2016 ECFC Weekly Release #3

2016 ECFC Weekly Release #3

 

MEDIA CONTACT: STEPHANIE SCARPATO

stephanie.scarpato@gmail.com 

www.easterncollegiatefootball.com

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEPTEMBER 19th, 2016

MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) weekly awards were announced for games through Sunday, September 18th.  John Smith (Fayettesville, Ga.) of Husson University was named Offensive Player of the Week, while Norwich University’s Tyler Bates (Marblehead, Mass.) earned Defensive Player of the Week honors. Spencer Maples (Kempner, Texas) of Gallaudet University and Matthew Murphy (Seaford, N.Y.) of Maritime (N.Y.) earned Rookie of the Week and Special Teams Player of the Week, respectively, for their performances over the weekend.

 

Offensive Player of the Week

John Smith – Husson University
(Junior, RB - Fayetteville, Ga.)

Smith tore through the Dean defense Friday night, averaging just under 7.2 yards per carry en route to his fifth career 200-yard rushing day while being responsible for four of the six Husson touchdowns in the Eagles’ first night home win since 2007. The junior tailback finished the 43-23 victory over the Bulldogs with 39 rushes for a new single-game record of 280-yards with four touchdowns, while catching two passes for 25-yards giving him a single-game record of 305 all-purpose yards gained. With the 280-yards on the ground Smith recorded his 18th career 100-yard rushing game passing Julius Williams for the most in program history. Smith wasn't done setting school records under the lights of the Winkin Sports Complex as he became the first tailback in program history to have nine straight 100-yard rushing games.

Defensive Player of the Week

Tyler Bates – Norwich University
(Senior, D - Marblehead, Mass.)


Bates had a solid defensive weekend for the Cadets, posting six total tackles alongside a two-yard sack that resulted in a safety, a tackle for a loss of two yards and a 30-yard interception return against WPI. Additionally, he helped to force a fumble later in the game, resulting in a recovery by Norwich. Across a four-year career, Bates has racked up 67 total tackles in 26 games played.

Rookie of the Week


Spencer Maples – Gallaudet University
(Freshman, RB - Kempner, Texas)

Maples led the Bison offense with 179 yards of all-purpose yardage as Gallaudet lost 21-6 at Greensboro College last Saturday. Maples led GU with 57 receiving yards on three catches, fielded three kickoffs and returned them 55 yards (18 yards per return) and was third on the team in rushing with 67 yards on eight carries (8.4 yards per carry). He scored Gallaudet's lone touchdown on an 11-yard run in the second quarter. His longest rush of the game was a 16-yard run during the 14-play touchdown drive in the second quarter. That rush got Gallaudet into the red zone for the first time during the game. Maples returned Greensboro's first kickoff in the third quarter 32 yards. He caught a 22-yard pass in the fourth quarter, his longest reception in the game. 

Special Teams Player of the Week


Matthew Murphy – Maritime (N.Y.)
(Junior, K - Seaford, N.Y.)


Junior placekicker Matthew Murphy led the ECFC in kickoff yardage this week as he averaged 64.0 yards per kickoff. All five of where Murphy's kickoffs began were sent to the one-yard line (3), or within the end zone (2), to pin Merchant Marine deep in their own territory. Murphy also converted on both of his field goal attempts from 26 and 32 yards to get Maritime's scoring started, before knocking both of his extra points through the uprights to help Maritime seal the victory in the fourth quarter.