SALEM, Va. -- Two Mount Ida football players that received major awards from the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) have now been honored as being among the best in the region.

Senior Frank Civitello (West Haven, Conn.) and freshman D'Andre Smith (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.) were both selected to the D3Football.com All-East Region Teams, announced by the website on Monday evening.

Civitello earned a spot on the Third Team at the guard position, while Smith was also selected to the Third Team, as a special teams player on the defensive side of the ball.

The ECFC Offensive Lineman of the Year, Civitello was a First Team All-Conference selection for the second consecutive year. He finishes a four-year career as the cornerstone of an offensive line that this year protected for Mustangs running backs that averaged 123 yards per game on the ground.

D'Andre Smith was an electric addition to the Mount Ida defense and special teams play this year. As a special teams returner, he averaged 34.1 yards per kick return, good for 3rd in the nation. He also blocked three kicks on the defensive end of the special teams spectrum, and was named ECFC Rookie of the Year. 

As a cornerback, Smith's ability to find the ball and make big plays made him a critical part of a strong passing coverage. He was consistently covering the opponent's best receiver and had a team-high six pass breakups to go with two fumble recoveries and an average of more than five tackles per game. 

This is the fourth consecutive season that the Mustangs have had a player named to the D3Football All-Region Team, and the first time in that span that two Mount Ida players have been selected. 

The Mustangs compiled a 5-5 record this year and led the nation in passing defense, allowing just 89.1 yards per game through the air.