E8 Announces Football Players of the Week
Empire 8 Athlete-of-the-Week awards were handed out for the Week of Oct. 1-7. This week's honors were claimed by student-athletes from Utica College, Alfred University and Salisbury University.
Senior quarterback Andrew Benkwitt of the Utica College football team was named the Empire 8 Conference Football Offensive Player of the Week. Benkwitt set school records for completions (38) and touchdown passes (6) Saturday as he passed for 398 yards overall in the Pioneers' 51-44 come-from-behind win over Buffalo State. Four of the TD passes came in the fourth quarter; including the tying score with 2:47 left and the game-winning score with 13 seconds left, as Utica rallied from 15 points down to win.
Benkwitt broke five different single game records for the Pioneers at Coyer Field, including most passes attempted (58), passes completed (38), total offensive plays (66), touchdowns thrown (6) and most total offensive yards gained (411/ 13 rush + 398 pass).
Benkwitt currently ranks eighth in the nation in total offense with an average of 345.60 yards per contest. He also ranks 24th in the country in passing efficiency (156.54).
The Pioneers' head into another key Empire 8 Conference contest at home on Saturday against Frostburg. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m.
Alfred University senior nose tackle Mike Raplee has been named Empire 8 Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his dominating performance in the Saxons’ Homecoming over Ithaca.
Raplee had eight tackles (five solo), which included 4 ½ sacks and another tackle for loss in Alfred’s 31-7 victory over the Bombers.
The 6-2, 245-pound Raplee led a Saxon defense that held Ithaca to 143 yards of offense, a little more than a third of what the Bombers had been averaging. Ithaca had a mere four yards of offense against AU after averaging 195 in its previous four games. Raplee’s 4 ½ sacks were among eight the Saxons registered against an Ithaca team that, coming in, had given up only five. His final sack of the day forced a fumble, which the Saxons recovered at the 30, leading to their final score of the day.
Through four games, Raplee has 34 tackles and leads the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (6 ½).
The Saxons (3-1, 2-0 Empire 8) are in action next on Saturday, Oct. 13, at 1 p.m. at home against St. John Fisher.
Salisbury University sophomore punter Kyle Hamby has been named Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week.
Hamby helped the Sea Gulls to a come-from-behind 28-17 victory over then-No. 8 St. John Fisher College on Saturday.
Hamby tied a career high with five punts and set another placing three inside the 20-yard line. The Laurel, Md., native averaged 44.6 yards per kick with a long of 51.
No. 9 Salisbury (4-1, 2-0) returns home to host Hartwick College on Saturday for Homecoming. Kickoff at Sea Gull Stadium is 1 p.m.