Greyhounds Rise to NE10 Football Dominance in 2015

Posted: Oct 09, 2020

The Assumption Football program captured its first-ever NE10 Championship in 2015, kicking off one of the most dominant three-year stretches in NE10 Football history. Over that span they went 24-3 in conference play, captured a pair of NE10 Titles and became just the second NE10 football program to reach the NCAA Tournament three straight years, including an NCAA Quarterfinals appearance in 2017.

Head coach Bob Chesney took over a program prior to the 2013 season which hadn’t registered a seven-win season in 20 years and by 2015 he had his team contending for an NE10 Title. Assumption started the year with a 41-37 win at Kutztown, before a tough loss against LIU Post dropped them to 1-1. The Greyhounds didn’t lose another regular season game while surpassing 50 points three times. They finished the regular season 9-1, ranked nationally for the first time in program history and earned the right to host New Haven for the NE10 Title. Assumption claimed a 17-14 victory to win their first-ever NE10 Championship and earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they took down Bowie State 51-29 at home in the opening round. The Greyhounds then nearly upset Slippery Rock in the second round (41-39), as they became the first NE10 football team since 2011 to win an NCAA Tournament game.

A year later Assumption again went 9-1 in the regular season and led in the NE10 Championship game before LIU Post came back to capture the title. The Greyhounds still earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament where they fell to Shepherd.

The 2017 season capped off the dominant three-year stretch as the Greyhounds opened the year 9-0 and were ranked No. 8 nationally before a loss to conclude the regular season. They led the NE10 in scoring offense (43.4) and scoring defense (15.5), and behind current New Orleans All-Pro Deonte Harris’ four touchdowns in the NCAA Second Round they became just the third NE10 program to advance to the NCAA Quarterfinals. Assumption fell in the final minute of the NCAA Quarterfinals against Indiana (Pa.) but finished the season ranked No. 9 in the AFCA National Poll.

Both Harris and kicker Cole Tracy were named First-Team All-Americans as Tracy also went on to win the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award as the top kicker in the FCS, Division II, Division III or NJCAA. The program had a record nine players named First-Team All-Conference while claiming five of the eight major NE10 Awards. The Greyhounds also led the nation in turnover margin (1.77), interceptions (26) and punt return aveage (23.26) while ranking fifth in sacks (3.46 per game) and sixth in scoring offense (43.4).

Assumption Football Links of Note:

Assumption Football 2015-2017

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Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.

Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.