Liberty League announces 2018 Football Awards and All-League Teams
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Will Gladney, Junior, Wide Receiver, Ithaca College
Ithaca College junior wide receiver Will Gladney was selected as the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year for 2018. Despite missing two games due to injury, Gladney finished the regular season with 54 catches for 634 yards (11.7 per catch) and six touchdowns. He averaged 79.3 yards receiving per game. Gladney, who became Ithaca’s all-time leading receiver in just his third season, finished second in the league with 6.8 receptions per game despite playing a number of games in challenging weather and field conditions. He earned Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week honors on Oct. 15 after catching eight passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns in a win at Union. During that game, he set the school record for career receiving yardage.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Pat Minogue, Senior, Linebacker, Ithaca College
Ithaca College senior linebacker Pat Minogue was voted the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Ithaca led the Liberty League in both total defense and scoring defense while Minogue led the Bombers in total tackles (80), tackles for loss (10.5, tied) and pass breakups (8). He also recorded two interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. A two-time Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week, Minogue also played on special teams, ranking fourth in the league in punting average. He was selected as Special Teams Performer of the Week after recording a school-record 67-yard punt and also blocking two punts in Ithaca’s win over Cortland.
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Conor Davies, Senior, Return Specialist, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
RPI senior Conor Davies has been selected as Liberty League Co-Special Teams Player of the Year for the second straight year. The versatile Davies was the league’s most dangerous punt returner, averaging 11.2 yards per return with a long of 60 yards. He also led the league with 25 total kickoff returns with an average of 23.9 yards per return, ranking second. Davies recorded a season-best 81-yard return in the Engineers’ win over Rochester.
CO-SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Kyle Hackett, Sophomore, Kicker, Hobart College
For the second straight year, Hobart College sophomore kicker Kyle Hackett shares Special Teams Player of the Year honors with Conor Davies. Hackett was a perfect 37-for-37 in extra-point attempts and 9-for-9 in field goal tries as he led all placekickers with 64 total points. He ranked third overall in scoring at 7.1 points per game. Dating back to last season, Hackett has made a Hobart record 48 consecutive PATs. He is a perfect 19-for-19 on field goals for his career and is tied for the Hobart record for field goals made.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Andre Ross Jr., Wide Receiver, Union College
After an impact season, Union College first-year wide receiver Andre Ross Jr. has been selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. Ross finished the season with 57 receptions for 929 yards and 13 touchdowns. He led the league in yards per catch (16.3) and receiving yards per game (103.2) along with total receiving yards. Ross also led all Liberty League players in scoring with 13 total touchdowns and 8.7 points per game. A three-time selection as Liberty League Rookie of the Week, Ross exploded onto the college scene with back-to-back 100-yard receiving games in his first two games. In a 28-10 win at Coast Guard, he hauled in 16 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute – Head Coach Ralph Isernia
For the second straight year, RPI head coach Ralph Isernia and his coaching staff was recognized as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote by the league’s head coaches. Isernia and staff directed the Engineers to the 2018 Liberty League co-championship with a 4-1 record against conference opponents and an overall record of 8-1, earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA championship. RPI will be making its sixth appearance in the NCAA Division III playoffs and will be hosting a first-round game against Husson. As a team, RPI has averaged 28.0 points per game, good for third in the league while allowing just 17.1 points per game. The Engineers boast the league’s top rushing offense at 155.8 yards per game while giving up just 82.7 yards on the ground. Isernia is assisted by Jeff Dittman (DC/DL), Bobby Johnson (OL), Keith Larson (DB/ST), Nick Marcella (OC/WR), Troy Anthony (QB), Ross Martin (DL), Sean McCleary (OL/TE) and Todd Pelletier (LB).
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM - OFFENSE
QB- Will Bellamy, So., Union
WR- Anthony Ferraro, So., St. Lawrence
WR- Will Gladney, Jr., Ithaca
WR- Andre Ross, Jr., Fr., Union
RB- Kendall Anderson, Jr., Ithaca
RB- Ike Irabor, Fr., Union
TE- Matt Woods, Sr., Hobart
OL- Jake Bernstein, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Bobby Boos, Sr., RPI
OL- John Deveney, Sr., Hobart
OL- Ryan Ehrets, So., Union
OL- Chris Neu, Sr., RPI
OL- Bobby Puckey, Sr., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM - DEFENSE
DL- Amaechi Konkwo, So., RPI
DL- Tyler Mirabile, Sr., St. Lawrence
DL- Brian Pacholec, Sr., Ithaca
DL- Jack Reilly, Sr., Union
LB- Nick Garone, Jr., Ithaca
LB- Jack Hoggard, Sr., RPI
LB- Pat Minogue, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Liam Murray, So., St. Lawrence
LB- John Sadak, Jr., RPI
DB- Aaron Francis, Sr., Ithaca
DB- Jovonte Long, Sr., Ithaca
DB- Tucker Newman, Sr., Union
DB- Luke Watanabe, Sr., RPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM - SPECIALISTS
ATH- Conor Davies, Sr., RPI
PK- Kyle Hackett, So., Hobart
P- Zac Montrief, So., RPI
RS- Conor Davies, Sr., RPI
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM - OFFENSE
QB- Wahid Nabi, So., Ithaca
WR- Jake Catalioto, Jr., Hobart
WR- Griffin Beal, Jr., Union
WR- Ray Conley, Jr., Hobart
WR- Andrew Vito, So., Ithaca
RB- Nick Cella, Sr., RPI
RB- Brian Haeffner, Jr., Hobart
OL- Matt Capovani, Sr., Rochester
OL- Dillon Carey, So., Hobart
OL- Max Warden, So., St. Lawrence
OL- Aaron Castillo, Sr., RPI
OL- Nick Balch, Sr., Rochester
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM - DEFENSE
DL- John Hadac, Jr., Ithaca
DL- Dan Gioioso, So., Union
DL- Sean Moore, Sr., Hobart
DL- Collin Hudgins, Jr., Hobart
LB- Hunter Ordukhanyan, Sr., Union
LB- David McCarthy, Jr., Hobart
LB- Colin Lama, So., Union
LB- Caden Cole, Fr., Rochester
DB- Paul Chambers, Jr., Union
DB- Jared Leake, So., Hobart
DB- Jason Prince, Jr., Hobart
DB- DJ Stefonsky, Sr., RPI
DB- Ralf Silva, Sr., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM - SPECIALISTS
ATH- David Krewson, Fr., Hobart
PK- Sanjay Krishnan, So., RPI
P- John DelliSanti, Jr., Hobart
P- Will Halpin, Jr., Union
RS- Shahkyle Matthews, Fr., Hobart
HONORABLE MENTION – OFFENSE
QB- Ryan Hofmann, Jr., Hobart
OL- Nick Castrova, So., St. Lawrence
HONORABLE MENTION – DEFENSE
DL- Brian Gill, Sr., Ithaca
DL- Bobby Law, Sr., Union
DL- Tim Mascari, Sr., Rochester
DL- Rohan Cherian-Ashe, Sr., RPI
DL- Noah Hill, Jr., Ithaca
DL- Antonio Rogliano, So., RPI
LB- Emmett Forde, So., Hobart
LB- Ryan Bronson, Sr., Ithaca
DB- Tyler Kishbaugh, Sr., Ithaca
DB- Tyler Burns, Jr., St. Lawrence
DB- Adam Baghi, So., Rochester
DB- Kiyon Brandford, Sr., Hobart