MEDIA CONTACT: STEPHANIE SCARPATO
www.easterncollegiatefootball.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SEPTEMBER 12th, 2016
MARSHFIELD, Mass. – The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) weekly awards were announced for games through Sunday, September 11th. Antoine McKinney (Racine, Wis.) of Gallaudet University was named Offensive Player of the Week, while teammates Shawn Benavente (Fremont, Calif.) and Spencer Maples (Kempner, Texas) garnered Defensive Player of the Week and Rookie of the Week accolades respectively. Brian Price of Maritime (N.Y.) earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance over the weekend.
Offensive Player of the Week
Antoine McKinney – Gallaudet University
(Sophomore, QB - Racine, Wis.)
McKinney was responsible for three touchdowns last Saturday as Gallaudet defeated Earlham College, 30-0. The victory snapped Gallaudet's 15-game losing streak. McKinney led the Bison with 57 yards rushing on seven rushes (8.1 yards per rush) and two second-half touchdowns. He threw a last-second touchdown before halftime to Spencer Maples from nine yards out as GU took a 14-0 lead into halftime. In the third quarter, McKinney scored from 13 yards out and in the fourth quarter he scored from 11 yards out.
Defensive Player of the Week
Shawn Benavente – Gallaudet University
(Senior, DE - Fremont, Calif.)
Benavente anchored Gallaudet's defense last week as the Bison recorded their first shutout in five seasons in a 30-0 win over Earlham College. He made four solo tackles, three tackles for a loss of 26 yards and recorded two sacks for a loss of 23 yards on back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter. Benavente also had two quarterback hurries as the Bison defense got into the Quakers' backfield constantly throughout the day.
Rookie of the Week
Spencer Maples – Gallaudet University
(Freshman, RB - Kempner, Texas)
Maples was Gallaudet's leading receiver and third leading rusher as the Bison defeated Earlham College, 30-0, to snap a 15-game losing streak. Maples caught a nine-yard touchdown pass as time expired in the second quarter as GU took a 14-0 lead into halftime. He finished the game with three catches for 52 yards with a long of 27 yards. He ran the ball five times for 49 yards (9.8 yards per rush) with a long run of 17 yards.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Brian Price – Maritime (N.Y.)
(Senior, DB - New York, N.Y.)
Senior captain Brian Price had an all-around effort in Maritime's home opener on Friday night. Price had a blocked punt to open the second quarter as the turnover led to Maritime's first points on the evening. Price also had three kickoff returns for 62 yards, and one punt return for 10 yards. In addition to his special teams success, he finished third on the team with seven tackles and also had his first interception of the season deep in his own territory to stall the Mass. Maritime series.
