KILLINGWORTH, CONN. — The Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) has released its weekly award winners for games played through Saturday, September 3.

The following student-athletes have been honored for their standout performances.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nathan Cisco (Franklin, Tenn.), Dean College, Jr., QB

• Completed 12 of his 14 pass attempts for 208 yards and two touchdowns
• Made his NCAA Division III debut in the second quarter with Dean trailing 7-0
• His first touchdown pass evened up the contest at 21-21 in the third (00:49), while his second touchdown gave the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 28-27, with 6:23 left to play in the matchup versus Fitchburg State
• Sandwiched 10 straight completions in between his two misses, which included both TD passes

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nuhsar Mike (Syracuse, N.Y.), Alfred State College, Jr., LB

• Guided the Pioneers' defense in their 17-14 season-opening victory against Misericordia
• Notched a conference-high 14 tackles (10 solo, 4 assisted, 1 TFL) on the week
• His 10 solo tackles also ranked first among all student-athletes in Week One
• Third career game with 10 or more stops (second-most, 21 career-high, 11/20/21)

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Rylie Van Fleet (Endwell, N.Y.), Alfred State College, Sr., S/P

• Played a major role in the field position matchup against Misericordia
• Compiled 251 yards punting on seven attempts (35.9 average), three of which were pinned inside the 20
• Booted a career-best 65-yard punt to open the second half
• Added four punt returns (16 yards, 4.0 average) and six tackles (second-most on team) in the win

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Will Stafford (Whitman, Mass.), Dean College, Fr., RB

• Produced 59 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 19 attempts (3.1 average) in his collegiate debut
• Both of his short-yardage scores tied up the contest at the time (2nd Qt., 4-yards, 7-7 | 3rd Qt., 3-yards, 14-14)
• Stafford's longest rush of the game was 13 yards, which helped the Bulldogs convert a 3rd-and-2 situation prior to his second score of the contest
• Three of his rushing attempts resulted in first downs

Week One Scores

Friday, September 2
Fitchburg State 33, Dean 28 — Box Score/Recap

Saturday, September 3
Waynesburg 52, Gallaudet 14 — Box Score/Recap
Hartwick 31, Maritime (N.Y.) 10 — Box Score/Recap 
Alfred State 17, Misericordia 14 — Box Score/Recap 
Wilkes 48, Keystone 21 — Box Score/Recap
Plymouth State 20, Castleton 7 — Box Score/Recap 

NOTE: Defending ECFC Champion Anna Maria had a Week One bye

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), Castleton University (Castleton, VT.), Dean College (Franklin, MA), Gallaudet University (Washington, D.C.), Keystone College (La Plume, PA), and Maritime College State University of New York (Throggs Neck, NY).

The mission of the conference is to:

1. Promote intercollegiate varsity football as an integral part of the educational experience of all competitors. 
2. Establish a conference schedule and determine a conference championship that will represent the conference as the automatic qualifier to the NCAA national tournament.
3. Adopt sportsmanship, fair play, moral integrity, and competitive excellence as cornerstones of the conference.