Football | 11/3/2026 11:31:48 AM
Utica University tight end
Logan Frederick, Hartwick linebacker
Billy O'Connor and SUNY Cortland kick returner
Ravi Dass, Jr. were named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for Week 8 of the 2026 Division III College Football season on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Frederick is the first repeat selection from the E8 this season, as a total of 11 different student-athletes from seven institutions have been honored.
Frederick, a senior from Little Falls, NY, excelled in a 35-14 win on the road at St. John Fisher this past Saturday. The Pioneers' pass catcher hauled in 14 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns, tying the single-game program record for receptions. Frederick was a force in man coverage, as he provided a matchup nightmare that allowed the Pioneers to slowly work their way down the field, resulting in an outstanding offensive performance.
Now a five-time D3football.com Player of the Week in his career, Frederick has 57 catches for 613 yards and seven touchdowns this season. His 57 catches are second to teammate Gabriel Zawolo in the E8, and his seven receiving touchdowns are second in the league.
O'Connor, also named the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, led a stout defensive effort for the Hawks over the weekend, as Hartwick defeated Morrisville 17-14 on the road. O'Connor contributed six total tackles, with three of those being sacks and four of those being for loss for a total of 40 yards. He also forced a fumble on a first-and-goal play for Morrisville, which was already leading 14-0. After the takeaway, Hartwick drove 80-plus yards the opposite direction to cut the lead to seven.
A sophomore linebacker from Ballston Spa, NY, O'Connor leads the Empire 8 with both 16 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks in 2026.
Alfred State kicked off twice on Saturday, and Dass took each of them to the house, as he returned two kickoffs for a two of 180 yards and two touchdowns in an 80-7 win against Alfred State. He's the only Division III player this season with two kickoff return TDs in the same game. A native of Newburgh, NY, Dass, a senior, was named the Empire 8 Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday.
All E8 teams are in action on Saturday, Nov. 7 with several key matchups. SUNY Cortland, ranked third in the NCAA National Power Index travels to SUNY Brockport to take on the Golden Eagles at noon. Cortland would clinch the Empire 8 Championship with a win, while Brockport would put themselves in a position to win the conference with a win. Utica, who is ranked 14th in the NCAA NPI, travels to face Hartwick College at 1 p.m. The Pioneers would also be in the mix for the E8 title with a win and Brockport win. St. John Fisher University hosts SUNY Morrisville at 1 p.m., while Alfred University and Alfred State College battle for the Alfred Cup from Yunevich Stadium on the campus of Alfred University at 1 p.m.
Here is the complete 2026 Empire 8 football schedule.
2026 Empire 8 D3football.com Team of the Week Recipients
Nov. 3 (Week 9) - Logan Frederick, Sr., TE, Utica
Nov. 3 (Week 9) - Billy O'Connor, So., LB, Hartwick
Nov. 3 (Week 9) - Ravi Dass Jr., Sr., KR, SUNY Cortland
Oct. 27 (Week 8) - Micah Harshfield, Jr., CB, St. John Fisher
Oct. 13 (Week 6) - Joseph Gentile, Sr., S, Utica
Sept. 29 (Week 4) - Tahjir Fernand, So., CB, Utica
Sept. 22 (Week 3) - Martin Flanders Jr., DE, Alfred University
Sept. 15 (Week 2) - Tyshawn Taylor, WR, Utica
Sept. 15 (Week 2) - Nazhier Wilson, LB, SUNY Brockport
Sept. 8 (Week 1) - Jack Bierman, LB, St. John Fisher
Sept. 8 (Week 1) - Noah Currier, RB, Alfred State
Sept. 8 (Week 1) - Logan Frederick, TE, 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.
EMPIRE 8 SOCIAL MEDIA
YouTube –
Facebook –
Twitter –
Instagram