SCHENECTADY,
N.Y.-Fifteen members of the Union College football team were selected to the
Liberty League All-Conference team.
Sophomore running back Tom Arcidiacono (Castleton, NY), sophomore
wide receiver Steve Angiletta (Plantsville, CT) and junior right tackle Jim
Masso (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) were named to the first team offense while
senior tackle Alex Smith (Gloversville, NY) and senior defensive back Brian
Griffin (Holyoke, MA) represented the Dutchmen on the first team defense.
“This is quite an honor to have so many of our players
selected All-Conference,” said head coach John Audino, who sports a
record of 97-33-0 in his 13 seasons at Union and a 15-year standard of
105-45-0. “It shows that the league's
coaches have a lot of respect for our football program.”
The Dutchmen finished 5-1 in the league, losing 33-27 in
overtime at Hobart in the eighth game of the season. Union, was 6-3 overall, posted its 24th consecutive
non-losing season (which includes five .500 campaigns). The Dutchmen sport an overall record of
187-56-1 (.768) during that streak.
The pitch and catch tandem of sophomores, quarterback Anthony
Marotti (River Edge, NJ) and receiver Ryan Twitchell (Fayetville, NY)
were named to the second team as were junior linemen, center Tim Cannon
(Roxbury, MA) and right guard Pat Hatch (Meriden, CT). The second team defense included seniors,
nose tackle Andy Manocchio (Williamsville, NY), linebacker Ed Larkin
(Tupper Lake, NY) and Mike Flanagan (Oxford, NY). Junior punter Sean Losier (Waltham, MA)
was also a second team selection while tight end Ryan Perry (East Greenbush,
NY) and junior left tackle Elliot Silverstein (Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
were honorable mention selections.
Arcidicano, who led the Dutchmen in rushing with 888 yards on 207 carries and nine
touchdowns, was named the league's Offensive Player of the game once this season and
finished second in the league in rushing, with a per game average of 98.7) and rushing
touchdowns.
Angiletta established a Union single-season record for yards
in a season as he picked up 897 with his 55 receptions (breaking the old mark
of 795 set by Ryan Gallo in 2002). He led the league in receptions (6.1) a
game, receiving yards a game (99.7), and tied for fifth in touchdown
receptions.
Masso is part of an offensive line that will graduate just
one player among its top 10 first and second team members, Union's offense was
first in the league on third down conversions at 44%, third in total offense
with 408.3 yards per game, second in sacks against with eight, second in time
of possession with an average of 33.08, and fourth in scoring with an average
of 26.6.
Smith finished first for the Dutchmen with his 37 tackles
and was second in total tackles with 47.
He tied for first on the team with his five quarterback sacks. A three-year starter and four-year
letterwinner, Smith finished with career totals of 107 tackles, 67 assists, 174
total, 25 sacks, three interceptions, six pass break ups, two fumble
recoveries, and a forced fumble.
Griffin, meanwhile, tied for the Liberty League lead in both
interceptions (five) and pass break-ups (16).
He also was in on 44 total tackles, including 34 first hits, and
recovered a pair of fumbles. A
three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, Griffin's career totals show 100
tackles, 36 assists, 11 interceptions, 23 pass break-ups, one forced fumble,
and five fumble recoveries.
Union's defense led the league in total defense (275.3), and
pass defense (147.2) and was second in scoring defense (19.2) and in rush
defense (128.1).
Marotti established two Union records this year when he
threw five touchdowns in the game against Rochester (breaking the old mark of
four) and finished with 418 yards against Rensselaer to smash the mark of 362
set by Brett Russ in 1990. In nine
games this season, Marotti completed 158 of 283 passes (55.8%) for 2,319 yards,
the team's third highest all-time total behind Brett Russ, who had 2,670 in 14
games in 1989, and Ben Gilbert, who had 2,337 yards in 11 games in 2001.
Marotti's 20 touchdown passes ties Dan Stewart's 1983
standard, which was accomplished in 12 games.
Gilbert threw for 27 touchdowns in 11 games in 2001 and had 24 scoring
passes in 11 games in 2000. Russ had 23
touchdown passes in '89. His 3,275
career yards and 28 touchdowns passes each rank sixth all-time.
Twitchell also broke Gallo's single-season standard with his
875 receiving yards. His 10 touchdowns
led the Dutchmen. Among them was the
game-winning 15-yard pass with less than two minutes to play in Union's 18-13
come-from-behind win over Rensselaer in the season finale that returned the
“SHOES” to Union.
Larkin, a three-year starter an co-captain this year, was in
on 41 tackles this year, including 28 first hits, with five sacks, an
interception, four pass breakups a fumble recovery and three forced
fumbles. His career totals show 97
tackles, 37 assists, 134 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five
interceptions, 13 pass deflections, a pair of fumble recoveries and three
forced fumbles.
Manocchio, a three-year starter, was in on 39 tackles this
season with 22 first hits, a sack, two interceptions, a fumble recovery and two
forced fumbles. He finished his career
with 59 tackles, 62 assists, 121 total tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 3 1/2
quarterback sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two
interceptions.
Flanagan, who broke is hand in the season opener and played
with a cast from the second game to the eighth, finished second on the
Dutchmen's tackle chart with 32 tackles, 42 total, two interceptions and eight
pass deflections. A three-year starter,
his career totals show 116 tackles, 50 assists, 166 total tackles, 5.5 tackles
for loss, 10 interceptions, 16 deflections and a pair of fumble recoveries.
Losier, a three-year starter, had 43 punts 1,547 yards this
year (36.0 average) with a long of 66.
Three of his punts went for touchbacks while 13 others landed inside the
opposition's 20-yard line. He finished
second in the league in average and was named Special Teams Player of the Week
once this season. Losier has 163 career
kicks for 5,603 yards, a 34.4 average, with 38 inside the 20.
Perry, a converted quarterback, was having an outstanding season before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the game against Coast Guard. He finished with 14 catches, 131 yards and two touchdowns in six games and is one of the best blocking tight ends in the program's history.
Hobart led the league with 17 selections (nine first team, three second team and five
honorable mention) with Union second followed by St. Lawrence (1-5-1), Rensselaer
(0-5-3), Merchant Marine (3-2-1), WPI (2-2-2), Rochester (3-1-1), and Coast Guard
(2-0-2). Hobart's Mike
Cragg was named Coach of the Year, Merchant Marine's Jason Hardwick was the
Offensive Player of the Year, Hobart's Chris Purtell was the Defensive Player,
WPI's Miguel Concepcion was the top Special Teams Player and Brett Young of St.
Lawrence was the Rookie of the Year.
For the complete team, please click on: http://www.libertyleaguesports.org/awards/football