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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (STATS) -- Its being hailed as the season of the quarterback in the Northeast Conference.That has caught the attention of defenses across the league.Every team seems like they have a (quarterback) that can make plays, Wagner coach Jason Houghtaling said. Its an exciting thing for the conference, but its a real tough thing to game plan against.Its such a good season for signal-callers that Dillon Buechel, who leads defending champion Duquesne, was voted the NEC preseason quarterback even though Sacred Heart standout RJ Noel has been the All-NEC first-team selection each of the past three postseasons and is returning for his senior campaign. Add in the likes of Saint Francis Zack Drayer and Bryants Dalton Easton, who are third-year starters, and the defenses will have to raise their play.Duquesne was favored over Sacred Heart in the NEC preseason poll, gaining six of the seven first-place votes. Saint Francis was third followed by Bryant, Central Connecticut State, Robert Morris and Wagner.People arent necessarily focusing on the defenses leading up to preseason camp next month, but they will after realizing that will be a difference maker across the NEC. Saint Francis led the conference and Duquesne was second in scoring defense last season.And its not a coincidence those two teams met for the title on the final Saturday of the regular season. Duquesne won 30-20.I think year in and year out the defenses in this conference keep getting better and better, Saint Francis coach Chris Villarial said. I know from sitting back and watching, guys are getting bigger, the holes are closing much faster.The feeling among NEC coaches is the defenses will have to blitz and get pressure on the quarterbacks while also being disciplined on the back end. They dont want to let the QBs get a rhythm going.The NECs top two quarterbacks are fourth-year starters. Buechel has great timing from the pocket and terrific skills position players surrounding him. Noel, whos won 25 games and 2013 and 14 conference titles, is the more mobile QB, but he needs to overcome the loss of All-America wide receiver Tyler Dube.Buechel (7,455) and Noel (7,111) head into the season nearing the NECs all-time career passing mark of 8,803 yards, so it was realistic for the coaches to make Buechel the preseason quarterback. But, said Sacred Heart coach Mark Nofri, Knowing RJ, it might drive him. Hes a competitor.The other teams in the conference have an experienced quarterback as well. Central Connecticut State (Jake Dolegala) and Robert Morris (Matt Barr) can grow behind their sophomores, while Wagners Alex Thomson got nine starts after replacing an injured Chris Andrews. The junior must hold off Syracuse transfer A.J. Long.From top to bottom, Bryant linebacker Marquis Watson said, the quarterbacks that teams are putting out on the field are amazing. From a defensive perspective, we have to line up and go against these guys, youve got to bring your A game, your best game.Most of them can run, pass, so its a couple things you have to worry about, its not just one, said Duquesne linebacker Christian Kuntz, the 2015 NEC defensive player of the year. Its always fun going against everyone, especially talented guys because you want to go against the best competition. Its going to be a fun year.Duquesnes fun might only come with another conference title. The Dukes are the hunted after last years breakthrough season. While they lost good leadership in their graduated seniors, they return 13 starters from the 8-4 squad.And coach Jerry Schmitt senses they are hungry for more success.I think our guys do a great job of not just measuring ourselves on wins and losses, he said. They understand thats what is the final product, but I think they do a really good job on getting better, focusing on each and every week and each and every game. We were getting on the plane (to attend NEC media day), and one of my friends noticed Christian and said, Hey, we expect an undefeated season. The first thing he and Dillon said was, One at a time.NORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLLHead Coaches Poll1. Duquesne (6 first-place votes)2. Sacred Heart (1)3. Saint Francis4. Bryant5. Central Connecticut State6. Robert Morris7. WagnerNORTHEAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL PRESEASON TEAMOffenseQB -- Dillon Buechel, Duquesne, Sr.RB -- Marcus Bagley, Saint Francis, Jr.RB -- Cameron Nash, Central Connecticut State, Jr.WR -- Wayne Capers, Duquesne, Sr.WR -- Kyle Buss, Robert Morris, So.WR -- Moses Webb, Sacred Heart, Sr.TE/HB -- Ryan Owens, Wagner, GradOL -- Jimmy Marks, Saint Francis, Sr.OL -- Tyler Cardoze, Bryant, Sr.OL -- Matt Diaz, Wagner, Sr.OL -- Sean Merrill, Sacred Heart, Sr.OL -- Ben Huss Duquesne, Jr.DefenseDL -- Ryan Cottrell, Sacred Heart, Sr.DL -- Asia Bolling, Central Connecticut State, Sr.DL -- Wesley Nagaseu, Saint Francis, Sr.DL -- Jake Radziukinas, Duquesne, Sr.LB -- Christian Kuntz, Duquesne, Sr.LB -- James Rentz, Sacred Heart, Sr.LB -- Nathan Stone, Duquesne, Jr.LB -- Randall Laguerre, Central Connecticut State, Jr.DB -- Lorenzo Jerome, Saint Francis, Sr.DB -- Marcelis Branch, Robert Morris, Sr.DB -- Chuckie Wingate, Bryant, Sr.DB -- Andy Smigiera, Robert Morris, Sr.Special TeamsPK -- Lance Geesey, Saint Francis, Sr.P -- Bryan Rafano, Wagner, Sr.RS -- Lorenzo Jerome, Saint Francis, Sr. Nike Air Max 90 Cheap For Sale .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Free Shipping . "No difference at all," chirped U.S. roommate and linemate James van Riemsdyk. "Its still the same cranky Phil. http://www.nikeairmax90cheap.com/ . LOUIS -- Valtteri Filppula assisted on three of Tampa Bays four goals, and the Lightning beat the St. Nike Air Max 90 Cheap . Jay Feely kicked a 41-yard field goal in overtime, and the Cardinals edged the Tennessee Titans 37-34 in overtime after blowing a 17-point lead late in the fourth quarter. Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Shoes China .com) - The women will also have a new champion at the Australian Open.PHOENIX -- Paul Goldschmidt turned a tough night into a triumph, and not for the first time in what so far has been a magnificent season. Goldschmidt hit a three-run, opposite-field home run with two outs in the eighth inning and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 Friday night. The Giants were poised to give Matt Cain a victory and send Patrick Corbin to his first loss in 10 decisions before Goldschmidt lined a 2-0 pitch from Jeremy Affeldt over the right field fence for his 15th home run of the season. Goldschmidt, hitting .332, boosted his NL-leading RBI total to 57. He had hit into two double plays and struck out in his previous at bats Friday. "Think about it -- two double plays, a strikeout and he hits a three-run home run," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "Last week we were in Chicago -- three strikeouts against (Jeff) Samardzija and a grand slam to help us win a game. Hes pretty special. He really is." The quiet Goldschmidt got a curtain call from the crowd, waving to them from the dugout. "Thats cool," he said. "Its fun anytime you get the win, but obviously a come-from-behind win. A great crowd tonight, so it was a lot of fun." Arizona stayed 2 1/2 games ahead of Colorado in the NL West. San Francisco dropped to 3 1/2 back. Cain went seven innings plus a batter, allowing a run on four hits with three walks. Corbin gave up a run on seven hits in 7 1-3 innings, striking out four with no walks. Cain left after A.J. Pollock beat out an infield grounder to third for a base hit. With Affeldt on in relief, Pollock advanced to second on pinch hitter Wil Nieves groundout to second. Affeldt got Gerardo Parra looking, then Willie Bloomquist walked to bring up Goldschmidt. Coming off a road trip in which he hit two grand slams, he caught up with a fastball over the plate. Goldschmidt had been hitless in five previous at-bats against Affeldt. "It was a dumb pitch -- dumb location, dumb selection, stupid," Affeldt said. "I didnt want to throw it there. For a strike pitch it wasnt that bad, but that is not what I am trying to do to him. He is too hot of hitter and when you make dumb pitches and you throw to a dumb location they are going to make you look bad. I take full responsibility. The loss is on me. Cain threw really well. He didnt deserve that. It is completely my fault. " Giants manager Bruce Bochy stuck with Affeldt, saying he "has been throwing the ball as well as anybody." Besides, Goldschmidt has been hitting right-hhanded hitters better than lefties.dddddddddddd "That guy is hitting lefty and righties if you are looking at the numbers," Bochy said. "He (Affeldt) just made a mistake there. It all started with the ground ball they beat out and of course the walks set up that. You are asking for trouble." Cain settled down after a 31-pitch first inning, when he walked three and gave up a single but held Arizona scoreless. Goldschmidt grounded into a double play, leaving a runner at third with two outs. Cain walked the next two batters to load the bases but got Martin Prado on a broken-bat groundout to end the inning. Didi Gregorius led off the Diamondbacks fifth with a double and, with a head-first slide, barely beat Gregor Blancos throw on A.J. Pollocks fly out to centre to put a runner on third with one out. But Gregorius tried to score on Corbins weak grounder to first and was easily thrown out by Brandon Belt. Corbin retired 12 in a row before Pablo Sandovals broken-bat single with one out in the seventh. Belt singled sharply to right to put runners at first and second. Sandoval took third when pinch hitter Joaquin Arias flew out to right, then Blancos first-pitch single to centre put San Francisco up 1-0. Corbins night ended after Marco Scutaros one-out double to the gap in left centre in the eighth. Brad Ziegler came on and got Buster Posey and Hunter Pence to ground out to shortstop. Goldschmidt said Corbin has "been unbelievable for us this year." "When he came out of the game we felt awful," Goldschmidt said. "We were trying to score for him. We had a few opportunities early and werent able to come through. But he did a great job. Thats what it takes when you have those come-from-behind wins. You need to keep putting up zeroes and give the offence a chance." One more chance was all Goldschmidt needed. NOTES: First base umpire Jerry Layne, the crew chief, aggravated a rib injury and left the field near the start of Arizonas half of the third inning. The crew went with three umpires the rest of the game. ... Corbin was trying to be just the third pitcher in 25 years to start 10-0. Roger Clemens (11 in 1997) and Aaron Small (10 in 2005) were the others. ... San Francisco has won eight of its last nine at Chase Field. ... The temperature was 108 degrees outside, 83 inside Chase Field at first pitch. ... Madison Bumgarner (4-4, 3.46 ERA) starts for the Giants and Trevor Cahill (3-6, 3.27) goes for Arizona on Saturday night. ... San Francisco has lost seven of 10. ' ' '