brozowski (22 of 35, 400 yards, 4 TDs vs. Plymouth State) duels Gulls ballhawk Andrew Lawson (3 picks vs. Framingham).

MONTCLAIR STATE at SALVE REGINA

Freshman Christian Clark gave host Union the boot in his collegiate debut, knocking a 35-yarder through the uprights in a 17-14 win.

MAINE MARITIME at ANNA MARIA

Unfamiliar turf for the Mariners, who are seeking to put their first losing season (4-5) since 2004 in the rearview mirror.

WESTFIELD STATE at WESTERN NEW ENGLAND

In his first start at QB since leading Chelmsford High to Division 1A Super title in 2007, Tim Rich was stellar in his debut for Owls.

WORCESTER STATE at WPI

WPI sophomore Zach Grasis (26 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TDs) and Lancers senior QB Corey Spencer (17 of 25, 3 TDs) delivered breakout performances in Week 1 wins.

BECKER at MIT

Boston English grad Melvin Booker was a force in Hawks’ first win, racking up 12 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

MOUNT IDA at PLYMOUTH STATE

Mustangs in a full gallop to Granite State after senior Bobby Hemmann’s
47-yard kick with 1:39 left sank UMass-Dartmouth.

CURRY at FITCHBURG STATE

After attempting eight passes all of last season, Colonels junior Kevin Fruwirth (school-record 30 completions on 51 attempts) aired out his arm in WPI loss.

MERCHANT MARINE at COAST GUARD

Senior tackles Mike Rauch and Jacob Bibb anchor a veteran Bears squad that lost five games by 7 points or fewer in 2011, four in the final minute.

NORWICH at SAINT LAWRENCE

The Cadets started off on the right foot thanks to Patrick Wilson’s boot at the buzzer against Western New England.

SPRINGFIELD at HUSSON

Australia native Reece Attard, the ECFC Rookie of the Week, averaged 41 yards on nine punts in Eagles debut.

Craig Larson

FRIDAY

SAINT ANSELM at ASSUMPTION

The Greyhounds dropped a 24-20 heartbreaker with five seconds left at Bowie State, but the run defense was stout: 43 yards on 29 attempts.

FRAMINGHAM STATE at NICHOLS

Starter Matt Silva (shoulder) and backup Al Krasco (shoulder) went down in Week 1, so Rams may turn to receiver Jake Wardwell or defensive back Matt Costello at QB.

MASS. MARITIME at N.Y. MARITIME

Playing four of their first five matchups away from Buzzards Bay, Bucs seeking their first win in five tries against SUNY-Maritime.

SATURDAY

INDIANA at UMASS

Hoosiers QB Tre Roberson hooked up with 10 receivers against Indiana State; he’ll pressure a Minuteman defense that picked off two passes at UConn.

N.C. STATE at CONNECTICUT

Butler CC transfer Chandler Whitmer took command of Husky offense in romp over UMass, but interceptions will be costly against Tom O’Brien’s Wolfpack.

NEW HAMPSHIRE at MINNESOTA

Wildcats have surrounded impressive redshirt freshman QB Sean Goldrich with playmakers in Gold Helmet winner R.J. Harris (12 catches, 102 yards vs. Holy Cross) and fellow WR Joey Orlando.

RHODE ISLAND at MONMOUTH

With Warwick’s Bob Bentsen at the trigger after five impressive starts as a sophomore, Rams bullish on ending seven-game road losing skid.

BRYANT at SAINT FRANCIS (Pa.)

Elusive senior Jordan Brown is 217 yards shy of becoming Bulldogs’ career rushing leader (Andre McLeod had 3,521 from 2000-03).

LEHIGH at CENTRAL CONNECTICUT

Freshman DB Aaron Berardino was dazzling in debut with four stops and an interception that set up a score, and returning two kicks in loss to Stony Brook.

BENTLEY at WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN

In 42-0 pounding of Pace, QBs Danny Guadagnoli and Luke Zahradka directed the Falcons to first 200-yard rushing/300-yard passing day since 2005.

AIC at SHEPHERD

All-New England as a freshman, British-born punter/kicker Daniel Backx (via Mountain Ridge HS, Ariz.) gives Yellow Jackets a leg up on foes.

ROWAN at MERRIMACK

Warriors coach John Perry was effusive on play of right guard Mike Hubbard vs. New Haven: “The best game we’ve ever had from an offensive lineman.’’

SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT at STONEHILL

Skyhawk senior Kevin Anderson (Topsfield) ripped off a 92-yard return on opening kick at Bloomsburg.

NEW HAVEN at ST. AUGUSTINE’S

Senior lineman Tom Herd was a force against Merrimack: two sacks, a quarterback hurry, and a 27-yard pick six for 13th-ranked Chargers.

UMASS-DARTMOUTH at BRIDGEWATER STATE

In their grind-it-out opening win, Blaise Branch (5.7 yards per carry) and Bears outrushed host Springfield, the top ground attack in Division 3 last season.

CASTLETON at ENDICOTT

Vermont National Guard trainee Shane Brozowski (22 of 35, 400 yards, 4 TDs vs. Plymouth State) duels Gulls ballhawk Andrew Lawson (3 picks vs. Framingham).

MONTCLAIR STATE at SALVE REGINA

Freshman Christian Clark gave host Union the boot in his collegiate debut, knocking a 35-yarder through the uprights in a 17-14 win.

MAINE MARITIME at ANNA MARIA

Unfamiliar turf for the Mariners, who are seeking to put their first losing season (4-5) since 2004 in the rearview mirror.

WESTFIELD STATE at WESTERN NEW ENGLAND

In his first start at QB since leading Chelmsford High to Division 1A Super title in 2007, Tim Rich was stellar in his debut for Owls.

WORCESTER STATE at WPI

WPI sophomore Zach Grasis (26 rushes, 111 yards, 2 TDs) and Lancers senior QB Corey Spencer (17 of 25, 3 TDs) delivered breakout performances in Week 1 wins.

BECKER at MIT

Boston English grad Melvin Booker was a force in Hawks’ first win, racking up 12 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.

MOUNT IDA at PLYMOUTH STATE

Mustangs in a full gallop to Granite State after senior Bobby Hemmann’s 47-yard kick with 1:39 left sank UMass-Dartmouth.

CURRY at FITCHBURG STATE

After attempting eight passes all of last season, Colonels junior Kevin Fruwirth (school-record 30 completions on 51 attempts) aired out his arm in WPI loss.

MERCHANT MARINE at COAST GUARD

Senior tackles Mike Rauch and Jacob Bibb anchor a veteran Bears squad that lost five games by 7 points or fewer in 2011, four in the final minute.

NORWICH at SAINT LAWRENCE

The Cadets started off on the right foot thanks to Patrick Wilson’s boot at the buzzer against Western New England.

SPRINGFIELD at HUSSON

Australia native Reece Attard, the ECFC Rookie of the Week, averaged 41 yards on nine punts in Eagles debut.

Craig Larson