Football | 9/22/2026 12:00:00 PM
Alfred University junior defensive end
Martin Flanders Jr. was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week for Week 3 of the 2026 Division III College Football season on Tuesday, Sept. 22. He becomes the sixth E8 student-athlete to be honored this season.
Flanders, who was named the Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week on Monday, delivered a dominant defensive performance in Alfred's 31-7 victory over St. Lawrence on Saturday. A native of Schuylerville, NY, Flanders filled the box score, accumulating six total tackles (four solo), four and a half tackles for loss, two and a half sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a game-high seven quarterback hurries. In the opening quarter, Flanders executed a strip-sack and recovered his own forced fumble at the St. Lawrence 25-yard line, directly setting up an Alfred touchdown. Later in the game, Flanders combined with teammate Micheal Davis for a key sack that pushed the Saints' offense back, ultimately forcing a missed field goal and preserving Alfred's decisive lead.
All eight E8 teams are in action on Saturday, Sept. 26, as league play kicks into high gear. The Saxons host St. John Fisher University, while Hartwick College hosts SUNY Brockport at noon, while Alfred State College hosts nationally-ranked Utica University and SUNY Morrisville welcomes nationally-ranked SUNY Cortland, with both games starting at 1 p.m. Empire 8 programs have started the season a combined 16-6 in non-league play, with Alfred State, Cortland, St. John Fisher and Utica all a perfect 3-0.
Here is the complete 2026 Empire 8 football schedule.
2026 Empire 8 D3football.com Team of the Week Recipients
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.
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