2005 Football All-Conference Teams Announced

Amherst's Hannon, Trinity's Blair Grab Player of the Year

HADLEY, Mass. - Amherst junior wide receiver Mark Hannon (Glen Rock, N.J.) and Trinity senior defensive lineman Michael Blair (Plymouth, N.H.) have been named as the 2005 NESCAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, as determined by the conference coaches. Trinity claimed its fourth consecutive NESCAC crown this season with a strong combination of offense and defense, posting an 8-0 record for the third-straight year. Bantam head coach Chuck Priore was the choice among the coaches, earning Coach of the Year honors for the third consecutive year. The Bantams currently hold the longest winning streak in the nation for NCAA Division III, having put together an astonishing 30 wins.

Hannon, who also received First Team All-Conference recognition at wide receiver and as a return specialist, led the NESCAC this season in all-purpose yardage with 1,185 yards, averaging 148.1 yards per game. His biggest gains came from the wide receiver position where he hauled in 516 yards, but Hannon’s offensive versatility proved to be his best trait, as he gained 205 yards rushing and 185 yards on 17 punt returns for a conference-best average of 10.9 yards. Hannon also found the end zone a total of 10 times this season, picking up five touchdowns on the ground, four through the air, and one on a return.

Blair finished the 2005 campaign for the Bantams with 5.5 sacks (three solo) for a loss of 34 yards, putting him in a two-way tie for second in the NESCAC. He also added in eight tackles for a loss through all eight games this season, good enough for a seventh-place showing in the conference. Blair, who was also one of five Bantam defensive players to receive All-Conference First Team honors, was just one piece in the nation’s top defense at Trinity this season, as the Bantams statistically led the nation in total defense (165.9 yards), rushing defense (40.6) and scoring defense (4.5 points/game).

Only two players made a return appearance from last season’s senior-laden All-Conference First Team Offense, which were seniors Eric Ludwig of Williams and Dan Oliphant of Colby, both offensive linemen. Two of the three remaining offensive linemen on the first team were also seniors, Tufts’ Rich Aronson and Trinity’s Brian Dubiel, a Second Team selection last year. Junior Ryan Smith of Amherst rounded out the five offensive linemen on the First Team.

Behind the line, the First Team Offense was led by Amherst junior quarterback Nick Kehoe. Kehoe finished the season second in passing average with 174.2 yards per game, going 102-for-192 (53.1%) for 1,394 yards and 10 touchdowns. He posted a pass efficiency rating of 125.0 during 2005, good enough for sixth in the NESCAC.

The First Team Offensive backfield was comprised of running backs Ngai Otieno of Amherst and Gennaro Leo of Trinity. The senior Otieno finished the 2005 campaign second in the NESCAC in rushing with 86.8 yards per game, rumbling for 694 yards and four touchdowns while gaining almost six yards per carry (5.9). Leo, an All-Conference Second Team selection a year prior, wasn’t far behind his counterpart statistically this season as he finished sixth in rushing. The junior running back averaged 67.6 yards per game and 5.0 yards per touch, finding the endzone four times this season on the ground.

A total of four wideouts and one tight end earned First Team Offense honors. Joining the aforementioned Hannon at wide receiver were Bowdoin’s Jeff Nolin along with a duo from Williams, juniors Jonathan Drenckhahn and Brendan Fulmer. The senior Nolin led the conference in receiving yards per game this season with 91.0, but the other three wide receivers weren’t far behind as Drenckhahn finished second (71.2), Hannon was third (64.5) and Fulmer was fifth (63.1). Roddy Ames, a senior from Colby, earned First Team recognition at the tight end position. Ames led the 7-1 Mules this season in touchdowns with six and was third in receiving yards per game (27.9).

Joining Blair on the All-Conference First Team Defense were two fellow seniors and two juniors on the defensive line. Amherst senior LJ Spinnato earned First Team accolades for the second-straight year, while fellow senior Mike Connor of Williams received All-NESCAC honors for the first time. Juniors Chris Decembrele of Tufts and Terence Ryan of Bates round out the First Team selections. Decembrele, a Second Team member a year prior, finished tied for seventh in the NESCAC in tackles (9.2 per game) and second in sacks (5.5) while forcing three fumbles. Ryan led the NESCAC in sacks this season with 10.5 (eight solo), placing him third in the nation in sacks per game with 1.3.

Trinity senior Avon Morgan makes a return appearance on the First Team Defense at the linebacker position from a year ago, and is joined by junior teammate Christian Allen. A Second Team selection last year, Middlebury senior Coleman Hutzler led not only the Panthers but also the conference in total tackles with 93, averaging 11.6 per outing. Williams sophomore Jon Pritchard also led his squad in tackles with 78 to finish as the top second-year player in tackles in the NESCAC at fifth overall.

The defensive backfield comprised of five players representing four different teams. Trinity senior Kevin Quinn, a First Team member in 2004, was joined by junior teammate Mike Soules. Amherst’s Nick Zeiler, Middlebury’s Scott Secor, and Williams Elliot Moffie also earned recognition as All-Conference First Team Defense. Secor finished in a three-way tie for first among conference players in interceptions with four, returning one for a touchdown.

Two junior kickers earned First Team All-Conference Special Team recognition, Trinity place kicker Kevin Swinarski and Williams punter Brendan Fulmer. Swinarski converted 30-of-32 point after attempts along with six field goals, while Fulmer, also an accomplished place kicker, led the conference in punting by averaging 42.7 yards per kick with a long of 59 yards.