CAPE COD, MA -- Five members of the Union College football team have been selected to the 2009 ECAC Division III Northwest Football All Star Team. Union had the most players selected of any school in the ECAC Northwest Region.
The ECAC picks one team, and selects players for Offense, Defense and Special Teams. The Player of the Year was Alfred wide receiver Jared Manzer, and the Rookie of the Year was Andrew Benkwitt, a quarterback for Utica.
Senior offensive linemen
Colin Berry and
Tim Furcillo were named to the Offense lineup, while defensive back
Cam Johnson and linebacker
John Peters earned Defense honors. Punter
Blaise Ancona was named to the Special Teams, the only punter selected.
Berry, Furcillo and Peters all were selected to the Liberty League All Star First Team and the D3Football All East Region 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 was 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.
Johnson started all season at safety. He had a 56 yard interception return vs. Salisbury. He had nine tackles and a 10 yard sack vs. Hobart, and also nine tackles vs. St. Lawrence. He posted seven tackles each against Muhlenberg and RPI. On the season, Johnson had 59 tackles, including 5.5 for losses of 47 yards, two sacks, two interceptions, four pass deflections and two forced fumbles.
Ancona, also a member of the D3Football All East Region Team, 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 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.