Empire 8 Announces Football All-Conference Team
November 15, 2007
ROCHESTER, NY – The Empire 8 announced its 2007 Football All-Conference team with junior quarterback Jason Boltus of Hartwick College being named Offensive Player of the Year and St. John Fisher College senior defensive back Steve Stepnick chosen as Defensive Player of the Year. The Hawks and Cardinals shared the Empire 8 title.
Boltus, who was the unanimous choice as Offensive Player of the Year, enters postseason play leading NCAAA Division III in total offense with a 394.9 yards per game average. He has completed 209 passes for 3,536 yards and 35 touchdowns. Boltus has recorded a 160.30 efficiency rating in leading the Hawks to a share of the conference title and the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
Stepnick, in addition to being named the Defensive Player of the Year, earned first-team all-conference recognition for the third consecutive year. He enters NCAA tournament play with five interceptions this season and 19 for his four-year career. Stepnick also totaled 66 tackles and six pass breakups in the regular season.
Freshman outside linebacker Jason Springer of Norwich University earned the Rookie of the Year honor. He finished the season with 46 tackles, three sacks, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Mark Carr was the unanimous selection as Empire 8 Coach of the Year as he led Hartwick from a 4-6 record a year ago to an 8-2 mark and conference championship this season. Carr is leading the Hawks to their first NCAA appearance.
Stepnick was one of four defensive players to repeat as all-conference first-team selections. Senior defensive back Marcus Maroney of Utica College joined senior linemen Phil Byers of Ithaca College and Don Miller of Alfred University on the first team for the second consecutive season.
Senior Lindy Crea of Hartwick was named to the all-conference first team for the third straight season, this time as the first all-purpose player to be named to the first team. He was also chosen as a second-team all-conference running back. Senior offensive lineman Brennan Fortune of St. John Fisher earned his second consecutive first-team honor.
One member of each team was named that institution’s representative on the 2007 Football Sportsman of the Year Team. Empire 8 emphasizes that "Competing with Honor and Integrity" is an essential component of a student-athlete’s experience in conjunction with an institution’s educational mission. These honorees have distinguished themselves and consistently exhibit the critical traits as outstanding sportsmen.
Empire 8 2007 Football All-Conference Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Jason Boltus, Hartwick College
Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Stepnick, St. John Fisher College
Rookie of the Year: Jason Springer, Norwich University
Coach of the Year: Mark Carr, Hartwick College