Germinerio, Mangone headline D3football.com All-East Region Team
D3football.com released its 2017 All-Region teams on Tuesday evening, and the
East Region list is filled with Empire 8 players. Headlining the list of honorees are The College at Brockport sophomore quarterback
Joe Germinerio who was named East Region Offensive Player of the Year and
head coach Jason Mangone who was named the East Region Coach of the Year.
It marks the second straight year the East Region Offensive and Coach of the Year have been awarded to an Empire 8 recipient. In 2016, Alfred University quarterback Tyler Johnson and head coach Bob Rankl were honored.
Sixteen Empire 8 players earned All-Region recognition.
All players who earn regional recognition are considered for All-American honors. D3football.com will announce its All-American teams on Dec. 15.
FIRST TEAM
Germinerio was also named Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year earlier this year after leading the Green and Gold to a perfect 10-0 regular season record. He's thrown for over 3,000 yards this season, eclipsing the previous Brockport record for passing yards in a season during last weekends win over Delaware Valley.
Brockport center
Mark Sanchez and tackle
Adan Barrientos were also named to the First-Team offense after helping the Golden Eagles break records in total offense and scoring in 2017. The senior duo anchor an offensive line that averages over 200 yards-per-game on the ground.
On the defensive side of the ball, Brockport's
Jake O'Connell was placed on the First-Team as a safety. The senior has picked off seven passes this season which he's returned for 163 yards and two touchdowns. He's also recorded 48 tackles, broken up eight passes, and recovered a fumble.
Alfred University's
A.J. LiCata was recognized as the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year after leading the conference in tackles (105) during the regular season. He went on to add eight more tackles during the 2017 ECAC James Lynah Bowl to increase his total to 113 tackles in 2017 and 412 tackles in his career – a school record. He also completed 2017 with four interceptions and eight tackles for a loss.
Dan Appley recorded 64 tackles, 34 solo, with 7.5 sacks and 16 total tackles for loss in 11 starts for Cortland. Appley made 12 tackles at Framingham State and seven tackles each versus Alfred, St. John Fisher and Ithaca, and he registered five of his 13 quarterback hurries on the year in a win at Morrisville. In addition, Appley is the league leader and ranks second nationally in Division III with four blocked kicks.
SECOND TEAM
Caleb Ferdilus was another key member of the aforementioned O-line, helping create holes for Brockport ball carriers.
Jamar Rutledge earned honors for his special teams work as a kickoff and punt returner for Buffalo State. He led the league averaging 23.5 yards-per-kick return on 25 attempts, which included a 96-yard touchdown return at Morrisville State. He was also second in the league, averaging 10.3 yards-per-punt return.
Hartwick's
Koree Reed topped the league in reception yards (1,067) and reception yards per game (106.7). He was the only player in the conference to break to 1,000-yard mark. Reed was also second in receiving touchdowns (11) this season.
Four other Brockport defensive players in
Austin Dean, Alex West, Julius Mizro, and
Matt Szymanski (Third Team) were also honored by D3Football. That group combined for 30 of the teams nation-leading 59.5 sacks, making up of four of the top five on the team in that category. Mizro (4), West (2), and Szymanski (1) all picked off passes during the season as well, while Dean recovered a fumble against Wesley College in the NCAA Quarterfinals that he returned for a touchdown.
THIRD TEAM
Maleke Fuentes was recognized on the Third Team Offense after accumulating 1,456 total yards, including 1,319 yards rushing, ranking as the fifth-best rushing season in Alfred football history. He led the Saxons in scoring during the 2017 season with 84 points behind 13 rushing touchdowns.
Justin Morrison rushed for 965 yards and nine scores in his 10 games played this year for Brockport.
Hartwick's
Brad Garcia led the E8 in touchdown receptions with 14 and he was second in both reception yards (914) and reception yards per game (91.4).