Fitchburg State Football Earns All-Academic Honors
Fitchburg State Football Earns All-Academic Honors
Falcons name seven players to NEFC All-Academic team
FITCHBURG, Mass. (January 29, 2010) - The Fitchburg State football team named seven student-athletes to the 2009 New England Football Conference (NEFC) All-Academic squad as announced by conference officials on Wednesday afternoon.
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Senior Steve Austin (Tequesta, Fla./Stony Brook) and junior Sean McGinn (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) led the Fitchburg State accolades, collecting the necessary 3.0 or higher grade point average (GPA) to earn All-Academic honors. The veteran duo was also joined by five sophomores, including running-back Mike Carpentier (Cranston, R.I./Cranston), line-backer Will Gasson (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield), defensive-back Sean Golden (Montville, Conn./Montville), kicker Lenny Masciangioli (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) and defensive lineman David McKinnon (Bridgewater, Mass./Bristol Plymouth).
Austin continues to add to his post-season achievements after being named to the NEFC All-Conference first team, Worcester All-Area first team and Team Stars & Stripes for Mexico City's, Bowl of the Stars. He paced Fitchburg State's rushing attack this season with 839 yards and five TDs, averaging nearly 100 yards per game and 4.6 per carry. The senior RB was invited to participate in the Tazon De Estrella, becoming one of 51 players, spanning over 35 colleges and 20 states, to make the squad.
On the defensive side, Gasson, McGinn and Golden were strong throughout the 2009 season, combining for 164 tackles (26.0 TFLs), 6.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. This year, Gasson ranked third on the squad with 68 total tackles, while adding 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. McGinn was also strong, notching a team-high 15.0 TFLs for 66 yards and 4.5 sacks, while Golden chipped in with 46 total stops (32 solo, 14 assists).
Rounding out the Fitchburg State award winners were specialist Mike Carpentier, Lenny Masciangioli and David McKinnon. McKinnon saw action in six games this season, splitting time at the defensive end position, while Carpentier and Masciangioli appeared in a combined, seven games on multiple special teams units.
The Fitchburg State football team concluded its 2009 campaign with an overall record of 4-6, while posting a 2-5 mark in the NEFC.