ECFC ALL-CONFERENCE RELEASE HERE
16 Mount Ida College football players were recognized by the Eastern Collegiate Football Conference (ECFC) with All-Conference honors this past Wednesday. Mustang senior center Matthew Bonomolo (Pearl River, NY/Nanuet) was named Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year while Mount Ida fifth year Head Coach Michael Landers was honored as ECFC Coach-of-the-Year.
This is the first time Head Coach Landers has been awarded with any individual honor from the ECFC leading the Mustangs to their first league title victory in the history of the program. Landers would lead Mount Ida to an 8-2 overall record and a near perfect 6-1 league slate with their only blemish coming against hosting Gallaudet University in week nine. The eight total wins were the most victories in a season since the inception of the program in 1999.
Bonomolo, who was an ECFC Honorable Mention in 2011, has personified hard work and dedication to the Mount Ida football program since his first days as a student-athlete. As an offensive captain and four year starter, he has lead by example as an undersized lineman who can match-up with any opponent. Bonomolo is a smart, veteran lineman who has been the anchor of the offensive line all year. Bonomolo has paved the way for a dangerous running attack that warranted 17 touchdowns making Mount Ida's offense one of the best in the conference. Bonomolo will also be recognized as a First Team All-Conference player as well.
Seven other Mount Ida College football players were honored with First Team All-Conference selections. Junior offensive lineman Frank Civitello (West Haven, CT/West Haven) was selected to the First Team after a Second Team All-ECFC honor in 2011. Civitello was solid as a rock all year on the line in his third year as a starter continuing to provide good protection to senior quarterback Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) and the running attack.
Mustang junior wide receiver Jordan Hyman (Middletown, CT/Xavier) collected the first ECFC honor of his career as a first team offensive All-Conference player. Hyman hauled in a team-high 11 touchdown's with 48 total catches for 935 yards averaging 93.5 per game good for second overall throughout the entire ECFC in receiving. Hyman was impressive making a handful of remarkable diving and game saving catches to propel the Mustangs to victory.
Sophomore running back Chris McNally (Bourne, MA/Bourne) took over the starting duties this season after backing up two-time ECFC Offensive Player-of-the-Year Johrone Bunch (Meriden, CT/F.T. Maloney) all of last year. McNally picked up right where Bunch left his legacy nearly besting his predecessor with 210 carries for 1,208 yards (120.8/game) on the ground and four scores, including two in the ECFC title game, in a 52-28 victory over hosting Castleton State College in week 10 of the 2012 season. McNally was named a first team All-Conference running back for the first honor of his career as the ECFC's leading rusher. He was named Mustang-of-the-Week following the conference championship title victory as well.
Senior kicker Bobby Hemmann (Newington, CT/Newington) led the Mustangs to victory in the final seconds of two contests this season with game winners against UMASS-Dartmouth in non-league action and in week seven against ECFC member Maritime College (SUNY) in the closing ticks. Hemmann knocked down six field goals out of 11 attempts for the year good for 54.5 percent with his long coming in a 24-21 win over the Corsairs on "Light the Night" from 47 yards. He split the uprights from 38 yards out in a critical 24-21 league win over the Privateers. Hemmann knocked down two attempts from over 40 yards for the year as well. Hemmann was named ECFC Special Teams-Player-of-the-Week twice throughout the season.
Defensively, Mount Ida Football saw three student-athlete's gain first team All-Conference honors led by 2011 Co-Defensive Player-of-the-Year junior defensive end A.J. Knibbs (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood). Knibbs was a one man wrecking crew on the edge this year adding on to an already stellar career recording 39 total tackles including four sacks, 10 tackles for a loss, 10 pass break-ups, 18 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery rounding out the regular season. Knibbs was a constant headache for opponents having to consistently double team him leaving room for his teammates to capitalize defensively.
Sophomore defensive back Jovan Wilkins (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie) collected his second first team All-Conference selection after another impressive individual performance as the third leading tackler on the team (42). Wilkins broke the record for interceptions in a career (9) through only two seasons as a Mustang adding three picks this year including a 96 yard interception returned for a touchdown to solidify the ECFC title victory. Wilkins also contributed four pass break-ups and four tackles for a loss respectively.
Rounding out the rest of the first team All-Conference players was senior defensive back Azim Carter (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford). This is Carter's first time being recognized by the ECFC in any capacity. Carter was a vocal leader for the Mustangs landing sixth on the team in tackles (35) also adding two interceptions and two pass break-ups. Carter's contributions and dedication to the program and his willingness to give 100 percent at all times was contagious especially in big spots during the season helping the Mustangs succeed.
For the second time in his career, Mount Ida senior quarterback Scott Drosendahl (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora) was named a second team All-Conference player by the ECFC after another outstanding season as the signal caller. Drosendahl, who first collected the honor in 2010, was the catalyst to all offensive success for fifth year Head Coach Michael Landers and his squad. Drosendahl, who snapped his own record for touchdown passes thrown in a season (28) set two years ago, was fourth through all of NCAA Division III play in passing efficiency (176.57). He was a general on the field all season completing 149 of 239 attempts for 2,388 yards and 28 scores good for 238.8 yards throwing a contest. Drosendahl has broken ever major career passing record at the college for passing attempts, completions, yards and passing touchdowns. In ECFC statistical standings, Drosendahl ranks second in touchdowns passes and completion percentage. He was also named conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week twice throughout 2012.
Mount Ida junior tight end Mike Babich (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey) turned in his most impressive season to date with a second team All-Conference selection for the first ECFC honor of his career. Babich was a big time threat on the goal line for the Mustangs hauling in three of his seven catches on the year for touchdowns. Babich was also an important factor on the offensive line to aid in the running attack and blocking scheme for Mount Ida.
Sophomore offensive lineman Andrew Miller (Allentown, PA/Wyoming Seminary Prep) filled out the rest of the second team offense All-Conference recipients with the first honor of his career. Miller, who had a injury laden season in 2011, came back strong and was a huge factor on the line for the Mustangs along with Civitello, Bonomolo and senior's Jon Zullo (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law) and Doug Hanlon (Everett, MA/Everett). Miller helped lead the Mustangs to a league best 35.5 points per game and 427 yards of offense.
Mount Ida College junior defensive lineman Jon Proto (North Haven, CT/North Haven) collected his third straight second team All-Conference honor from the ECFC. Proto picked up right where he left off last season as a run stopping machine in the middle of the defensive line adding 19.5 tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, an interception, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.
Four more Mount Ida football players finalized the ECFC All-Conference selections with four student-athlete's recognized as Honorable Mentions. Mount Ida senior offensive linemen Doug Hanlon (Everett, MA/Everett) and Jon Zullo (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law), sophomore linebacker Kayln Smithson (Vilseck, Germany/Vilseck) and freshman defensive back Quan Lovett (Yarmouth, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth) were the player's selected.
Mount Ida football heads into post-season play venturing into their first NCAA tournament experience against hosting Wesley College this coming Saturday in Dover, Delaware. For more details on the game click here.
Congratulations to all of this year's recipients!
ECFC Coach-of-the-Year - Michael Landers
ECFC Offensive Lineman-of-the-Year - Matthew Bonomolo, Sr., (Pearl River, NY/Nanuet)
ECFC First Team All-Conference (Offense)
RB - Chris McNally, So., (Bourne, MA/Bourne)
WR - Jordan Hyman, Jr., Middletown, CT/Xavier)
OL - Matthew Bonomolo, Sr., (Pearl River, NY/Nanuet)
OL - Frank Civitello, Jr., (North Haven, CT/North Haven)
K - Bobby Hemmann, Sr., (Newington, CT/Newington)
ECFC First Team All-Conference (Defense)
DL - A.J. Knibbs, Sr., (Spotswood, NJ/Spotswood)
DB - Azim Carter, Sr., (East Hartford, CT/East Hartford)
DB - Jovan Wilkins, So., (Poughkeepsie, NY/Poughkeepsie)
ECFC Second Team All-Conference (Offense)
QB - Scott Drosendahl, Sr., (East Aurora, NY/East Aurora)
TE - Mike Babich, Jr., (Franklin Square, NY/H. Frank Carey)
OL - Andrew Miller, So., (Allentown, PA/Wyoming Seminary Prep)
ECFC Second Team All-Conference (Defense)
DL - Jon Proto, Jr., (North Haven, CT/North Haven)
ECFC Honorable Mention
OL - Doug Hanlon, Sr., (Everett, MA/Everett)
OL - Jon Zullo, Sr., (Milford, CT/Jonathan Law)
LB - Kayln Smithson, So., (Vilseck, Germany/Vilseck)
DB - Quan Lovett, Fr., (Yarmouth, MA/Dennis-Yarmouth)