PAXTON, Mass. — The Anna Maria College Football team is back on campus, and the AMCATS are ready to prove themselves after being picked to finish in second place in the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) in a preseason poll by the coaches of the conference.
In 2022, the team went 5-4 for their second consecutive winning season. The AMCATS broke even in conference play going 3-3 on the season.
Leading the offense this season is West Springfield native Ryan Russell, as he enters into his junior year at Anna Maria. Russell finished fourth in the conference for passing yards with 681 (831 Total). Russell also recorded 7 touchdowns in 7 appearances last season.
Returning for his third season with the AMCATS is Wide Receiver Deandre Wallace who's coming off of an All-Conference Second Team season while also being named Anna Maria Colleges Athlete of the Year for the 2022-2023 school year. Last season Wallace ranked seventh in receiving yards (553), yards per game (61.4), receptions (39) and was tied for third with six touchdowns. Wallace was named the ECFC Rookie of the year in 2021 hauling in 44 reception an 870 yards.
Fullback Malik Kirnon is projected to be a standout for the AMCATS after a breakout season last fall. In just four games this season Kirnon tied Anna Marias record for sacks in a season helping him get ranked in the College Football Networks top ten Division 3 fullbacks entering the 2023 season.
Senior offensive lineman Max Cyr is coming off his first time on the all-conference first team. Cyr played in all nine games for the AMCATS. He was part of an offensive line that helped the AMCATS lead the league in total offense (3821), passing offense (2799), touchdowns (43) and points (295). Cyr is expected to play an integral role in the AMCATS offense this fall.
Defensive tackle Elijah Allston comes into his senior year after his second consecutive All-Conference season last year. In nine games, Allston had 31 total tackles including two sacks. He had 12 solo tackles and 19 assisted. Defensive back Lamar Wilkes also coming off of an All-Conference season. Wilkes finished the year with 25 total tackles in nine games. He had nine solo tackles and 13 assisted and recorded one interception. Allston and Wilkes were part of defensive line that was ranked third in rushing yards per game allowed (199.1) and fourth in yards per game.
UP NEXT:
Anna Maria opens their season up against the Westfield State Owls on September 2nd at the Caparso Field in Paxton, MA.
