Empire 8 Announces Football Athletes of the Week
Empire 8 Athlete-of-the-Week awards were handed out for the Week of Sept. 10-16. This week's honors were claimed by student-athletes from Buffalo State, Frostburg State and St. John Fisher College.
Football Offensive Player – Frostburg State
Ken Emmons, Sophomore, QB – Pennsville, NJ/Pennsville
Sophomore Ken Emmons accounted for 314 yards of total offense in Frostburg's come-from-behind 17-16 victory over Case Western. Frostburg started the game winning drive with 4:47 showing on the fourth quarter clock. On the second play of the drive, Emmons scrambled for 16 yards to the Bobcat 35. After three completions the Bobcats were at the Case 41 when Emmons again called his own number and scrambled for 32 yards to the nine. He ran for three yards on first down before converting the winning touchdown pass with 43 seconds left. He threw for 221 yards on 23-of-38 attempts and one touchdown. He also led all players with 93 rushing yards on 13 carries.
The Bobcats kickoff Empire 8 action this Saturday when they host Ithaca at Bobcat Stadium at 1:00 pm.
Football Defensive Player – Buffalo State
Pasquale Vacchio, Senior, LB – Glen Head, NY/North Shore
Senior Pasquale Vacchio recorded a career-best 19 tackles (five solo) in Buffalo State's 7-6 upset win at #1 University Wisconsin Whitewater. Vacchio and the defensive line limited the three-time defending national champions to just two field goals and 311 yards of total offense. The win by the Bengals snapped the Warhawks 46-game winning streak. Vacchio is ranked 19th in Division III, averaging 13.33 tackles per game.
Buffalo State will play its first-ever game as a member of the Empire 8 Conference when it hosts Alfred University (1-1) this Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
Football Special Teams Player – St. John Fisher
Mike Benderski, Senior, DL – Chittenango, NY/Chittenango
Senior Mike Benderski blocked two field goals on the day, including one in the fourth quarter with under five minutes left and the game tied at 14-14. The block was returned 72 yards for a touchdown to give Fisher the lead for good. Fisher won Courage Bowl VIII 20-16 over University of Rochester. Benderski’s first block of the game was on Rochester’s opening drive that resulted in a failed 37-yard attempt to keep the game scoreless.
Fisher will return to action at 4 p.m. next Saturday and will host Hartwick College in the Empire 8 season opener for both teams.