KILLINGWORTH, Conn. — The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) has released its weekly award winners for games played through Saturday, September 2.
The following student-athletes have been honored for their standout performances.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Russell (West Springfield, Mass.), Anna Maria, Jr., QB
- Russell was responsible for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) in Anna Maria's 51-26 win over Westfield State
- Threw a career-high five touchdown passes on 26 completions (career-high 423 yards)
- Averaged 9.8 yards per completion on the day
- First career ECFC Offensive Player of the Week honor
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Austin Roy (Blackstone, Mass.), Dean, Sr., DL
- Compiled eight tackles (five solo), including three sacks (4 TFL, 31 yards), and three forced fumbles as the Bulldogs defeated Fitchburg State, 33-17
- All of his stats listed above were career-highs
- Leads all of D3 in forced fumbles and is tied second in sacks
- Named to D3football.com Team of the Week earlier today
CO-ROOKIES OF THE WEEK
Tyler Buxton (Middlebury, Vt.), Vermont State Castleton, Jr., DB
Kevin Smith Jr. (Liberty City, Fla.), Dean, Fr., LB
BUXTON
- Notched a career-high five tackles (three solo, 0.5 TFL) in his collegiate debut which the Spartans won over Plymouth State 25-21 (only second victory in last seven meetings)
- Also forced and recovered a fumble that led directly to a Castleton touchdown in the third quarter (5:56, trailing 14-12)
SMITH JR.
- Registered a game-high 11 tackles (three solo, 0.5 TFL) in his first collegiate game
- Added one pass break up to his stat line on the day
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ryan Kent (Marlton, N.J.), Anna Maria, Sr., K
- Totaled nine points in the AMCATS blowout victory against Westfield State
- Connected on a 24-yard field and made 6-of-7 extra point attempts
- Logged 475 yards on nine kickoffs (52.8 average)
- Had one punt for 35 yards, which was downed at the Owls' 11-yard line
Week One Scores
Saturday, September 2
Keystone 27, Gallaudet 6
Anna Maria 51, Westfield State 26
Dean 33, Fitchburg State 17
Alfred State 24, Misericordia 14
Vermont State Castleton 25, Plymouth State
About the ECFC
The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference was formed in the spring of 2009 as an NCAA Division III single-sport football conference. The conference, named after the geographic location of the institutions began competition in the fall of 2009.
Current members are Alfred State College (Alfred, NY), Anna Maria College (Worcester, MA), Dean College (Franklin, MA), Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.), and Vermont State Castleton (Castleton, VT.)
The mission of the conference is to:
- Promote intercollegiate varsity football as an integral part of the educational experience of all competitors.
- Establish a conference schedule and determine a conference championship that will represent the conference as the automatic qualifier to the NCAA national tournament.
- Adopt sportsmanship, fair play, moral integrity, and competitive excellence as cornerstones of the conference.
