SALISBURY, Md. – The No. 21 Salisbury University football team returns to the road on Saturday, Oct. 17, traveling to Vermont State University Castleton for a New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Dave Wolk Stadium.
The Sea Gulls enter the contest at 4-1 overall and 1-1 in NJAC play after suffering a 26-21 setback to Rowan on Homecoming. Salisbury led 21-14 at halftime before Rowan scored 12 unanswered points in the second half to secure the victory. Castleton enters Saturday at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in conference play. The Spartans are looking to rebound after consecutive NJAC losses to Rowan and The College of New Jersey, including a 38-23 defeat to TCNJ last Saturday.
THE RUNDOWN
GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
The Series: Salisbury leads the all-time series 1-0 against Vermont State University Castleton. The Sea Gulls earned a 63-13 victory in the first meeting between the programs on Nov. 14, 2025, at Sea Gull Stadium. Salisbury dominated the contest from the opening quarter, building a 35-7 lead before halftime and adding 14 more points in the second quarter. The Sea Gulls continued to control the game after the break, finishing with a 50-point victory. Salisbury will look to extend its winning record against the Spartans when the teams meet again on Saturday in Castleton, Vermont.
Last Time Out: Salisbury fell to Rowan 26-21 on Oct. 10 at Sea Gull Stadium. The Sea Gulls built a 21-14 halftime advantage, but the Profs held Salisbury scoreless in the second half. Rowan scored the go-ahead touchdown with 56 seconds remaining before its defense stopped Salisbury's final drive on fourth down. Quarterback SyRus McGowan led the Sea Gull offense with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries, adding 146 passing yards. Dario Belizaire recorded three catches for 49 yards, while Brody Strachan hauled in four passes for 45 yards. Defensively, Dylan Lyerly paced Salisbury with 11 tackles. The Spartans dropped a 38-23 decision to TCNJ on Oct. 10. Castleton fell behind in conference play after opening the season with wins over Westfield State and Maine Maritime. The Spartans are 0-2 in NJAC play following losses to Rowan and TCNJ.
Scouting the Spartans: Castleton enters the matchup averaging 20.4 points and 241.6 yards of total offense per game. The Spartans have accumulated 1,208 yards through five contests, including 760 passing yards and 448 rushing yards. Quarterback RJ Monger leads Castleton through the air with 587 passing yards and four touchdowns. Monger has completed 62 of 102 attempts while throwing five interceptions. Running back Ryan Freund leads the Spartans on the ground with 289 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries. Freund averages 72.3 rushing yards per game and has provided a consistent presence in the Castleton backfield. Through the air, Ty Dowell leads Castleton with 19 receptions for 295 yards and a touchdown. Brody Tyburski has added 18 catches for 172 yards and a touchdown, giving the Spartans multiple options in the passing game. Defensively, Castleton has recorded nine sacks and forced eight turnovers, including four interceptions. Tyler Buxton leads the Spartans with 25 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, while Josh Cormier has added 29 tackles and six tackles for loss. The Spartans have allowed 28.2 points per game this season, making defensive stops and limiting Salisbury's explosive plays important priorities in Saturday's matchup.
Up Next: Following Saturday's contest at Vermont State Castleton, Salisbury returns to Sea Gull Stadium for Senior Day against Montclair State University on Saturday, Oct. 24. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
