OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ike Irabor, Sophomore, Running Back, Union College
Union College sophomore running back Ike Irabor has been selected as the Liberty League Offensive Player of the Year for 2019. Irabor led the Liberty League in rushing (1,093 yards), rushing yards per game (121.4), all-purpose yards per game (130.7), points per game (10.0) while finishing tied for total touchdowns (15). Irabor became the first Liberty League player since 2015 to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in rushing, doing so in nine games after missing one game due to injury. He was even more effective in Liberty League play, averging 149.4 yards per game while scoring 12 touchdowns in five games. Irabor was at his best in the biggest games of the season. He picked up a career-best 191 yards to lead the Dutchmen to a 23-7 win over then No. 21 Hobart. In a 31-21 victory at No. 7 Ithaca, which secured the Liberty League title for Union, Irabor ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Irabor was selected Liberty League Offensive Performer of the Week twice this season.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Emmett Forde, Junior, Linebacker, Hobart College
Hobart College junior linebacker Emmett Forde was voted the Liberty League Defensive Player of the Year. Forde leads league and ranks eighth in the nation in tackles for loss (20) while also leading the league in forced fumbles (3), which is currently tied for 31st nationally. Forde leads Hobart in tackles (75) and sacks (6) while ranking tied for third on the team with two interceptions. His 20 tackles for loss rank as the fifth-highest single-season total in program history. Forde recorded 12 tackles in a win over Montclair State. He matched that total, which included a season-high 3.5 tackles for loss in a win over RPI. A three-time selection as Liberty League Defensive Performer of the Week, Forde recorded two interceptions in Hobart’s season-opening win over NCAA qualifier Brockport.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nicholas Bahamonde, Freshman, Kicker, Ithaca College
Ithaca College freshman kicker Nicholas Bahamonde capped a strong rookie season by earning Liberty League Special Teams Player of the Year honors. Bahamonde was 10-for-12 in field goals, making his first ten attempts before missing on a 48-yard attempt in the final regular-season game. A five-time selection as Liberty League Rookie of the Week, Bahamonde was also selected to the D3football.com Team of the Week on Sept. 30 after scoring eight points, including a 47-yard field goal in a 38-35 win over St. John Fisher. That field goal is the longest (by seven yards) in the league this season. Bahamonde currently leads the league in kick scoring with 76 points while ranking fourth in overall scoring.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Rayshawn Boswell, Running Back / Kick Returner, Hobart College
Hobart College first-year running back and kick returner Rayshawn Boswell has been selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. An impact performer on offense and special teams, Boswell currently leads the NCAA in kickoff returns, averaging 33.8 yards per return on 13 returns, which also ranks as the top single-season average in program history. He set a Hobart record with a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the regular-season finale against Rochester. A two-time selection as Liberty League Rookie of the Week, Boswell was also Hobart’s second-leading rusher with 294 yards while leading all Statesmen ball carriers with a 5.8 yards-per-carry average. His 80-yard TD run vs. St. Lawrence is tied for the seventh longest rush in Hobart history.
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Union College – Head Coach Jeff Behrman
Union College head coach Jeff Behrman and his coaching staff have been selected as the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year in a vote of the league’s head coaches. Behrman led Union to an undefeated season (10-0) and a Liberty League championship, the school’s first undefeated campaign since 2005. The Dutchmen earned the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Playoffs and will host Case Western Reserve in the opening round. Union is currently averaging 33.6 points per game while allowing just 11.6 points per game. The Dutchmen lead the Liberty League and rank eighth nationally in scoring defense while ranking 18th in total defense (269.8 yards per game). Since taking over as head coach following a winless campaign in 2015, Behrman’s teams have either increased or matched their win totals each of his four seasons. The Dutchmen won three games in his first season 2016, seven in 2017 and seven in 2018 prior to the undefeated campaign. Behrman is assisted by Rick Flanders (DC/Secondary), Kevin Trigonis (OC/OL), Pete Brown (LB), Kevin Billington (CB), Kenny Tinsley (WR), Howie Bradley (DL) and Ron DiVincenzo (TE).
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM - OFFENSE
QB- Joe Germinerio, Sr., Ithaca
RB- Brian Haeffner, Sr., Hobart
RB- Ike Irabor, So., Union
WR- Jordan Evert, Sr., Buffalo State
WR- Will Gladney, Sr., Ithaca
WR- Andre Ross Jr., So., Union
TE- Spencer Crystal, Jr., Union
OL- Kyle Berna, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Dillon Carey, Jr., Hobart
OL- Tim Driscoll, So., Union
OL- Ryan Ehrets, Jr., Union
OL- Max Warden, Jr., St. Lawrence
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM - DEFENSE
DL- Vincenzo DiCaterino, Sr., Union
DL- John Hadac, Sr., Ithaca
DL- Daniel Gioioso, Jr., Union
DL- Amaechi Konkwo, Jr., RPI
LB- Emmett Forde, Jr., Hobart
LB- Nick Garone, Sr., Ithaca
LB- Colin Lama, Jr., Union
LB- Ethan Roberts, Jr., St. Lawrence
DB- Gino Bonagura, Sr., Buffalo State
DB- Tyler Burns, Sr., St. Lawrence
DB- Jared Leake, Jr., Hobart
DB- Anthony Robinson, So., Ithaca
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE FIRST TEAM - SPECIALISTS
PK- Nicholas Bahamonde, Fr., Ithaca
P- Will Halpin III, Sr., Union
RS- Tim Denham, Fr., Hobart
ATH- Rayshawn Boswell, Fr., Hobart
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM - OFFENSE
QB- Will Bellamy, Jr., Union
RB- Martin Bailey, Sr., Buffalo State
RB- Joseph Ferreira, So., Union
WR- Jake Catalioto, Sr., Hobart
WR- Joseph Viscardo, Jr., St. Lawrence
WR- Andrew Vito, Jr., Ithaca
TE- A.J. Perlino, Sr., Hobart
OL- Chris Katchadurian, Jr., Union
OL- Luke Kosciol, Fr., RPI
OL- Max Langsam, Fr., Union
OL- Alex Lanzana, Jr., Hobart
OL- Thomas Olausen, So., RPI
OL- Kyle Schreader, So., Buffalo State
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM - DEFENSE
DL- Isaiah Boone, Jr., Hobart
DL- Noah Hill, Sr., Ithaca
DL- Collin Hudgins, Sr., Hobart
DL- Devin Woodyard, Sr., Rochester
LB- Bryan Aguilar, So., Hobart
LB- Evan Gilland, Sr., Union
LB- David McCarthy, Sr., Hobart
LB- Liam Murray, Jr., St. Lawrence
LB- John Sadak, Sr., RPI
DB- Paul Chambers, Sr., Union
DB- Joey Gutowski, Sr., RPI
DB- Austin St. Pierre, So., Union
DB- Joe Vanderhoof, Sr., Union
ALL-LIBERTY LEAGUE SECOND TEAM - SPECIALISTS
PK- Kyle Hackett, Jr., Hobart
P- John DelliSanti, Sr., Hobart
RS- Kevin Rabacs, Fr., Union
ATH- Peter Lombardi, So., RPI
HONORABLE MENTION – OFFENSE
QB- Tyler Grochot, So., St. Lawrence
RB- Jamie Battaglia, So., St. Lawrence
WR- Ray Conley, Sr., Hobart
WR- Marc Meislahn, Sr., RPI
TE- Vinnie McDonald, Jr., RPI
OL- Nick Castrova, Jr., St. Lawrence
OL- Michael Conley, Sr., Ithaca
OL- Rick Denboske, So., RPI
OL- Trey Smith, Sr., Buffalo State
HONORABLE MENTION – DEFENSE
DL- Ricky Hober, Sr., St. Lawrence
DL- Caleb Null, Jr., St. Lawrence
DL- George Reed, Sr., Union
DL- Zach Rudolph, Jr., Hobart
LB- Caden Cole, So., Rochester
LB- Devin Delmont, Jr., Buffalo State
LB- Miles Haynes, So., Ithaca
LB- Cass Knox, Sr., Union
DB- Rahmod Johnson, Jr., St. Lawrence
DB- Andrew Koonz, Sr., Hobart
DB- Jayson Prince, Sr., Hobart
DB- Michael Roumes, So., Ithaca
DB- Brandon Scadlock, Jr., Union
DB- Darren Wesley, Sr., Buffalo State
HONORABLE MENTION – SPECIALISTS
PK- Sanjay Krishnan, Jr., RPI
P- Zac Montrief, Jr., RPI
RS- A.J. Clifford, So., Ithaca