The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference announced its 2009 all-conference teams following a vote of the conference coaches. A total of 82 student-athletes received recognition after the completion of the league's inagural season.
Mount Ida sophomore running back Johrone Bunch was named Offensive Player of the Year while teammate Kyle Watkins was named Special Teams Player of the Year. Norwich senior defensive end Reza Afsarmanesh was selected as the Defensive Player of the Year while Gallaudet's Tom Pangia and Norwich's Kris Sabourin shared Rookie of the Year honors.
Gallaudet head coach Ed Hottle was honored as the ECFC Coach Of The Year award after leading the Bison to a 4-2 conference mark and 6-4 record overall. The Bison tied for second place in the ECFC and Hottle coordinated a four win improvement over a season ago. His squad was second in the conference averaging 290 yards rushing per contest and averaged 24.2 points per game.
View Complete All-Conference Teams
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Offensive Player of the Year
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Defensive Player of the Year
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Special Teams Player of the Year
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Co-Rookies of the Year
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Mount Ida sophomore running back Johrone Bunch
averaged 150.6 yards on the ground and scored 13 touchdowns setting
school records in each category. Bunch ran for 217 yards at Becker
and 351 yards and five touchdowns against Castleton in back to back
conference games this season. The 351 yard performance was the
highest single rushing effort this season in division III. The
sophomore has also played quarterback and receiver as well as the
team's punter
Norwich senior defensive end Reza Afsarmanesh was
ranked among the league leaders in sacks (6), tackles for loss
(14.5), forced fumbles (3), and tackles per game (7.0). The native
of Sunrise, Florida recorded 10 tackles with two sacks and a forced
fumble in a 14-7 win over Gallaudet and had nine tackles with a
forced fumble in a 15-3 victory over Maritime.
Mount Ida kick return specialist Kyle Watkins has
been outstanding this season and throughout his career as a Mustang
returning kicks. The senior from New Haven, Conn. is currently in
the top 10 in kick returners nationally. This season Watkins
returned two kickoffs for touchdowns including an 85 yarder in a
pivitol conference win versus Husson University. Watkins holds the
school return records for punt return yards (412), punt returns
(41), and kick return touchdowns (4).
As a middle linebacker for the top-ranked ECFC defense, freshman
Gallaudet's Tom Pangia helped the Bison to the
15th best defense in Division III allowing 250 yards per game.
Pangia ranks 12th in the ECFC with 66 tackles, tied for the most by
a freshman in the conference, and ninth in the ECFC for tackles for
loss (0.70 per game).
Posting a 7-1 mark as a starter, Norwich's Kris
Sabourin directed the Cadet offense rushing for 60.7 yards
per game while scoring two TDs while throwing for 4 others. The
rookie quarterback rushed 103 times this year for 546 yards and
attempted 103 passes completing 35% for 420 yards.2009 All-ECFC Teams
Offensive Player of the Year
Johrone Bunch, Mount Ida
Defensive Player of the Year
Reza Afsarmanes, Norwich
Special Teams Player of the Year
Kyle Watkins, Mount Ida
Co-Rookies of the Year
Tom Pagnia, Gallaudet
Kris Sabourin, Norwich
Coach of the Year
Ed Hottle, Galludet
| FIRST TEAM OFFENSE | ||
| QB | Shane Brozowski, Castleton | Fr. |
| RB | Johrone Bunch, Mount Ida | So. |
| RB | Julius Williams, Husson | Sr. |
| FB | Jamie Spanopoulos, Maritime | So. |
| WR | Evan Cassidy, Castleton | Fr. |
| WR | Ryan Grillo, Becker | Sr. |
| WR | Kyle Watkins, Mount Ida | Sr. |
| TE | Nick Lynch, Mount Ida | So. |
| OT | Jon Benson, Husson | Sr. |
| C | Matt Cirella, Marititime | Sr. |
| OL | Michael Horn, Mount Ida | Sr. |
| C | William Jacobs, Gallaudet | Sr. |
| OT | Robert Jr. Johnson , Maritime | Sr. |
| K | Jamal Mitchell, Anna Maria | Fr. |
| RS | Kyle Watkins, Mount Ida | Sr. |
| SECOND TEAM OFFENSE | ||
| QB | Anthony Gagliano, Maritime | So. |
| RB | Nate Adames, Anna Maria | Fr. |
| RB | Tyler Carpenter, Castleton | Fr. |
| FB | Danny Triplett, Norwich | Fr. |
| WR | Domenique Concepcion, Anna Maria | Fr. |
| WR | Chris Denton, Norwich | Fr. |
| WR | Philip Hayes, Gallaudet | So. |
| TE | Ryan Mercado, Becker | Sr. |
| OG | Frank Adamo, Maritime | Jr. |
| RG | Benjamin Bottoms, Gallaudet | Sr. |
| OL | Cameron Coe-Smith, Becker | Jr. |
| LT | Chris Marden, Norwich | Jr. |
| C | Rob Sturgis, Norwich | So. |
| OL | Michael Walsh, Maritime | Sr. |
| K | Justin Wilson, Gallaudet | Sr. |
| RS | Evan Cassidy, Castleton | Fr. |
| FIRST TEAM DEFENSE | ||
| DE | Reza Afsarmanesh, Norwich | Sr. |
| DT | Joshua Doudt, Gallaudet | Sr. |
| DL | Eli Shuler, Mount Ida | Fr. |
| DL | Zach Sucharski, Norwich | Jr. |
| LB | Rocco DiMeco, Norwich | Jr. |
| LB | Bobby Gilbert, Husson | Sr. |
| LB | Michael Oehl, Maritime | Sr. |
| LB | Tom Pangia, Gallaudet | Fr. |
| DB | Julien Baptiste, Mount Ida | Jr. |
| S | Donovan Brown, Norwich | Sr. |
| FS | Ryan Leary, Maritime | Sr. |
| S | Jared Vollmar, Gallaudet | So. |
| P | Johrone Bunch , Mount Ida | So. |
| SECOND TEAM DEFENSE | ||
| DT | Kevin Allen, Gallaudet | Fr. |
| DT | Rob Gorgy, Maritime | So. |
| DT | Ricky McClain, Maritime | Fr. |
| DE | Andrew Nimmo, Maritime | Sr. |
| LB | Keith Barnes, Maritime | So. |
| LB | Rich Brandt, Anna Maria | So. |
| LB | Keenon Blindow, Husson | Sr. |
| LB | Calvin Doudt, Gallaudet | Sr. |
| LB | David Green, Mount Ida | Sr. |
| DB | Jake Bateman, Becker | Jr. |
| S | Shane Gardner, Mount Ida | Jr. |
| CB | Sean Wiggers, Maritime | So. |
| CB | Justin Wilson, Gallaudet | Sr. |
| P | James DeVoe, Castleton | Fr. |
| P | Brian Segit, Norwich | Jr. |
Honorable Mention
Becker: Tyler Barnes (DL,So.), John Dutchick (LB,So.), Austin Widmer (DL,Sr.); Castleton: Randy Babineau (RB, Sr.), Adam Farmer (TE, Fr.), Phil Hall (C, So.), Luis Robitaille (K, Jr.), Cody Tancreti (S, Fr.), Dustin Young (LB, So.); Gallaudet: Jimmy Gardner (QB, Sr.), Michael Gimeli (FB, So.), Phillip Hayes (RB, So.), Ryan Mahoney (OL, So.), Jon Van Wey (DE, So.); Maritime: John Gagliano (RB, Jr.), Steve Roman (SS, So.), Travis Scott (RB, Fr.); Norwich: Andrew Fulford (RB, So.), Joe Gumberwicz (LB, So.), Don Hanni(RG, Jr.), Dan Reale (LB, Jr.), Kris Sabourin (QB, Fr.), DJ Siverhus (CB, Fr.)
ECFC all-conference selections are determined by a vote of the conference coaches. Additional players honored are due to ties in the voting.