The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference announced its 2011 all-conference teams following a vote of the conference coaches. A total of 95 student-athletes received recognition after the completion of the regular season. Senior running back Johrone Bunch from Mount Ida was named Offensive Player of the Year while a pair of junior defenders, Maritime linebacker Keith Barnes and Mount Ida defensive lineman A.J. Knibbs shared Defensive Player of the Year accolades. Norwich kicker Long Ding was named the leagues Special Teams Player of the Year for the second consecutive season while Gallaudet's Quentin Williams collected Rookie of the Year and Norwich's Rob Sturgis was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year.
ECFC OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Mount Ida senior running back Johrone Bunch ends
his career as the conference's all-time leading rusher. In nine
contests, Bunch ran for 1465 yards on 257 carries for an average of
5.7 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns. The nation's second leading
rusher with 163 yards per game, Bunch can surpass his own ECFC
single season record of 1613 rushing yards set in 2009 with 149
yards Saturday in the ECAC North Atlantic Bowl.
ECFC Co-DEFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Maritime junior linebacker Keith Barnes earned
ECFC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive
season. Barnes, who was named Maritime's most valuable player this
season, ranks 12th nationally in solo tackles (68) and posted 88
tackles, nine for loss, with three sacks two forced fumbles and two
interceptions.
Mount Ida junior defensive end A. J. Knibbs is among the national leaders with nine sacks this season. Knibbs, who recorded 41 tackles, including 13 for loss of 66 yards, added a forced fumble, five pass breakups and one blocked kick.
ECFC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Norwich kicker Long Ding earned ECFC Special
Teams Player of the Year for the second straight year. The senior
has made 33 of 34 PAT attempts and 12 of 15 field goals including a
51-yarder. The senior from Qing Dao, China who handled
place-kicking and punting duties this season, ranks first in ECFC
in made field goals and field goal and extra point accuracy and
earned October recognition from Fred Mitchell Award for his on and
off field success.
ECFC OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE YEAR
Norwich senior Rob Sturgis anchors an offensive
line, as starting center, that blocks for a rushing offense that
ranks No. 6 in Division III and leads ECFC in yards per game.
Sturgis leads a front line unit that has surrendered only four
sacks in 10 games ranking second in Division III for fewest
allowed.
ECFC ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
As a freshman, Gallaudet standout Quentin
Williams had a huge impact right away for the Bison.
Playing running back and quarterback at times, Williams ranked 6th
in the ECFC in rushing yards per game (87.0), scored seven rushing
touchdowns and one passing touchdown. The freshman also returned
kicks ranking third in Division III nationally with 32.6 yards per
kick return including two touchdowns. The rookie had a career long
86-yard touchdown run against Castleton and amassed 234 rushing
yards on 20 carries in just 18 minutes against the Spartans before
having his season end in his team's eighth contest with an injury
in the second quarter.
ECFC COACH OF THE YEAR
Norwich head coach Mark Murnyack was honored as
the ECFC Coach Of The Year award after leading the Cadets to the
ECFC title with a perfect 7-0 conference mark and an automatic
berth to the NCAA Division III Championship.
ECFC all-conference selections are determined by a vote of the conference coaches. Additional players honored are due to ties in the voting.
2011 ECFC All-Conference Teams
Offensive Player of the Year | ||
RB | Johrone Bunch, Mount Ida | Sr. |
Co-Defensive Players of the Year | ||
LB | Keith Barnes, Maritime | Jr. |
DE | A.J. Knibbs, Mount Ida | Jr. |
Offensive Lineman of the Year | ||
OL | Rob Sturgis, Norwich | Sr. |
Special Teams Player of the Year | ||
K | Long Ding, Norwich | Sr. |
Rookie of the Year | ||
RB/QB | Quentin Williams, Gallaudet | Fr. |
Coach of the Year | ||
Mark Murnyack, Norwich |
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Honorable Mention
Anna Maria: Jason Campbell (DL, Fr.), Kevin Card (LB, Fr.), Brian Conneely (OL, So.), Jordan Koehler (LB, So.), Kevin McCoy (DB, So.), Jamal Mitchell (K, Jr.), Robert Small (RB, So.) Becker: Chad Bacon (K, Fr.), Robert Baker (QB, Jr.), Corinthian Bostic (WR, Fr.), Vincent Cawley (FB, Fr.), Eric Glynn (P, Jr.), Kyle Gregg (RB, Fr.), Tino Lopes (DL, Sr.), Tevin Loyd (DB, So.) Castleton: Brandon Bergeron (RS, Jr.), Cameron Laundry (DL, Jr.), Ethan Macura (DL, So.), Zack Waitkus (WR, Jr.) Gallaudet: Shelby Bean (P, Jr.),Tyler Snider (OL, Fr.), Adham Talaat (DL, So.), John Van Wey (DL, Sr.) Husson: Kyle Bishop (P, Fr.), Audie Murphy (RS, Jr.) Maritime: Gary Bigham (FB, So.), Andrew Cohen (OL, Jr.), Fritz Jean (RS, Jr.), Pat Lasher (LB, Jr.), Robert Marziliano (OL, So.), Ricky McClain (DL, Jr.), Steve Roman (DB, Sr.), Sean Wiggers (DB, Sr.) Mount Ida:Matt Bonomolo (OL, Jr.), Jovan Wilkins (RS, Fr.) Norwich: Dan Gogan (DB, So.), Jimmy Labell (LB, So.), Brandon Rudd (RS, So.), Kris Sabourin (QB, Jr.)