Football | 10/25/2022 3:09:02 PM
The SUNY Cortland offensive line, led by
Daquan Griffin, Ryan Bitka, Jon Kabes, Connor Hill and
Codey Aikey, along with SUNY Morrisville senior linebacker
Philemon Benjamin, Jr. were named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday, October 25. This is the seventh week at least one Empire 8 student-athlete has earned the weekly accolade in 2022.
The offensive line, along with tight ends
Mike Eglintine and
Jeff Halusic, helped pave the way for Cortland’s offense that gained 498 yards of total offense in the 48-21 win over previously unbeaten Utica University on Saturday. Each of the Red Dragons’ five linemen played every offensive snap. Cortland gained 287 yards on the ground (8.4 yards per rush) and 211 yards through the air (11.7 yards per pass attempt) and did not allow any sacks. The Red Dragons lost only one yard rushing when they took a knee on the game’s final play.
Through seven games this fall, Cortland is tied for third nationally in Division III in scoring at 52.0 points per game, eighth in total offense with 527.0 yards per game, and 15th in rushing offense with 240.7 yards per game. Griffin, Aikey, Bitka, Hill, Kabes and Eglintine have started all seven contests.
Benjamin, named the Empire 8 co-Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, led the Mustangs defensive unit to their second shutout victory of the season, a 36-0 win over Empire 8 foe Alfred University on Saturday. Benjamin registered nine total tackle with five solo stops, that included 2.5 tackles for a loss of four yards. In addition, he also recovered a fumble on a muffed punt return by Alfred that set up a Mustang score.
Morrisville's
Ernesto Mitchell is the lone E8 student-athlete to earn D3football.com Team of the Week honors twice in 2022. Cortland's offensive line and Benjamin join the Alfred University duo of linebacker
Joe Copp and running back
Max Freeman IV, Cortland quarterback
Zac Boyes, cornerback
Joshua Cordero and return specialist
Rashad Tucker, St. John Fisher defensive back
Deorion Moore, Utica quarterback
Braeden Zenelovic and place kicker
Corey Lichtman as Empire 8 student-athletes named to the D3football.com Team of the Week so far in 2022.
League play continues on Saturday, Oct. 29, as No. 10/13 SUNY Cortland heads to Alfred University wirh a chance to clinch the Empire 8 Championship. SUNY Morrisville hosts Utica and St. John Fisher hosts Hartwick. SUNY Brockport also takes on Buffalo State in a non-league showdown.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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