DANBURY, Conn. – The Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) announced its 2015 Division III Football North All-Star Team, as voted on by representatives from the region’s member institutions.
Matt Silva from Framingham State University collected the award for Offensive Player of the Year, while Springfield College's Max Nacewicz garnered Defensive Player of the Year honors. Adis Ojeda from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology was tabbed as the Offensive Rookie of the Year following a record-setting first season for the Engineers, and Endicott College’s William Rivera received the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Western New England University Head Coach Keith Emery was voted as the Coach of the Year by his peers within the region.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Matt Silva – Framingham State University, Sr., Quarterback
Silva capped his collegiate career by breaking records and positioning himself amongst the nation’s leaders throughout the year. The senior posted 2,990 yards of total offense in the regular season, threw for 39 touchdowns and rushed for three more. The quarterback established new school records for touchdowns in a game (6) and yards passing in a game (510) during the regular season en route to being named the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Silva was recognized for his accomplishments with the New England Football Writers’ Gold Helmet Award, as well as the 2015 Joseph P. Zabiliski Award, presented annually to the top offensive and defensive player in Division II and III by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Max Nacewicz – Springfield College, Sr., Linebacker
Nacewicz claims the 2015 Defensive Player of the Year honor after a regular season that saw him post 104 tackles (61 solo, 43 assisted), seven sacks and a pass breakup. The Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year owns the Springfield program record for tackles-for-loss (54) and sacks (34), while his 299 tackles are the third-highest career total in program history. Nacewicz earned national recognition for his efforts, as he was selected to the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team for the second-consecutive season.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Adis Ojeda – Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Fr., Running Back/Wide Receiver
In a standout first season, Ojeda turned in a whopping 1,305 rushing yards for 12 touchdowns in nine games, and also hauled in six receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown. His average of 145.0 rushing yards per game ranked second in the New England Football Conference, while his 13 total touchdowns tied for first in conference. He is the first freshman in MIT history to amass over 1,000 yards on the ground.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
William Rivera – Endicott College, Fr., Linebacker
Rivera established himself early, garnering 54 tackles in nine games played, including 36 solo stops. He led the Gulls in tackles and tackles per game (6.0), and also had two interceptions and a sack during his rookie season, as he earned New England Football Conference Rookie of the Year honors in addition to the award for ECAC Rookie of the Year.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Keith Emery – Western New England University
Emery led Western New England (10-0, 7-0 NEFC) to its first undefeated regular season in program history in 2015 with a 28-21, NEFC-title clinching victory over Salve Regina University on the last day of the season. Under Emery's leadership, Western New England was one of the most dominant and balanced teams on both sides of the ball in Division III during the regular season, ranking 11th nationally in total defense (256.9 YPG), 12th in scoring defense (11.6 PPG), 23rd in total offense (486.9 YPG), and 29th in scoring offense (39.5 PPG). Emery was recognized by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston for his efforts, as he received the 2015 Division III Coach of the Year award.
ALL-ECAC FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK:
Matt Silva – Framingham State University
RUNNING BACK:
Sam Pascale – Salve Regina University
Dan Andrews – The College at Brockport
FULLBACK:
James Ferrar – Maine Maritime Academy
WIDE RECIEVER:
Alex Hulme – Salve Regina University
Brad Garcia – Hartwick College
TIGHT END:
Mitch Gallagher – St. Lawrence University
OFFENSIVE LINE
Nico Aronson – Salve Regina University
Dillon Martin – Western New England University
Kenneth Vollaro – Western New England University
Vin Juliano – SUNY Cortland
Nick Stanfield – Framingham State University
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE:
Chyron Brown-Wallace – St. Lawrence University
Tarik Bennett – The College at Brockport
Nick Woodman – Utica College
Marcus Pettigrew – Westfield State University
LINEBACKER:
Max Nacewicz – Springfield College
Brandon Miller – St. John Fisher College
Sean Chinova – Mount Ida College
DEFENSIVE BACK:
Joe Rizzardi – United States Coast Guard Academy
James Holley-Grisham – St. Lawrence University
Leondre Simmon – St. Lawrence University
Alec Mortillaro – St. John Fisher College
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER:
Thomas Woodburn – Utica College
PUNTER:
Tyler Henning – United States Coast Guard Academy
RETURN SPECIALIST:
Darrien Myers – Trinity College
ALL-ECAC SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
QUARTERBACK:
Steven Ferreira – SUNY Cortland
RUNNING BACK:
Kenny Pierce – Massachusetts Maritime Academy
John Smith – Husson University
FULLBACK:
Keith Rodman – Springfield College
WIDE RECIEVER:
Kyle Reynolds – Union College
Tanner Williams – Hartwick College
TIGHT END:
Kyle Hastings – Ithaca College
OFFENSIVE LINE
Noah Drake – Salve Regina University
Bruce McKenty – University of Rochester
Ty McGrath – Bridgewater State University
Sam Hart – Amherst College
Matt Archer – Husson University
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jake Ceresna – SUNY Cortland
Logan Murphy – Ithaca College
Quentin Jones – Framingham State University
Gil Araujo – Middlebury College
LINEBACKER:
Brett McEvoy – Nichols College
Jake LaRovera – Union College
Kameron Knight – SUNY Maritime
DEFENSIVE BACK:
Obi Etuka – Western New England University
Carson Lassiter – SUNY Cortland
Matt Mangano – Framingham State University
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKER:
Diogo Dietrich – SUNY Maritime
PUNTER:
Matt Green – SUNY Cortland
RETURN SPECIALIST
Terrence Gibson – Worcester State University
ABOUT THE ECAC
In the 76 years since its inception, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) has emerged as the nation's largest Conference. The ECAC has grown considerably from its charter membership of 58, boasting over 300 member schools in Divisions I, II and III, ranging in location from Maine to Georgia, and westerly to Missouri. In the 2015-16 academic year, the ECAC will host nearly 100 championships in 32 men’s and women's sports as the sponsors of over 5,800 varsity teams and 111,000 male and female athletes. For more information, visit www.ecacsports.com.
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