Football | 11/18/2025 8:32:32 AM
Eight Empire 8 student-athletes, including Utica University's offensive line of
Mike Malzahn, Gavin Grech, ADante Bianchino, Aiden Olsen, Carson Tessitore, Utica safety
Eli Douglas, tight end
Logan Frederick of the Pioneers and St. John Fisher University linebacker
Kyle DaMore were named to the final 2025 D3football.com Team of the Week on Tuesday, Nov. 18. This season, 22 different Empire 8 student-athletes earned the prestigious weekly honor in 2025.
Utica's offensive line of Malzahn, Grech, Bianchino, Olsen and Tessitore delivered another outstanding performance in the team's 28-20 comeback win over SUNY Brockport in the rain and wind on Saturday, keeping a clean pocket as they allowed zero sacks and zero quarterback pressures, enabling quarterback Tyler Szalkowski to throw for more than 300 yards yet again. Utica's front five has been a major reason for the team's five-game win streak, as they've yet to allow a quarterback sack since Oct. 4 against Cortland, five weeks prior to Saturday's game. Utica's offense has averaged 36.6 points and 455.1 yards of offense per game this season.
Douglas, a senior safety from Ausable Forks, NY, ended the regular season in dramatic fashion during the Pioneers' 28-20 comeback win on the road against Brockport. The stellar safety was everywhere on Saturday, wrapping up eight tackles (four solo), three pass breakups, and a 78-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play from scrimmage to help cement the massive victory. Douglas led a defensive effort that held the Golden Eagles to just nine completions and exactly 100 passing yards during the regular season finale.
Douglas is among the national leaders with six interceptions to go along with 50 tackles on the season.
Frederick continued his tremendous season for the Pioneers, earning D3football.com Team of the Week honor for the third time in 2025. He posted another high-volume outing against Brockport as he racked up 11 catches for 92 yards, even while battling poor passing conditions against one of Division III's better secondaries. Frederick helped the Pioneers come from behind and steal a 28-20 win in the final few minutes.
Frederick is second in the Empire 8 with 63 receptions, 755 receving yards and 10 touchdowns.
DaMore, a junior from Manchester, NY, led the Cardinals' defense with a career-high 14 tackles, recorded a sack and snagged his team-leading second interception of the season in a 41-14 win over Alfred State. He now has 52 tackles (28 solo, 24 assisted), two interceptions and 1.5 sacks in 2025.
Four Empire 8 teams are in action on Saturday, Nov. 22 as the postseason gets underway. Empire 8 Champion SUNY Cortland begins NCAA Tournament play with a first round contest at Springfield College which begins at noon. Utica, St. John Fisher and SUNY Brockport are set to host ECAC bowl games. Utica hosts Rowan University in the Asa S. Bushnell Bowl from Gaetano Stadium at 1 p.m. St. John Fisher will take on Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute from Growney Stadium in the Clayton Chapman Bowl at noon, while SUNY Brockport hosts Geneva College in the Robert M. "Scotty" Whitelaw Bowl, also at noon.
Here is the complete 2025 Empire 8 football schedule.
2025 Empire 8 D3football.com Team of the Week Recipients
Nov. 18 (Week 11) - Mike Malzahn, Gavin Grech, ADante Bianchino, Aiden Olsen, Carson Tessitore, OL, Utica
Nov. 18 (Week 11) - Kyle DaMore, LB, St. John Fisher
Nov. 18 (Week 11) - Eli Douglas, S, Utica
Nov. 18 (Week 11) - Logan Frederick, TE, Utica
Nov. 11 (Week 10) - Gage Cornell, DT, Alfred State
Nov. 11 (Week 10) - Aidan Lochner LB, SUNY Cortland
Nov. 4 (Week 9) - Zach McGowan, K, SUNY Brockport
Oct. 28 (Week 8) - Chris Bergman, S, Alfred State
Oct. 28 (Week 8) - Logan Frederick, TE, Utica
Oct. 21 (Week 7) - Colton Thorp, DB, SUNY Brockport
Oct. 14 (Week 6) - Jordyn Davis, DL, Utica
Oct. 7 (Week 5) - Noah Currier, RB, Alfred State
Oct. 7 (Week 5) - Logan Frederick, TE, Utica
Oct. 7 (Week 5) - Donnell Hall, S, Alfred St.
Oct. 7 (Week 5) - Jack Tanoory, LB, St. John Fisher
Sept. 30 (Week 4) - Daniel Manneh, WR/RET, SUNY Brockport
Sept. 16 (Week 2) - Robert Kennedy, CB, Hartwick
Sept. 16 (Week 2) - Tim Vanderbrink, S, St. John Fisher
Sept. 9 (Week 1) - Tyler Szalkowski, QB, Utica
Sept. 9 (Week 1) - Isaiah Thomas, LB, Utica