Falcons Football Tops Worcester All-Area Team

De La Rosa headlines Fitchburg State with first team ECAC and All-Area first team nod

FITCHBURG, Mass. (December 17, 2009) - Junior Carlos De La Rosa (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) headlined a list of eight Fitchburg State football post-season honorees as the standout wide-receiver earned ECAC and Worcester All-Area first team accolades this past week.

CARLOS DE LA ROSA

Senior Steve Austin (Tequesta, Fla./Stony Brook), classmate Dale Whittredge (Haverhill, Mass./Haverhill), veteran Kyle Callahan (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) and junior Anthony Bizzotto (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) joined De La Rosa on the Worcester All-Area first team, while quarterback Jordan Cannava (Woburn, Mass./Melrose), senior Devon Jennings (Brockton, Mass./Brockton) and junior Sean McGinn (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) grabbed second team honors.

De La Rosa, a recipient of three post season awards, was named to the New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Conference first team after registering a breakout season for the Falcons. De La Rosa totaled career highs in yards, catches and touchdowns, while ranking fifth overall in the NEFC with 773 yards receiving.

In addition to his statistical accolades, De La Rosa also etched his name in the Fitchburg State record books, posting the program's all-time mark in single season touchdowns and career scores. De La Rosa's ten TDs this season ranks first all-time, while his 17 career touchdowns surpassed former standout Carmy Cesaire, Jr's (2004) previous record of 16.

Austin and Cannava join De La Rosa on the Worcester All-Area offensive team with first and second team honors respectively. Austin, a NEFC All-Conference first team selection and invitee to the Stars and Stripes Bowl, led Fitchburg State on the ground, averaging nearly 100 yards per game with 839 yards over nine games, while Cannava led the Falcons through the air with 2,038 yards passing and 19 TDs.

On the defensive end, Anthony Bizzotto and Dale Whittredge represented the Falcons, earning All-Area first team nods, while Sean McGinn collected a second team honor. The trio paced Fitchburg State all-season, combining for 216 tackles and eight sacks. Bizzotto posted a solid season for the Falcons, ranking fourth among tacklers in the NEFC (96 stops), while Whittredge capped his four-year career with 70 tackles and two interceptions. McGinn was also solid on the Fitchburg State defensive line, posting a team-best 15.0 TFL's, 4.5 sacks and 50 total stops.

Rounding out the Fitchburg State honorees were special team members Devon Jennings and Kyle Callahan. Jennings collects his first Worcester All-Area nomination, earning second team punt return specialist recognition, while Callahan was named the All-Area first team's punter. This season, Callahan ranked fourth in the NEFC for punting, averaging nearly 40 yards per kick, while Jennings collected 88 yards over nine punt returns.

The Fitchburg State football team concluded its season with an overall record of 4-6 and a 2-5 mark in the New England Football Conference.