By GREG LOGAN greg.logan@newsday.com
Stony Brook's football team hoped its meeting Sunday would be to learn its opponent in the first round of the FCS playoffs, but the Seawolves' season-ending 54-28 loss at Liberty on Saturday ended that dream. So coach Chuck Priore made a point of reminding his players what they achieved in this 6-5 season.
"The only thing I feel bad about is that because of the outcome, they couldn't enjoy winning the conference championship," Priore said Sunday. "Normally, they would have celebrated last week, but we never talked about it. So I addressed it with the team that we won back-to-back championships."
After tying Liberty for the Big South title last season, SBU had a three-way share of this season's title at 5-1 with Liberty and Coastal Carolina, the latter of which received an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs by a tiebreaker. The harsh irony for Priore and the Seawolves is that they would have won the tiebreaker a year ago if the Big South had an automatic bid then.
Stony Brook clinched at least a tie the previous week by beating Gardner-Webb. But after twice taking a one-point lead in the third quarter at Liberty, the Seawolves gave up two big-play touchdowns and let the goal of a postseason bid slip away. "We're right there," Priore said. "It's within striking distance."
The fact that Priore came close to making it with a young team is the real story of this season. After a loss to previously winless non-league opponent Lafayette to fall to 2-4 at midseason, SBU's prospects didn't look so good. But the Seawolves responded with four straight Big South wins.
That was the measure of success for Priore. "I ask, 'Are we doing things the right way? Can a young team turn things around and mature?' " Priore said. "And we did. That's what I'll remember about this team. We were at a crossroads. Most teams would have ended up 2-9, but this team ended up 6-5."
Priore was especially pleased by how well running backs Miguel Maysonet (14 touchdowns, 1,155 rushing yards) and Brock Jackolski (12 TDs, 1,062 rushing yards) managed their transition from the defunct Hofstra football program, and he praised the leadership of senior co-captains Paul Fenaroli and Arin West.
The beauty of being young this season is that the Seawolves will return all but nine seniors from a team that tied for the Big South title. "I'm excited about spring ball," Priore said, "and to have the kids who are going to play the first game next year."
