| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard |
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| Press Release |
Date: Nov. 9, 2006
Contact: Petty Officer Ryan N. Doss |
COAST GUARD ACADEMY FOOTBALL TO PLAY FOR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW LONDON, CONN. -- The Coast Guard Academy Bears (8-1) football team will compete for the New England Football Conference Championship for the first time ever Saturday, playing at home against an undefeated Curry College (10-0) from Milford, Mass.
The championship match will be broadcast live on the Internet beginning at approximately 11:45 a.m. Saturday November 11th at: http://mfile.akamai.com/21612/live/reflector.3417295x?bkup=34191&prop=n (The hyperlink will become live at that time.)
This is the Bears' inaugural season in the NEFC. They were inducted into the conference's Bogan Division after spending the past two years in the NCAA's Liberty League, where they were 0-14 in league play. The Bears are currently ranked 5th in the New England Division III Football poll.
This is the first time since 1963, and only the second time ever, that an Academy team has won all eight consecutive regular season games. The Bears of 1963 posted a perfect 8-0 record before losing the Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Fla., to Western Kentucky 27-0.
The Academy's turn-around season has seen many stand-out players. Preseason All-American punter Jesse Harms leads the NEFC and is third in the nation in average punting yards, improving on his sixth place standing after last season.
Freshman free safety Steve Arguelles leads the nation with 11 of the Bears' 22 interceptions this season. Arguelles has also returned four punts for 78 yards and is averaging 27.2 yards on five kickoff returns.
The Bears will face the three-time defending conference champions, the Curry College Colonels, who currently rank 3rd in the New England Division III poll and lead the NEFC in scoring offense, scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
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Editor's Note: Media interested in attending the game are asked to contact the Public Affairs office at (860) 444-8270 or (860) 444-8271 before 4 p.m. Friday.
The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.
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