Sports

Maysonet leads Stony Brook into season with high expectations

ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Miguel Maysonet will lead Stony Brook University against Central Connecticut in the season opener Saturday night.

The preseason accolades came flooding in throughout the summer for Miguel Maysonet and the Stony Brook University football team.

Maysonet, the former Riverhead running back who won the Hansen Award in 2008, was named to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Then came Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors. Then came preseason All-America honors.

Now, under heavy weight of expectations, it’s his time to deliver on all those accolades.

The Seawolves, fresh off their best season in school history last year, open their 2012 season Saturday night at home against Central Connecticut. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at LaValle Stadium. It’ll be the first time Stony Brook begins its season at home since 2008.

The preseason favorites to win the Big South, Stony Brook is ranked in every major FCS poll. The Seawolves are ranked as high as ninth by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview.

After rushing for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, Maysonet will likely have an even greater role in the backfield this season after former William Floyd standout Brock Jackolski graduated. Jackolski rushed for 1,418 yards and 16 touchdowns last season as he and Maysonet formed an unstoppable one-two punch on the ground.

The Seawolves open the season with a pair of home games before traveling to Syracuse Sept. 15 for a game that will be broadcast on SNY. The Seawolves will also have its game at Army Sept. 29 aired on CBS Sports Network.

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