Empire 8 Sweeps ECAC Weekly Football Honors
The Empire 8 Athletic Conference swept the Division III Northwest ECAC Player of the Week honors.
Offensive Player of the Week
Dan Griffin – Salisbury University
Senior, Quarterback, Jarrettsville, Md.
Quarterback Dan Griffin ran for ran for a career-high five touchdowns and a season-high 137 yards as No. 21 Salisbury defeated Utica, 63-23, to claim the Empire 8’s automatic bid to the NCAA tournament Saturday. He also threw for 47 yards. He had TDs of 2, 56 (SU's longest run of the year), 4, 2 and 1 yard, respectively. Griffin’s 30 points scored were six short of a tying a school record for points in a game and moved him within six of tying for the program’s all-time scoring mark. He ran 17 times for 8.1 yards per carry.
Defensive Player of the Week
Brian Garvey – Ithaca College
Junior, Cornerback, Franklin, Mass.
Garvey tied a school record with three interceptions in Ithaca's 28-7 win over Hartwick. It was part of a school-record six interceptions overall by the Bomber defense. Garvey returned his third interception of the day four yards for a touchdown. He also factored in on eight tackles.
Special Teams Player of the Week
Steven Gamble – Salisbury University
Sophomore, Linebacker, Rockville, Md.
Gamble blocked an extra point in No. 21 Salisbury’s 63-23 win over Utica to earn the Empire 8’s automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament Saturday. Gamble added four tackles, one for loss, a forced fumble and recovery and a pass broken up. It was the fourth blocked kick of the season for the Sea Gulls.