E8 Announces Football Players of the Week
Empire 8 Athlete-of-the-Week awards were handed out for the Week of Sept. 24-30. This week's honors were claimed by student-athletes from Ithaca College, Buffalo State and Salisbury University.
Football Offensive Player – Ithaca
Phil Neumann, junior, QB – Burnt Hills, NY/Burnt Hills-Ballston Spa
Junior Phil Neumann hit career-high performances to lead the bombers to a 40-22 victory over conference opponent Utica. Neumann hit career-highs in passing yards (310) and completion percentage (78.1) and the Bomber offense didn't commit a turnover as Ithaca improved to 4-0 on the season and 2-0 in Empire 8 play with a 40-22 win over Utica at Butterfield Stadium. He completed touchdown passes of four and 29 yards in the game and led two second-half touchdown drives that put the game out of reach. The first was a 13-play, 95-yard drive and the second was a 14-play, 82-yard march. It's the first time that Ithaca has scored 40 or more points in back-to-back games since October of 2008
The Bombers return to the turf Saturday, Oct. 6 at Alfred at 1 p.m.
Football Defensive Player – Buffalo State
Paul Vacchio, Senior, LB – Glen Head, NY/North Shore
Senior Pasquale Vacchio recorded a career-high 12 solo tackles against No. 11 Salisbury, limiting the Sea Gulls to 14 offensive points. Vacchio had 18 total tackles, one shy of tying his career-high from two weeks ago. The linebacker is ranked 10th in Division III, averaging 13.20 tackles per game.
Buffalo State will play its third-consecutive home game next Saturday when it welcomes Utica for a 12:05 kickoff.
Football Special Teams Player – Salisbury University
Joey Buckley, Junior, DL – Chester, MD/Kent Island
Salisbury junior defensive lineman Joey Buckley posted the game-winning touchdown in the No. 11 Sea Gulls’ 20-7 win at Buffalo State to open Empire 8 play. Buckley blocked Buffalo State punter Joe Going’s second-quarter kick on the Bengals 3-yard line and ran it into the end zone for a 13-0 lead.
Salisbury travels to St. John Fisher College to face the Cardinals at noon this Saturday.