Jackolski (3 TDs), Anderson (4 INTs) lift SBU, 55-3

Had Stony Brook's football team stopped to consider the various permutations that might have affected their chances to win the Big South Conference, they could have taken the day off against Gardner-Webb on the assumption it all would come down to a showdown next week at Liberty for the league title and an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs.

"Our kids might have known about that indirectly, but it didn't come from me,'' coach Chuck Priore said yesterday.

After starting slowly for the third straight game and spotting the Runnin' Bulldogs a three-point lead after the first quarter at LaValle Stadium, the Seawolves put together their most complete performance of the season. They forced seven turnovers, including a school-record four interceptions by freshman cornerback Davonte Anderson, and got three touchdowns and 256 all-purpose yards from Brock Jackolski on their way to a 55-3 victory.

"As a coach, you smile when you get young men to accomplish their goals,'' Priore said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to bottle it.''

Priore's smile might have widened when it became evident that the day's events conspired to give Stony Brook (6-4, 5-0 Big South) a stranglehold on the league title and the playoff bid.

Obviously, a win over Liberty Saturday in Lynchburg, Va., would wrap it up. But a surprising 45-31 loss at Coastal Carolina (5-5, 4-1) dropped Liberty to 7-3, 4-1. That means the Seawolves could lose to Liberty by 37 or fewer points and still get the playoff bid based on a points-allowed tiebreaker if Coastal Carolina beats weak Charleston Southern and forces a three-way tie.

The best approach is to ignore the tiebreakers and take care of business on the field. "We come to every single game thinking we're going to win,'' said running back Miguel Maysonet, who rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. "You put up 55 points, and that's great momentum to go against Liberty.''

The key sequence came in the second quarter with the Seawolves leading 7-3. Anderson made a leaping interception of a deep sideline pass by Gardner-Webb quarterback John Rock, the first of five interceptions he threw. "All week we saw the quarterback loves to throw into coverage,'' Anderson said, "and the defensive line pressure was amazing.''

On the next play, Stony Brook quarterback Michael Coulter faked a handoff and threw a strike down the middle to Matt Brevi, who completed the 61-yard score for a 14-3 lead. "When we called it, I thought it had a chance,'' Brevi said. "The defense played us tight, and the safeties bit on the play-fake.''

By halftime, the Seawolves led 20-3. Jackolski fielded the second-half kickoff and swept up the right side behind blocks by Steve Schwicke, Maysonet and finally Brevi to go 94 yards untouched for a 27-3 lead.

"It was wide-open from the start,'' Jackolski said. "Brevi got off his block when Miguel killed his guy and went up the gap with me.''

Later in the third quarter, Jackolski scored on a 6-yard reception and a 19-yard run. He rushed for 131 yards on 15 carries to give him 1,027 yards rushing for the season, joining Maysonet (1,095) and giving the Seawolves the only pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Division I. Each has scored 12 touchdowns.

"Going to Liberty is going to be tough, but with the momentum from this game, our team is finally playing as a unit,'' Brevi said. "I think we have a really great shot.''