MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- Four members of the Union College football team have been named to the D3Football.com 2009 All-East Region Team. Guard
Colin Berry was named to the First Team Offense, linebacker
John Peters received Second Team Defense honors at linebacker, center
Tim Furcillo was selected for the Third Team Offense and punter
Blaise Ancona was named to the Third Team Special Teams.
The All-Americans will be announced by D3Football.com on Saturday, December 19, the day of the Stagg Bowl National Championship Game in Salem, VA.
Berry, Furcillo and Peters all were selected to the Liberty League All Star First Team. All three players also represented the North Team in the 2009 Division III Senior Football Classic on December 4 in Salem. Berry and Furcillo, starters at guard and center respectively, helped Union allow just nine sacks through the first nine games. Union was first in the league in total offense and second in the league in passing.
Peters is the East Regional Finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy (presented to the outstanding football player in NCAA Division III who exhibits excellence in athletics, academics and community service). He was also named to the ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America team and had 121 tackles in the 2009 season.
Ancona averaged 39.3 yards on 46 punts in the 2009 season. He was 22nd nationally in punting and led the Liberty League in punting by almost four yards per punt. He placed three punts inside the 20 in games vs. Muhlenberg and vs. St. Lawrence. He averaged 41.7 yards a punt on six punts vs. WPI, and averaged 43.3 vs. Ithaca. Ancona had five games with an average per punt of 40 yards or better.