Conference Announces Football Players of the Week
Empire 8 Athlete-of-the-Week awards were handed out for the Week of Oct. 22-28. This week's honors were claimed by student-athletes from Ithaca and Utica College.
Senior wide receiver Jeremy Meier of the Utica College football team continued his record setting year by adding Empire 8 Conference Player of the Week accolades to his resume.
Meier caught seven balls for a game-high 135 yards and two touchdowns as he helped the Pioneers secure their school-record fourth conference victory of the season on Saturday, setting up a first place showdown at No. 16 Salisbury on Saturday. He started the scoring with a first quarter touchdown to put UC on top 7-0 and he insured the victory with a fourth quarter touchdown grab, elevating the UC lead to 31-7.
He headed into the contest needing just three yards receiving to break the College's career receiving yards record set by Cody Elliot back in 2009. Meier now has 2,252 career receiving yards. He needs two more catches in the next two games to break the school-record for receptions in a career, which is also currently held by Elliot. Meier has 171 catches in four seasons.
Ithaca junior Skylar Griffenberg and Utica sophomore cornerback Shawn Mitchell were named Empire 8 Co-Defensive Players of the Week Monday
Griffenberg posted a career-best 14 tackles in a 21-14 victory over #7 Salisbury on Saturday. His 14 tackles included one tackle for loss. His efforts helped hold the Sea Gulls to 85 rushing yards below their season average. It is the first conference loss for the Sea Gulls since they joined the Empire 8 prior to the 2011 season.
Mitchell recorded both of his interceptions in the second quarter on Saturday, sparking the Pioneers to a 31-7 victory over Alfred. With the Pioneers on top 7-0, Mitchell's first interception led to a Utica touchdown, giving the home team a 14-0 advantage. His second INT led to the Pioneers next score, a 36 yard field goal as the first half clock expired to put UC on top 17-7. The two-sport standout (football, basketball) also recorded four tackles as the Pioneers topped Alfred for the first time in program-history.
Ithaca sophomore Sam Carney was named Empire 8 Football Special Teams Player of the Week.
Carney had two long punt returns that set up Ithaca touchdowns. His first big play was a 60-yard punt return in the first quarter that set the Bombers up first-and-goal from the two and Ithaca went on to take a 7-0 lead. In the third quarter, Carney returned a punt 35 yards to the 50 and it sparked an eight-play, 50-yard touchdown drive to put Ithaca ahead 14-0.
The Pioneers (6-2, 4-1 Empire 8), who are receiving votes in the D3football.com and AFCA National Polls, will wrap up regular season play against two nationally-ranked opponents Salisbury, on Saturday, and back home on Nov. 10th against St. John Fisher College.
Ithaca returns to action Saturday, Nov. 3 at home against Hartwick. That game begins at 1 p.m.