SALISBURY Md. – The No. 17 Salisbury University football team opens the 2026 season at home on Saturday, Sept. 12, welcoming McDaniel College to Sea Gull Stadium for the annual Gold Rush game. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
THE RUNDOWN
GAME NOTES
LIVE STATS
LIVE VIDEO
TICKETS
The Series: Saturday's matchup marks the fifth meeting between Salisbury and McDaniel on the gridiron. The Sea Gulls have won each of the last three meetings, including a 62-7 victory in Westminster last season. Salisbury renewed the series in 2023 after the programs had not met since 1998. SU earned a 59-20 victory in 2023 before posting a 69-13 win on Senior Day in 2024. The Sea Gulls followed that with last year's 62-7 victory, giving Salisbury a 3-1 advantage in the all-time series. McDaniel's lone win came in 1998, a 36-17 victory.
Last Time Out: Salisbury opens the 2026 season following a 10-2 campaign in 2025 that saw the Sea Gulls advance to the third round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs. SU earned a first-round bye before hosting and defeating No. 15 Endicott College, 35-28, in the second round. The Sea Gulls' season came to an end at Johns Hopkins in the third round. The Sea Gulls finished the 2025 campaign ranked among the nation's best, averaging 45.25 points and 484.3 yards of total offense per game. Salisbury rushed for 3,711 yards and 54 touchdowns while adding 2,100 yards through the air and 20 passing touchdowns.
The Captains: Seniors
Patrick Sheil and
Ben Pearch, along with junior
SyRus McGowan and junior
Dylan Lyerly, will serve as the 2026 team captains for the Sea Gulls.
Football — 17th | D3football.com Top 25, Week 1
Salisbury, the lone team in the Top 25 that did not see game action over the opening weekend, held its preseason spot at No. 17 with 213 points, sandwiched between No. 16 Berry (225) and No. 18 Hope (177).
Back in the Stadium: For the first time since 2024, Salisbury will open its football season at home. The Sea Gulls welcome McDaniel to Sea Gull Stadium for the annual Gold Rush game before remaining at home for the next two weeks against Washington and Lee and Catholic.
Key Returners: Salisbury returns several key pieces from last year's NCAA Tournament team, including senior defensive back
Patrick Sheil, junior defensive back
Dylan Lyerly, senior slot back
Dario Belizaire and junior quarterback
SyRus McGowan. McGowan enters his junior campaign after an impressive sophomore season at the helm of the Salisbury offense. The Queen Anne's product generated 430 yards of offense and four total touchdowns in the 2025 season opener against Washington and Lee before helping lead the Sea Gulls to a 10-2 finish. Belizaire also returns to anchor the Salisbury offensive attack after a productive 2025 campaign, while Sheil and Lyerly headline a veteran defensive unit.
Scouting the Green Terror: McDaniel enters Saturday's contest with a 1-0 record after opening the season with a 13-7 victory over Catholic on Sept. 4. The Green Terror built a 13-0 halftime advantage and held on for the seven-point victory in their season opener. Sophomore running back Jason St. Leger led the McDaniel offense with 103 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Quarterback play came from sophomore Jayden Booker, who completed 11 passes for 135 yards while adding 52 rushing yards. The Green Terror defense held Catholic to just seven points and produced a strong performance in the opener. McDaniel forced multiple turnovers while limiting the Cardinals to 10 points in the game. McDaniel will look to carry the momentum from its season-opening victory into Salisbury, while the Sea Gulls will look to start the 2026 campaign with a victory in front of the home crowd.
Up Next: The Sea Gulls remain at Sea Gull Stadium next Saturday, Sept. 19, when they host Washington and Lee University at 1 p.m. The weekend will feature the Joe Rotellini Era Reunion. Salisbury will then welcome Catholic University on Sept. 26 for Youth Day and the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 Football Team.
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, 24 individual national championships, and 205 conference championships, and have produced 53 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.
