E8 Announces Football Players of the Week
Empire 8 Athlete-of-the-Week awards were handed out for the Week of Sept. 17-23. This week's honors were claimed by student-athletes from Alfred University, St. John Fisher College and Ithaca College.
Football Offensive Player – Alfred University
Chuck Beckwith, Freshman, FB – Victor, NY/Victor
Freshman Chuck Beckwith ran for a career-high 177 yards and three touchdowns on eight carries in the Saxons' 40-17 defeat of 24th-ranked Buffalo State. Beckwith had TD runs of 51, 52 and 80 yards as the Saxons put up 401 yards on the ground against the Bengals.
The Saxons (2-1, 1-0 E8) are idle this weekend and return to action on Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m. against visiting Ithaca on Homecoming.
Football Defensive Player – St. John Fisher College
Troy Sant, Senior, DB – Pittsford, NY/Pittsford Mendon
Senior Troy Sant intercepted two passes in the first half and blocked a field goal in the final seconds of the second quarter, as nationally-ranked St. John Fisher cruised to a 43-13 win over previously-undefeated Hartwick. Sant was also in on five tackles (two solo) as the Cardinals improved to 4-0. The defensive back has four interceptions on the season, which ranks second in the Empire 8 and the NCAA.
Fisher is idle next week. The Cardinals will return to action at 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 6th when they host No. 8 Salisbury University in a pivotal Empire 8 showdown. Both Fisher and Salisbury advanced to the national quarterfinals last year.
Football Special Teams Player – Ithaca
Garrett Nicholson, Sophomore, Kicker – State College, PA/State College Area
Sophomore Garrett Nicholson kicked two field goals and added four extra points as the Bomber’s opened conference play with a 40-21 win over Frostburg State. The Bomber’s 40 points were their highest total in 30 games. Nicholson improved to 10-10 in point-after attempts in his first season as Ithaca’s kicker.
Ithaca returns to Butterfield Stadium for a 1 p.m. game against Utica on Saturday, Sept. 29.