Four from Fisher Football Named to All-Decade Team
Four former members of the St. John Fisher College football program have been named to the D3football.com 2000s All-Decade team (2000-2009). Tackle Brennan Fortune (‘08) was named to the Offensive Second Team. Running back Mark Robinson< (’07) was named to the Offensive Third Team, and cornerback Steve Stepnick (’08) along with linebacker Gene Lang ('07) were named to the Defensive Third Team.
Robinson, Fortune, Stepnick, and Lang were each a critical part of the 2006 football team, leading the team to the most successful season in the program’s history, highlighted by Fisher’s run to the Division III NCAA National Semifinal game where the squad fell to the defending champion, Mount Union, 26-14.
Fortune, a three-year starter at left tackle on the offensive line, was a dominant run-and-pass-blocker for the Cardinals throughout his career. He helped the Fisher offense average 35.2 points per game during his senior campaign. The 6-foot-3, 310 pounder was a First Team selection in the Empire 8 and the East Region in 2007. He was named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III Coaches All-America Team in 2007, serving as Fisher’s first ever representative on the team. He was also a member of the 2007 Aztec Bowl Squad that posted a 37-19 win over a team of Mexico's top collegiate players.
Robinson, a two-time All-American, finished his final season in 2006 with 1,570 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns. The tailback was selected as the East Region Offensive Player of the Year in 2006. At the end of his career, he ranked 13th all-time in NCAA Division III in scoring with 390 points on 65 touchdowns. He also ranked 17th all-time in Division III with 4,840 yards. The two-time ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American ended his career at Fisher ranked first in career totals for points, carries, yards, and touchdowns.
Stepnick, a four-year starter who finished his career as Fisher's all-time interceptions leader with 19 picks, including five in the 2007 season, ranked third on the team in his final season with 69 tackles (41 solo). He was recognized as a First-Team East Region performer and was also honored as the Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2007. The corner/safety, who was named as an ESPN The Magazine District I Academic All-American, also paced a Fisher secondary in 2007 that ranked among the national leaders with 25 total interceptions, and was an explosive open-field returner, averaging 16.0 yards per punt return and 25.4 yards as a kick-returner.
Lang, an inside linebacker, finished the season with 147 tackles and was named as the Empire 8 Conference's Defensive Player of the Year in 2006, registering 59 more tackles than any other player on the Fisher defense. The senior captain finished his career with 325 tackles, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries, and was a two-time D3football.com All-American.
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