Anna Maria Amcats football, 2020–present

2020–present Anna Maria Amcats football
ConferenceECFC (2009–2024)
MASCAC (2025–present)
Head coach
Home stadiumCaparso Field (2020–present)

The Anna Maria Amcats football (often stylized as AmCats, AMCATS, or AMcats) teams represented Anna Maria College in American football during the program's second decade of college football from 2020 to present. The team competed as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) from 2009 to 2024 and as a member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) beginning in 2025. Highlights include the following:

  • In 2021, Anna Maria completed their first-ever winning season with a 7–3 record, winning the ECFC and making the NCAA Division III playoffs in the process.
  • In 2023, Anna Maria appeared in their first bowl game, losing to Salve Regina, 37–34 in the New England Bowl.

Anna Maria play their home games at Caparso Field.

The head coaches were Dan Mulrooney (11–29) from 2017 to 2021, Steve Croce (14–14) from 2022 to 2024, and Tanner Kingsley from 2025 to present.


2020

2020 Anna Maria Amcats football
ConferenceEastern Collegiate Football Conference
Record0–0 (0–0 ECFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteve Croce (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinatorBrett Banfield (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorDan Mulrooney (4th season)
Home stadiumCaparso Field

The 2020 Anna Maria Amcats football team was supposed to represent Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts. In what was going to be the fourth year under head coach Dan Mulrooney, Anna Maria cancelled their nine-game slate due to COVID-19.

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResult
September 47:00 p.m.Becker*
September 12at Union (NY)*
September 1912:00 p.m.at Nichols*
September 2612:00 p.m.RPI*
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
October 312:00 p.m.Alfred State
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
October 10at Dean
October 17at Maritime
October 2412:00 p.m.Keystone
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
November 14at Castleton
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[1]

2021

2021 Anna Maria Amcats football
ECFC co-champion
ConferenceEastern Collegiate Football Conference
Record7–3 (5–1 ECFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorSteve Croce (5th season)
Defensive coordinatorDan Mulrooney (5th season)
Captains
  • Hayden Braga
  • Alex Cohen
  • Doug Jackson
  • Devin White
Home stadiumCaparso Field
2021 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Anna Maria +^   5 1     7 3  
Alfred State +   5 1     6 5  
Castleton   4 2     6 4  
Gallaudet   3 3     5 3  
Maritime   3 3     3 6  
Dean   1 5     2 8  
Keystone   0 6     0 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 2021 Anna Maria Amcats football team represented Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts. In its fifth and final year (fourth season) under head coach Dan Mulrooney, Anna Maria compiled an overall record of 7–3 as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a conference record of 5–1.

After leading Anna Maria to an overall record of 11–29, their first-ever winning season, first-ever conference championship, and first-ever playoff appearance, head coach Dan Mulrooney resigned to become the head coach for Lock Haven.[2]

Head coach Dan Mulrooney was named ECFC Coach of the Year, while offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Steve Croce earned ECFC Assistant Coach of the Year. Wide receiver Deandre Wallace was selected as the ECFC Rookie of the Year and was also named First-team All-ECFC, along with defensive lineman Jude Sampson and defensive back Armstrong Antoine. Second-team All-ECFC selections included quarterback Alex Cohen, wide receiver Justin McMillian, offensive lineman Devin White, and defensive lineman Elijah Allston.[3]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 1112:30 p.m.Nichols*
L 23–272,203
September 181:00 p.m.Massachusetts Maritime*
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 23–13602
September 251:30 p.m.at Coast Guard*
W 29–242,651
October 212:00 p.m.at Keystone
W 55–35
October 1612:00 p.m.at Alfred State
W 28–17832
October 231:30 p.m.Dean
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 45–322,500
October 302:00 p.m.at Castleton
L 31–38877
November 612:00 p.m.Gallaudet
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 37–21721
November 131:00 p.m.Maritime
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 31–7573
November 2012:00 p.m.at Delaware Valley
L 10–621,005
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[4]

2022

2022 Anna Maria Amcats football
ConferenceEastern Collegiate Football Conference
Record5–4 (3–3 ECFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTanner Kingsley (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorNick Thayer (1st season)
Captains
  • Armstrong Antoine
  • Hayden Braga
  • Alex Cohen
Home stadiumCaparso Field
2022 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Gallaudet $^   5 1     7 3  
Castleton   4 2     5 5  
Anna Maria   3 3     5 4  
Alfred State   3 3     5 5  
Keystone   3 3     3 7  
Maritime   2 4     3 7  
Dean   1 5     1 9  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 2022 Anna Maria Amcats football team represented Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts. In its first year under head coach Steve Croce, Anna Maria compiled an overall record of 5–4 as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a conference record of 3–3.

After six seasons on the staff, five as offensive coordinator, Steve Croce was promoted to head coach.[5] Croce promoted quarterbacks coach Tanner Kingsley to replace him as offensive coordinator.[6]

Wide receiver Devin Tolbert and offensive lineman Max Cyr were named First-team All-ECFC selections. Quarterback Alex Cohen, wide receiver Deandre Wallace, defensive linemen Terrence Jackson and Elijah Allston, linebackers Alvin Martin and Kyle Couto, and defensive back Lamar Wilkes earned Second-team All-ECFC honors.[7]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 1012:00 p.m.UMass Dartmouth*
W 63–48197
September 171:00 p.m.at Massachusetts Maritime*
W 23–143,012
September 2412:00 p.m.Coast Guard*
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
L 28–66
October 11:30 p.m.Alfred State
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
L 25–30257
October 81:00 p.m.at MaritimeW 41–27783
October 1512:00 p.m.Keystone
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
L 39–41267
October 2912:00 p.m.at Gallaudet
L 13–27451
November 512:00 p.m.at Dean
W 36–22350
November 122:00 p.m.Castleton
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 27–26 (OT)542
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[8]

2023

2023 Anna Maria Amcats football
ECFC co-champion
ConferenceEastern Collegiate Football Conference
Record5–5 (3–1 ECFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTanner Kingsley (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorNick Thayer (2nd season)
Home stadiumCaparso Field
2023 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Alfred State +^   3 1     6 5  
Anna Maria +   3 1     5 5  
Gallaudet +   3 1     4 5  
Dean   1 3     2 8  
Castleton   0 4     2 7  
  • + – Conference co-champions
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 2023 Anna Maria Amcats football team represented Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts. In its second year under head coach Steve Croce, Anna Maria compiled an overall record of 5–5 as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a conference record of 3–1.

Head coach Steve Croce was named ECFC Coach of the Year, while offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tanner Kingsley earned ECFC Assistant Coach of the Year. Quarterback Ryan Russell was recognized as the ECFC Offensive Player of the Year, and offensive lineman Max Cyr was named ECFC Offensive Lineman of the Year. Kicker Ryan Kent received ECFC Special Teams Player of the Year honors.[9]

Several Amcats were selected to the All-ECFC First Team, including quarterback Ryan Russell, running back Jamal Cariglia, wide receivers Deandre Wallace and Mark Johnson-Morgan, offensive linemen Max Cyr and Da'Shawn Allen, kicker Ryan Kent, defensive linemen Elijah Allston and Malik Kirnon, linebacker Antonio Giano, and defensive back Lamar Wilkes. Second-team All-ECFC selections included running back Justin Brown, tight end Tyler Bulinski, offensive lineman Timothy Northrup, linebacker Dilaver Ibrahimi, and defensive back Rashawn Shelton.[9]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 212:00 p.m.Westfield State*
W 51–26368
September 912:00 p.m.at Coast Guard*
L 24–93724
September 162:30 p.m.Massachusetts Maritime*
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 37–30391
September 233:30 p.m.at Husson*
L 49–501,700
October 71:00 p.m.at Western New EnglandL 17–331,250
October 1412:00 p.m.at Alfred State
L 20–461,034
October 2112:00 p.m.at Dean
W 52–20847
October 2812:00 p.m.Gallaudet
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 49–14342
November 112:00 p.m.Castleton
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 58–23679
November 1812:00 p.m.at Salve ReginaL 34–37683
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[10]


2024

2024 Anna Maria Amcats football
ECFC Championship Game,
L 37–39 vs. Alfred State
ConferenceEastern Collegiate Football Conference
Record4–5 (2–1 ECFC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTanner Kingsley (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorHayden Braga (1st season)
Captains
  • Tyler Bulinski
  • Max Cyr
  • Ryan Russell
  • Marino Vedova
Home stadiumCaparso Field
2024 Eastern Collegiate Football Conference standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Alfred State y$^   2 1     5 6  
Anna Maria y   2 1     4 5  
Gallaudet   2 1     5 4  
Dean   0 3     0 9  
Championship: Alfred State 39, Anna Maria 37
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 2024 Anna Maria Amcats football team represented Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts. In its third and final year under head coach Steve Croce, Anna Maria compiled an overall record of 4–5 as a member of the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with a conference record of 2–1.

Midway through the season, Croce announced his intentions to retire.[11] Croce ended his tenure with an overall record of 14–14 including one bowl game appearance. Associate head coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Tanner Kingsley was quickly promoted to head coach for the 2025 season.[12]

Anna Maria's season ended with a 39–37 loss to Alfred State in the first, and final, ECFC Championship.[13] The Amcats were led by quarterback Ryan Russell, the ECFC Offensive Player of the Year and a First-team All-ECFC selection, who threw for 2,777 yards and 27 touchdowns in his second season as a starter. Kicker Ryan Kent earned ECFC Special Teams Player of the Year honors, while defensive back Di'Angelo Jean Pierre was named co-Rookie of the Year.[14] Several players received all-conference recognition: First-team All-ECFC selections included running back Jamal Cariglia, wide receivers Justin Oliver, Kevin Acosta Jr., and Davien Atkinson, offensive lineman Max Cyr, return specialist Justin Oliver, defensive lineman Jordan Martin, and defensive back Jihad Brown. Second-team All-ECFC honorees were running back Nico Cavaliere, wide receiver David Robinson, tight end Tyler Garretson, offensive linemen Timothy Northrup and Nathan Kern, defensive lineman Gabriel Mendez, and linebackers Kellen Palm and Jaiquan Torrence.[14]

This was the final season as a member of the ECFC, as the three other teams were leaving the conference. Anna Maria was accepted as a full member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) starting in the 2025 season.[15]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 67:00 p.m.at Westfield State*
W 41–131,913[16]
September 1412:00 p.m.Coast Guard*
L 45–52 (OT)281[17]
September 211:00 p.m.at Maritime*L 27–321,064[18]
September 281:30 p.m.Husson*
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 47–29539[19][20]
October 57:00 p.m.Western New England*
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
L 10–44425[21]
October 191:00 p.m.at Gallaudet
L 34–391,527[22]
October 2612:00 p.m.Alfred State
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 35–23375
November 212:00 p.m.Dean
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
W 63–0330[23]
November 1612:00 p.m.Alfred State*
L 37–391,200[13][24]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[25]

2025

2025 Anna Maria Amcats football
ConferenceMassachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference
Record0–0 (0–0 MASCAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorTanner Kingsley (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorHayden Braga (2nd season)
Home stadiumCaparso Field
2025 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Anna Maria   0 0     0 0  
Bridgewater State   0 0     0 0  
Dean   0 0     0 0  
Fitchburg State   0 0     0 0  
Framingham State   0 0     0 0  
Massachusetts Maritime   0 0     0 0  
Plymouth State   0 0     0 0  
UMass Dartmouth   0 0     0 0  
Westfield State   0 0     0 0  
Worcester State   0 0     0 0  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division III playoff participant

The 2025 Anna Maria Amcats football team will represent Anna Maria College of Paxton, Massachusetts. In its first year under head coach Tanner Kingsley, Anna Maria will compete as a member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).

This was the school's first season as a member of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC).

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August7:00 p.m.at Nichols*
(scrimmage)
September 612:00 p.m.at Eastern*
September 1312:00 p.m.Framingham State
September 201:00 p.m.at Massachusetts Maritime
September 271:30 p.m.UMass Dartmouth
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
October 42:00 p.m.at Westfield State
October 1812:00 p.m.Plymouth State
October 2512:00 p.m.Fitchburg State
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
November 11:30 p.m.at Worcester State
November 84:00 p.m.at Bridgewater State
November 1512:00 p.m.Dean
  • Paxton, MA
  • Caparso Field
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming

[26]

References

  1. ^ "2020 Football Schedule". Anna Maria College. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  2. ^ "Dan Mulrooney has been named Lock Haven University's new head football coach". The Express. February 1, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  3. ^ "ECFC Announces Major Award Winners and All-Conference Honorees". Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  4. ^ "2021 Football Schedule". Anna Maria College. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  5. ^ "Steve Croce Named AMCAT Head Football Coach". Anna Maria. January 31, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2023.
  6. ^ Brennan, Kyle (July 26, 2022). "Kingsley ready for his first season as Amcat offensive coordinator". My Citizens News. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  7. ^ "ECFC Announces Major Award Winners and All-Conference Honorees". Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. November 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  8. ^ "2022 Football Schedule". Anna Maria College. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "ECFC Announces Major Award Winners and All-Conference Honorees". Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. November 16, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2025.
  10. ^ "2023 Football Schedule". Anna Maria College. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  11. ^ "Anna Maria Head Football Coach Steve Croce Announces Retirement at Conclusion of the Season". Anna Maria College. October 17, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  12. ^ "Anna Maria College Names Tanner Kingsley As Next Head Football Coach". Anna Maria College. October 17, 2024. Retrieved February 3, 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Alfred State Football team wins ECFC title". Wellsville Sun. November 18, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "ECFC Announces 2024 All-Conference Honorees". Eastern Collegiate Football Conference. November 21, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  15. ^ "Anna Maria to Join MASCAC as Core Member in 2025-2026". Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. October 5, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  16. ^ "AmCats Top Owls in Season Opener". Westfield State University. September 6, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  17. ^ "Overtime? No problem for Bears". The Day. September 15, 2024. p. F1. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  18. ^ "Casaburi, Stassi Tie Records In Victory". State University of New York Maritime College. September 21, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  19. ^ Mahoney, Larry (September 28, 2024). "Anna Maria football outlasts Husson University". The Bangor Daily News. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  20. ^ Lessner, Chris (September 28, 2024). "Anna Maria College breezes past Husson in non-conference football action". Eastern Maine Sports. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  21. ^ "Gasbarro Collects Three Picks, Golden Bears Football Trounces Anna Maria, 44-10". Western New England University. October 5, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  22. ^ Atkinson, Sam (October 19, 2024). "Seniors lead the way in conference opener as Gallaudet celebrates Homecoming win". Gallaudet University. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  23. ^ "Football Bested by AmCats in Regular Season Finale". Dean College. November 2, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  24. ^ "Alfred State football wins ECFC title, advances to NCAAs". Olean Times Herald. November 17, 2024. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  25. ^ "2024 Football Schedule". Anna Maria College. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
  26. ^ "2025 Football Schedule". Anna Maria College. Retrieved June 24, 2025.