Football | 9/17/2024 7:35:40 AM
Alfred University wide receiver
Dion Anderson and the SUNY Cortland offensive line of
Kevin Whalen,
Aidan Glynn,
Ryan Bitka,
Jayden Lont and
Cody Aikey were named to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Anderson, a sophomore wide receiver from Buffalo, NY, broke the Alfred University school record for receiving yards in a single game with 279 on 10 receptions, scoring three third quarter touchdowns to lead the Saxons to a 64-28 win over Juniata College on Saturday afternoon.
Anderson, who had six catches for 95 yards in the opening half, began the third quarter with a 14-yard catch on Alfred's opening drive, putting him over 100 yards on the afternoon. His next three catches would be 32-yard touchdown, 67-yard score and 68-yard touchdown, all in a span of 6:20, giving Alfred an insurmountable lead. Anderson totaled 322 all-purpose yards as he added 32 yards on kick returns and 11 yards rushing.
Anderson leads all of Division III with 411 receiving yards and 205.5 receiving yards per game in 2024. He has already surpassed his yardage total from last season in the first two games of 2024.
Whalen, Glynn, Bitka, Lont and Aikey were part of a deep offensive line that led Cortland to finish with 663 yards of total offense, the second-highest total in school history, in a 70-7 win over visiting Lycoming on Saturday. The Red Dragons did not allow a sack and amassed 32 first downs on 72 plays, averaging 9.2 yards per play on the afternoon. Cortland threw for 443 yards, which included an 18-for-19 day from quarterback Zac Boyes over the first 32:52 of game time.
is the third consecutive season that the Cortland offensive line was honored as part of the D3football.com Team of the Week.
The offensive line has helped Cortland score 146 points in two games, which currently leads all of Division III and average 572 yards of offense per game in 2024, seventh best nationally, to date. The defending NCAA Division III Champion Red Dragons are averaging 253 rushing yards and 319 passing yards per contest.
Seven E8 teams are in action this weekend. Cortland, ranked second nationally, heads to No. 11 Susquehanna to for a battle of 2023 NCAA Tournament participants at noon. Alfred is on bye this week but returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 28 against Catholic University at 1 p.m.
2024 Empire 8 D3football.com Team of the Week Recipients
Sept. 17 (Week 2) - Dion Anderson, WR, Alfred
Sept. 17 (Week 2) - Kevin Whalen,
Aidan Glynn,
Ryan Bitka,
Jack McGrath, Cody Aikey, OL, Cortland
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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