Football | 11/16/2023 12:56:23 PM
The Empire 8 Conference announced its 2023 Football All-Conference awards on Thursday, November 16. The awards are voted on by the league's head coaches. Empire 8 champion SUNY Cortland claimed four individual awards and had a league-best 20 players earn all-conference honors.
SUNY Cortland junior quarterback Zac Boyes was named the 2023 Empire 8 Offensive Player of the Year, while SUNY Brockport senior defensive back Raylens Boutin earned 2023 E8 Defensive Player of the Year honors. First-year defensive back Sam Cotton of Cortland was named the E8 Rookie of the Year. The Cortland Coaching Staff, led by head coach Curt Fitzpatrick garnered the E8 Coaching Staff of the Year award for a third straight year, while Cortland place kicker/punter Patrick Luby was named the Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight season.
Boyes in the midst of an incredible season for Empire 8 Champion Cortland, having completed 165-of-226 passes this season, a 73.0 percent completion percentage, 2,565 yards, 30 passing touchdowns and just three interceptions in 10 games. In addition, he has rushed 85 times for 505 yards and six rushing touchdowns. Boyes has four 300-yard passing games and has had five games with at least four touchdowns (passing or rushing) this season. Boyes is third nationally with a 209.6 passing efficiency rating, fourth in completion percentage, 12th in touchdowns and 14th in passing yards per completion (15.56).
Boutin, who was previously the 2019 Empire 8 Rookie of the Year and is now a three-time All-E8 first team selection, is the leader of a Brockport defensive unit that is second in Division III, allowing just 193.3 total yards per game. In addition, the Brockport defense is fifth in DIII, allowing just 125.3 passing yards per contest and sixth, allowing just 9.8 points per game. Boutin has 43 tackles, including 29 solo stops to go along with 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, a pair of interceptions and eight passes defended. In addition, Boutin earned All-E8 first team honors as an all-purpose player and return specialist. He is averaging 16.8 yards per punt return, which is sixth-best nationally with five returns over 30 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Cotton has enjoyed an excellent season for the Cortland defense, with 40 tackles (28 solo) to go along with a pair of interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble. On Nov. 4, Cotton had a season-high seven tackles and picked a pass in Cortland’s 41-17 win over Brockport that clinched the E8 Championship. He was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Nov. 7.
Luby earned his second straight Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Year accolade. He has excelled as both a kicker and punter for the Red Dragons in 2023. He is averaging 59.0 yards per kickoff with 45 touchbacks, while averaging 37.6 yards per punt with five of his 12 punts placed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
Fitzpatrick and his staff led the Red Dragons to their third straight Empire 8 Championship. Cortland earned the Empire 8’s automatic berth into the 2023 NCAA Championship Tournament, where they will travel to face Endicott College in the opening round on Nov. 18 at noon. Cortland is ranked fourth nationally, averaging 527.5 yards of offense per game and ninth in Division III, averaging 50.0 points per game. The Red Dragons enter the tournament having out-scored its opponents, 500-163 this season and are ranked No. 11 in the D3football.com national poll and 13th in the AFCA Division III Coaches poll. Cortland is making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
Both the Red Dragons and SUNY Brockport had 11 players earn All-Empire 8 first team accolades. SUNY Cortland wide receiver Cole Burgess earned All-Empire 8 first team honors for the fourth time in his collegiate career, while teammates Jaden AlfanoStJohn, JJ Laap, and Nick Lardaro in addition to Boutin, earned All-E8 accolades for the third time. Overall, nine student-athletes garnered All-Empire 8 first team accolades for the second time.
One member of each team was named that institution's representative on the 2023 Football Sportsman of the Year Team. The Empire 8 Conference emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete's experience in conjunction with an institution's educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
2023 Empire 8 Football All-Conference Selections
Offensive Player of the Year: Zac Boyes, Jr., QB, SUNY Cortland
Defensive Player of the Year: Raylens Boutin, Sr., DB, SUNY Brockport
Special Teams Player of the Year: Patrick Luby, Sr., K/P, SUNY Cortland
Rookie of the Year: Sam Cotton, Fr., DB, SUNY Cortland
Coaching Staff of the Year: SUNY Cortland, led by Head Coach Curt Fitzpatrick
Empire 8 First Team Offense
Zac Boyes, Jr., QB, SUNY Cortland
Jaden AlfanoStJohn, Jr., RB, SUNY Cortland
Peyton Nolan, Jr., RB, St. John Fisher
Jayden Prina, Sr., FB, SUNY Brockport
Nicholas Kalke, Sr., OL, SUNY Brockport
Scott Ochsner, Sr., OL, SUNY Brockport
Cody Aikey, Jr., OL, SUNY Cortland
Ryan Bitka, Jr., OL, SUNY Cortland
Joe Howard, Sr., OL, St. John Fisher
James Altenburger, Sr., TE, SUNY Brockport
Cole Burgess, Sr., WR, SUNY Cortland
JJ Laap, Sr., WR, SUNY Cortland
Nate Rath, Sr., WR, Hartwick
Raylens Boutin, Sr., All-Purpose, SUNY Brockport
Empire 8 First Team Defense/Special Teams
Danny Quinones, Sr., DL, Alfred
Nick Lardaro, Jr., DL, SUNY Cortland
Max Llewellyn, Jr., DL, SUNY Cortland
John Stroughn, Gr., DL, Utica
Joe Copp, Sr., LB, Alfred
Jack Winey, Jr., LB, SUNY Cortland
Mike Talbert Jr., Jr., LB, SUNY Brockport
Raylens Boutin, Sr., DB, SUNY Brockport
Kyle Haettich, Sr., DB, SUNY Brockport
Sam Cotton, Fr., DB, SUNY Cortland
Mark Noel, Sr., DB, SUNY Cortland
Omar Jarvis, Jr., DB, SUNY Morrisville
Nate Wigent, Sr., K, SUNY Brockport
Dan Giangrasso, Sr., P, SUNY Brockport
Raylens Boutin, Sr., Return Specialist, SUNY Brockport
Empire 8 Second Team Offense
Aaron Chase, Gr., QB, St. John Fisher
Ashton Capone, Sr., RB, SUNY Cortland
Gino Fontanarosa, Jr., RB, SUNY Brockport
Hank Ferguson Sr., FB, St. John Fisher
Joseph Delgado, So., OL, SUNY Brockport
Jacob Lucier, Sr., OL, SUNY Brockport
Kevin Whalen, So., OL, SUNY Cortland
Joe Martinucci, Sr., OL, St. John Fisher
John Aliberti, Sr., OL, Utica
Quamel Jarvis, Jr., TE, SUNY Morrisville
Nolan Slywka, Fr., WR, SUNY Brockport
Jarrell Chaney., Sr., WR, SUNY Morrisville
Peyton Ausfeld, Sr., WR, Utica
Sam Florio, Sr., All Purpose, Utica
Empire 8 Second Team Defense/Special Teams
Sam Maddi, Sr., DL, SUNY Cortland
Joseph Rodda, Sr., DL, SUNY Brockport
Jayson Thomas, So., DL, SUNY Brockport
Justin Anderson, Jr., DL, SUNY Morrisville
Evan Salvaggio Jr., Sr., LB, SUNY Morrisville
Joe Miscia, Sr., LB, St. John Fisher
Anthony Novello, Gr., LB, Utica
Louie Usera, Sr., DB, SUNY Brockport
Deorion Moore, Sr., DB, St. John Fisher
Terrance Toussaint, Gr., DB, Utica
Mike Baloga, Jr., K, SUNY Cortland
Freddie Callo, Jr., P, Utica
Peyton Ausfeld, Sr., Return Specialist, Utica
Empire 8 Third Team Offense
Steven Frerichs, Sr., QB, SUNY Morrisville
Max Freeman IV, Jr., RB, Alfred
Matt Brantley, Sr., RB, Utica
Matt Wagner, Sr., FB, Alfred
Alexander Rojek, Sr., OL, Alfred
Jack McGrath, Sr., OL, SUNY Cortland
Darrin Sloan, So., OL, SUNY Morrisville
Cole Williams, Jr., OL, SUNY Morrisville
Gordon Wester, Sr., OL, St. John Fisher
Omari Kendrick, Jr., TE, SUNY Cortland
Dion Anderson, Fr., WR, Alfred
Jacob Kelsey, Gr., WR, Alfred
Ethan Curtis, So., WR, St. John Fisher
Michael Escobar, Gr., WR, St. John Fisher
Ryan Romagnoli, Sr., All-Purpose, St. John Fisher
Empire 8 Third Team Defense/Special Teams
David Kelley, Sr., DL, SUNY Morrisville
Andrew Casanova, Sr., DL, St. John Fisher
Evan Gohringer, Sr., DL, Utica
Doug Simmons, Sr., DL, Utica
Ben Robinson, Sr., LB, SUNY Brockport
Jaden Martinez, Jr., LB, SUNY Cortland
Anthony Fasano, Gr., LB, Utica
Luke Winslow, Sr., DB, SUNY Cortland
Owen Lawler, Sr., DB, Hartwick
Nelon Priest, Gr., DB, Hartwick
Anai Brake, Jr., DB, SUNY Morrisville
Adam Mietz, Jr., DB, Alfred
Keenan Ollison, Sr., DB, Alfred
Corey Lichtman, Gr., K, Utica
Patrick Luby, Sr., P, SUNY Cortland
Joey Nare, Gr., Return Specialist, Utica
Empire 8 Sportsman of the Year
Nathaniel Castellanos, Sr., OL, Alfred
Vincent Daviero, Sr., LB, SUNY Brockport
Zack Thuesen, Sr., LB, SUNY Cortland
Noah Hurt, Sr., OL, Hartwick
Steven Frerichs, Sr., QB, SUNY Morrisville
Jacob Stewart, Sr., OL, St. John Fisher
Matt Brantley, Sr., RB, Utica
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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