THROGGS NECK, N.Y. – The Husson University football team will conclude its 2024 season on Saturday when it heads to SUNY Maritime to take part in the inaugural Fusion Bowl at 1 p.m.

How They Got Here:
Husson enters the Fusion Bowl with a 6-4 record on the season after finishing the regular season with a second-place finish in the Conference of New England with a record of 3-2, while SUNY Maritime concluded its 2024 regular season with a mark of 7-3 overall and a 5-2 record and second-place finish in the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference.

Series History:
The Eagles hold a 12-2 series lead over the Privateers all-time, holding a seven-game win-streak from 2012-18 before Husson left the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. Husson defeated SUNY Maritime 35-21 in the last matchup between the two teams back in September of 2018 in New York and have scored at least 33 points in the last six matchups against the Privateers.

Common 2024 Opponents:
Husson and SUNY Maritime had three common opponents in the 2024 regular season, as both teams defeated Norwich University, with Husson picking up a 38-22 win over the Cadets on Sept. 21, while the Privateers secured a 37-14 win two weeks later over Norwich. Both teams struggled against nationally-ranked Springfield College, but the one difference in common opponents was Anna Maria College. Husson dropped a road contest to the Amcats in non-conference play in Paxton, Mass. by a score of 47-29, while SUNY Maritime earned a home win over Anna Maria 32-27 on Sept. 21.

The Offenses:
Husson posted the fourth-best scoring offense in the CNE during the regular season, tallying 31.4 points per game. The Eagles ranked fourth in the conference in rushing offense with 1,549 total yards on the ground, while placing fifth in total pass offense with 1,928 yards through the air. Husson recorded 4.6 yards per rush and scored 19 touchdowns on the ground, which was best for third in the CNE, while passing for the fourth-most touchdowns in the league with 24.

SUNY Maritime had the fourth best offense in the NEWMAC, posting nearly 29 points per contest. The Privateers had nearly double the amount of passing yards compared to rushing yards in the regular season, totaling 1,176 yards on the ground, compared to 2,131 yards of passing offense, which was good for second in the conference. SUNY Maritime recorded 13 touchdowns on the ground and averaged just shy of four yards per carry, while posting a league-best 28 touchdowns through the air and 213 yards per game.

The Defenses:
Both defenses struggled in terms of total-yardage in the regular season, as Husson gave up nearly 395 yards per game, while SUNY Maritime surrendered just shy of 350 yards of offense to opponents per game. Both teams gave up nearly identical rushing and passing touchdowns during the year, which could set the two teams up for a high-scoring affair in Saturday's contest. The Eagles rank near the top of the CNE in both sacks against and sacks by, while the Privateers surrendered the third-most sacks in the NEWMAC, while totaling the third-highest sacks by number in the conference. SUNY Maritime posted 20 turnovers forced on the year, while Husson totaled 12 takeaways on defense.

Postseason Awards:
The Eagles and Privateers each racked up all-conference awards this past week for the CNE and the NEWMAC. Husson had six offensive players earn all-conference honors, as seniors Jade Hutchinson and Ja'Quan Myles and junior Jed Lober were selected to the CNE first team, while seniors Nason Berthelette, Cullen Casey and John Dugan recorded second team spots. On defense freshman Brayden Trombly earned a rookie of the year selection and a second team all-conference spot, while sophomore Jahmye Tyson and junior Bryce Bussell also earned second team honors. 

For SUNY Maritime, head coach Jamel Ramsay and the rest of his coaching staff were named NEWMAC coaching staff of the year in Ramsay's first year at the helm. Steven Stassi was named to the first team all-conference as a quarterback, while Devin Cline (running back), Luke Caliendo (wide receiver) and Vinny Fundaro (defensive line) also earned first team honors. The Privateers also had four second team All-NEWMAC selections, with wide receiver Ian Derda, offensive lineman Kevin Walter, linebacker Jack Kellner and linebacker Kevin Wu earning selections.